We're taking a small break from writing to allow one of our best clients a chance to discuss his recent event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Our goal is to provide more of a user's perspective as opposed to our own. Please help us welcome guest blogger/writer Mark Sorensen, Vice-President and Executive Producer at Gail & Rice. Be sure to check out some of their work we've featured here before as well, including this time-lapse of a ballroom meeting installation.
(Las Vegas, NV) Once planning began for our long time client's recognition event we decided early that if we could avoid being in a typical ballroom we'd go that route. The goal was to do something different.
We zeroed in on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and designed a theme around NASCAR and winning. The ideal spot for the event was the infield garage area and we wanted to make it appear as if watching the event like you would in the stands at the raceway so stadium seating was required. The challenge was how to keep the audience shaded and utilize an existing structure in the Neon Garage area of the Speedway.
We developed a design that we thought could work and called our partners at SGASi to help analyze how we could fit 1,000 people in the space. The CAD guys there are really great and after describing our vision to them, drew up a plan that would work.
But it didn't stop there. SGASi sent local (Las-Vegas) managers to do their own site surveys and take detailed measurements on at least two occasions to make sure this could work. They recommended their Alto seating - we were outdoors and it looks most like real stadium seats - so we went with that plan.
It turned out great. We had to have a light pole removed and make some modifications to the area but the seating fit under the existing canopy snugly and we built our stage under a temporary tent that married up to the existing cover. It looked like it was meant to be and the Speedway staff even took note for future events that would benefit from our plan.
SGASI was the perfect partner and fit for this project. Special thanks to Keith Menne and Corey Ploetz for helping us pull this project together!
Corey snapped this shot of a First Class Audience riser for The Trillium Creations at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. The finished riser had seating for 418 across the three blocks. The far riser in the photo also had a 24' x 8' production platform.
Many thanks to clients Gail & Rice for sharing their footage of a full production installation time-lapse of a pharmaceutical sales conference. This is one of the first examples of a combined SGASi installation with full scenic and a large-scale, curved audience riser.
WrestleMania is the most successful and longest-running professional wrestling event in the world. First produced in 1985 this year marked the 26th consecutive event and the fourth that SGASi has helped build. SGASi has worked with the WWE’s Brian Petree on some incredible shows and would like thank the organization for continuing to count on SGASi to provide stadium infill seating at each venue. Since first becoming involved in 2007 SGASi has helped enhance sightlines, maximize attendance, and most importantly, help fill camera angles with thousands of lower-bowl fans with our stadium infill risers in Detroit, Orlando, Houston, and this year in Glendale at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
Brent Klein, Director of Design in SGASi’s CAD Department shares a bit of technical information on the two-week, 26-truck SGASi installation:
"University of Phoenix Stadium is not able to accommodate rigging from the rafters, so WWE had to go with an outdoor set up. The preliminary plans were to use the spider legs first seen in the Citrus Bowl, however late in the process they decided to use a different system called “The Pyramid”. Our design team was able to incorporate the WWE's pyramid structure with minimal impact to the overall design and function of the risers. A technical challenge was presented when we realized that the 10’ x 20’ bases needed to be tied together with a cable tie. This last-minute challenge was overcome quickly with a call to local Southwest Scenic, who made custom ADA-Compliant access ramps that neatly and professionally covered the cable. Having them work on this issue allowed SGASi to keep our resources and crew hard at work on the custom gear we were already providing.
This was not our first gig in University of Phoenix stadium and thanks to an outstanding previous site inspection by Andrew Smith and Josh Mayer our CAD Department has a high level of dimensional detail on the stadium walls, structure and obstructions. We put this into use on the design for the stadium infill risers and the result is a seamless transition from the stadium design to the temporary riser design. This allowed us to give very specific requirements for custom decking to our Scenic department, who in turn knocked it out of the park with their attention to detail and build quality.
Our contact at University of Phoenix Stadium, Jimmy McDonald, has been instrumental to our past success at the venue for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Regionals. He helped streamline the permitting process that enabled SGASi to pass all inspections quickly and successfully. It’s important to note how strict the inspection process is at this level and how our designs, gear, and installations passed with flying colors."
