Stuart WoodArena served an ace combination of event services at the UK’s key tennis events across the 2018 season, culminating with the installation of 6,800sqm of event infrastructure at London’s O2 Arena for the Nitto ATP Finals, Nov 11 – 18, 2018.
Events which Arena provided services for collectively attracted a million visitors. The first was June’s new look Fever Tree Championship, which welcomed a host of top seeds to its hallowed Queens Club courts.
The depth of Arena’s turnkey services was evident from the array of double decker structures providing hospitality and public bars and concessions, with stunning interior design and fit out by Arena, alongside Spaceworks furniture and Well Dressed Tables.
The Wimbledon Championships 2018 saw the same combination of Arena’s temporary event structures, seating, furniture and CCG in July. The distinctive green and white colour schemes and incredible VIP chalets created a distinctly different ambiance, having been designed to suit the requirements and branding of the clients.
This was the 10th year that Arena’s Dan Bluff project managed the ATP Finals extension to the capacity of the O2 Arena, installing a temporary I-Novation building adjacent to the venue’s main entrance, which flanked the players main practice court.
The glass provided great views of the iconic O2 dome structure, and was treated to avoid the glare of the sun reflecting off the white venue. The triple-deckers were transformed with creative interiors by Arena, or sponsors’ own agencies, with fully appointed facilities to provide the luxurious player’s restaurant and lounge, a tennis family’s restaurant, sponsors’ hospitality and reception area.
Arena invested in three-stop lifts and installed a complex heating and air con system that kept the players court warm and the VIP suites at a lower temperature. Arena supplied all of the interior walling and lining along with carpets, lighting, toilets, lifts, catering hoists and HVAC. The completed areas were then handed over to various sponsor agencies for the final install.
Guests entered this ‘VIP Village’ via a reception area, which incorporated accreditation and ‘airport style’ security, joining seamlessly into the main building. Separate triple-decker structures were also joined at the rear to house the kitchens.
ATP Finals tournament director, Adam Hogg, commented: “This is the finalé of a tiring season for the players, where the top eight seeds battle for the ultimate prize. It’s important for the ATP family that we create an ambience that treats the players well, helps them relax and, given the up-beat style of the tournament, reflects the fun and prestige of the event.
“Arena has been an integral part of our team since we first came to the O2 in 2009. They have helped us raise the bar year on year and 2018 is no different. We haven’t made any fundamental changes to a winning formula, but there have been some key areas we’ve evolved with them. The redesigned top floor of the players facility is a great example, where we’ve emphasised the place-maker location we’re in, by creating a top floor restaurant with glass walls to give a 360 degree panorama, which is particularly stunning at night.”
In keeping with the ATP Final’s fresh, energetic presentation of the sport, a new face lifted the trophy. Alexandra Zverev defeated World no 1 Novak Djokovic to cap off a thrilling year of tennis with Arena providing progressive event services to augment three iconic venues.