Scottish Bowls Sporting Event Marquee Hire – Success, Lessons Learned & Space Planning Insights
When planning large-scale sporting events, creating the right infrastructure can be just as important as the competition itself. Recently, we had the privilege of supporting Scottish Bowls major sporting event in Scotland with our marquee hire Glasgow, providing flexible and functional spaces that kept the event running smoothly with premium event marquee hire from start to finish.
The Challenge
Event organisers required a versatile setup that could accommodate several different functions within one site over a number of days. This included: hospitality marquee suites for VIPs, welfare marquee and catering marquee for staff, retail areas for merchandise, secure production spaces for media teams and commercial marquee structure for food & drink vendors. With thousands of spectators expected, planning marquee event hire for flow, comfort, and accessibility was critical.
Our Solution
We installed a combination of clear-span event marquees ranging from 9m to 15m wide, configured to create connected spaces which directed foot-flow, maximized space available on site, catered for practical aspects such as accessibility and aesthetically pleasing.
Hospitality Marquee offered a luxury setting for VIP catering, drinks and networking.
Retail Units provided exhibitors and merchandise sellers with a secure, weather-proof space and high-quality interior for retail activity.
Welfare & Catering Facilities ensured staff and volunteers had comfortable break areas.
Production & Media Areas allowed broadcasters and event planners to operate efficiently on-site.
- Commercial Marquee Offered open plan food court space for various food and drinks vendors as well as large casual dining area for spectators.
By tailoring each structure to its purpose, we maximised functionality without compromising on space or layout.
Key Successes And Tips For Event Planners
Flexibility of Marquee Use – The marquees adapted seamlessly to multiple functions including retail, commercial food and drink, hospitality and player welfare facilities; proving how valuable versatile structures are for large sporting events.
Efficient Flow Between Marquees – Careful positioning of entrances, canopies and panoramic aspects allowed event planners the ability to direct foot-flow. From a site planning perspective – configuration of structures allowed attendees to move freely and ensure retailers and other vendors maximum exposure. Careful planning and configuration reduced congestion – even at peak times.
Bad Weather Marquee Plan – Amber weather warnings and 60mph winds occurred during scheduled breakdown dates. This required several last minute changes to breakdown plan and additional measures to take down structures safely in a short space of time. All breakdown activities ran to schedule and the site was available as planned to host other commitments, thanks to our team who were able to respond quickly and allocate out of hours resource.
Lessons Learned for Event Planners
Every event offers an opportunity to reflect and improve. Key takeaways from this project include:
For Multi-Purpose Use Marquees, Agree Layout & Scope Quickly – Marquees can serve more than one function. If several structures and functions, there can be numerous changes which is difficult to keep track of over time. Designing the site layout and configuration of structures should be agreed as early as possible. 2D layouts can be provided and should be exchanged and considered quickly following site visits. Allowing both parties to keep on top of any changes and enure deliverable meets expectations.
Think Beyond Spectators – Staff, volunteers, and media crews need dedicated spaces which should be considered from the offset. Prioritising welfare areas can boost efficiency across the board. However, adding these areas at the last minute can compromise the availability of certain elements required.
Factor in Flow & Accessibility – Positioning marquees and entrance/ exit doors strategically helps reduce bottlenecks and enhances the visitor experience. For commercial activity, the required marquee floor space required was previously achieved by using two marquee structures adjoined. We were able to provide the required floor space within one single festival specification marquee (15m wide x 45m long structure) – offering an inclusive and open single clear-span space for attendees to enjoy.
Weather-Proofing is Essential – In the UK climate, robust, high-quality marquee hire is a must for reliability. Whilst high winds didn’t affect the event, we experienced extreme high winds which were the highest recorded in August. Weather appears to be more extreme than ever and having an crisis management plan in place should be considered. We’re happy to assist and offer practical advice if needed.
Conclusion
This project showcased the impact of smart space planning with event marquees in Glasgow. By providing adaptable structures for every need, we not only met but exceeded organiser expectations, creating a smooth-running event enjoyed by all.
For planners looking to elevate their next sporting or cultural event, our Glasgow marquee hire service offers the flexibility, reliability, and expertise needed to make it a success.