Seeing the level of production values in this event it’s immediately apparent that this team not only knows how to do a world-class gig, they know how to create a level of excitement and spectacle that’s seen nowhere else in the world. SGASi would like to thank Brian Petree and the entire WWE Family and Jimmy McDonald and the University of Phoenix Stadium crew for counting on us this year. We look forward to next year’s event.
(National Harbor, MD) When you meet the end user and he mentions, "You guys do great work, your crew was spectacular AND this was a big ass riser." you just need to put that in the newsletter. The name stuck throughout the production.
SGASi recently installed this riser for 2,702 in the Potomac Ballroom of the fantastic Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center for a large business meeting produced by Georgia-based Staging and Design. It incorporated a tunnel through the center of the riser that helped create a dynamic special effect for acknowledging award winning guests. Many thanks to Staging & Design for counting on us again!
(Atlanta, GA) Many thanks to one of our favorite long-time clients Gail & Rice for hiring us to provide the full spectrum of services now available from SGASi for a pharmaceutical business meeting at the Hilton Towers.
The curved design of the First Class Audience Riser was complimented by the curved set & stage provided by our Scenic Department and our event drapery added the finishing touches to the room.
This was a great example of all SGASi departments (Stage & Drape; Audience Risers, and Scenic) working together to provide these amazing results.
(Henderson, NV) When POTUS is coming to town, you never have the lead time you'd like. DAV Productions called us on a Monday to provide this Town Hall style Audience Riser, stage, and press risers for a televised event and it installed two days later. The riser sat 78 guests on top of a 40' x 28' stage. Thank you for counting on SGASi for your last-minute needs!
(Madison, WI) When the University of Wisconsin hosted an outdoor hockey game in its historic Camp Randall Stadium, Ice Rink Events chose SGASi Production Services to provide the all-important foundation for the ice sheet.
Experience was a big part of that choice. There had been two previous college hockey games outside in football stadiums and SGASi played a crucial role in both. The first was the “Cold War” at Michigan State University in 2001, which set the record for attendance at an outdoor hockey game. Then there was the aptly named “Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic” at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Each venue has its unique characteristics and for this game, we chose to use a decidedly different approach. The Camp Randall field has an 18 inch crown and a surface of springy artificial turf. The challenge was to create a level surface over the crown of the field that would support the ice sheet and not deflect under the weight of two 8,000 lb. Zambonis. Protecting the artificial turf while neutralizing its deflection was another high priority.
Using topographical survey data and proprietary software, SGASi’s CAD department was able to create a precise 3-D model of the field and the platform. Each 4′x 8′ section was then cut to exact dimensions and labeled. Once on site, the 561 pieces quickly dropped into place to create a solid, level platform in less than half the time of previous installations.
“The system flew together on site but before we could congratulate ourselves we had to know how it performed under load,” explains Tom Hilton, President of SGASi Production Services. “When I got the thumbs-up from the Zamboni driver, I knew we’d done a great job.”
Over 55,000 fans flooded the stadium, which literally rocked when the crowd erupted with the famous Wisconsin “Jump Around”, igniting the home team into a come from behind victory. It was an unforgettable experience for all. Understandably, other colleges are now thinking of duplicating the success of this game and SGASi is ready to help them when they do.
This video is property of the Women's Association of the NJPAC, and used with permission.
Many thanks to Lighting Designer Al Crawford, whom we met up with at LDI2009, for forwarding us the link to this amazing time-lapse video of our installation and venue conversion at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center created by Midnight Media Group - http://www.mmgi.tv . Special thanks to MMGI and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
We also have some wonderful still photos which we put in the updated gallery in our previous post.
(Toronto, Canada) Our gear is just returning to our warehouses from the installation of over 2,500 seats at the Rogers Centre in Canada. For the second year in a row, SGASi has been part of the temporary conversion of the Rogers Centre into an NFL venue for thousands by installing end-zone seating on the North and South sides of the dome. Utilizing our supplemental stadium seating systems, SGASi provided clear sightlines for patrons located closest to the action. Photos by Corey Ploetz.
(Orlando, FL) Many thanks to the organizers of the 2009 Parnelli Awards for inviting SGASi to provide the set design & construction. We were elated and honored to have been part of this year's event and hope to make an even bigger splash next year in Las Vegas. Congratulations to all of this year's winners.
(Orlando, FL) Many thanks to our clients, friends, and suppliers who came out to see us at the OCCC last week for LDI2009. We were very proud to be exhibiting in a new booth designed and built by our scenic department, and I'd like to personally thank Roland and Colin for their hard work to ensure it went in successfully.
Our booth would have been very bleak if not for our partners at NMR Staging & Events, who brought in four touch-screen 46" plasmas and two 50" plasmas for our twitterboard. Jason and Jim, we're eternally grateful!
The show went well and we're now busy with follow-up. We look forward to seeing everyone next year in Las Vegas for LDI2010.
(Orlando, FL) LDI 2009 install day one completed, heading back out to OCCC to put the rest of the booth together this morning. For more info, check out the full post on our blog.
(Lake Buena Vista, Florida) SGASi was honored to have been selected as an event supplier for the recent Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort Grand Opening Gala. We provided a tiered dinner riser, the event stage, and cyc's on either side of the stage for video projection. Check out our photos of the event, above.
SGASi recently provided grandstand seating for 3,120 at Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. By elevating just one-third of the audience of 9,500 on a 12" rise SGASi Stadium Seating Riser, sightlines for the attendees furthest from the stage were greatly improved. Perimeter placement of risers around in the room also helped transform an empty hall into an amphitheater atmosphere enhancing the excitement of the event. A hearty thank you goes out to Producer Matt LeVeque and Kendrik Johnson from Meeting Services, Inc. for making SGASi part of their event.
(October 6, 2009 - Newark, NJ) SGASi recently installed a 144' x 96' RTS (Risers over Theater Seats) system at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The main system ranged from +120" over the seats to +78" over the stage. All told, it provided dinner seating for 930. We're happy to share some recent install photos with you, and will update this post once we receive client photos from the main event. It looks amazing! If you're interested in getting more information on how to convert your theater, please download the SGASi RTS PDF Brochure or visit our information site to request a copy of the Venue Transformation Kit.
Instead of holding dinner in a tent erected next to the arts center, the dinner, awards and entertainment were all presented in the theater. By building a platform that extended the stage out over the entire orchestra section and covered all the seats, the gala committee reinvented the annual event in lavish style.
Gala chairwoman Audrey Bartner said the concept first came up as a way to save the huge expense of renting and setting up the tent.
"Sometimes when you are faced with adversity it brings out creativity," said Bartner, a member of the Women’s Association of NJPAC, which runs the annual fund-raiser. "I’m telling you, I’m floating on air."
(Las Vegas, NV) SGASi recently completed the installation of elevated, wrap-around seating for 477 for The HardBat Classic produced by Empire Entertainment, Inc. at the Venetian / Sands Expo Center.
Special thanks to our clients Empire Entertainment for the money shot of the finished product.
Old Town Lansing's Blues Fest brings over 15,000 people to the area over a two-day period. SGASi installed a 32' x 20' platform at 32" over the very rough and uneven Turner Street. Having just installed a smaller riser for Jazz Fest, we decided to do the understructure with all-terrain scaffold. Great decision by Brent, and a well-appreciated VIP platform with a view to the main stage!
Kathleen Petersen and Sara Link attended the National Assocation of Catering Executive's Taste of NACE: Orlando last week, and snapped a few shots for us.
Kathleen writes, "SGASi donated 210 running feet of 22' tall white chiffon, which was in all the entrances and placed in various areas throughout the main ballroom. Since wthis was a Susan G. Komen fundraiser for breast cancer awareness, pink lighting surrounded the room and reflected on our drapery just beautifully."
Thanks to Kathleen for the photos, please be sure to check out the miniature podium with "Staging Sara" Barbie doll. These women are awesome!
(Mt. Pleasant, MI) The Soaring Eagle Resort & Casino recently took advantage of SGASi's flat-floor seating capabilities to quickly and efficiently deploy seating for over 2,000. SGASi's floor brackets allow seats to be ganged together for fire and safety codes. If your event needs to rent "just seats" without the elevation of an engineered system, contact us today.
(Las Vegas, NV) The "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada" sign turned 50, and SGA installed a ClearDeck runway to commemorate the occasion. Photos by Corey Ploetz, SGA.
We'll be running this for the online version of Sports Business Journal, which links to a specialized landing page for the people running Stadiums. It's a bit different to see our banner in a rotation with the likes of Sun Trust Bank and ExpressJet, but we'll see how we are received by the largest sports weekly publication in the industry.
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