Working for event producers Flash, Al Laith also designed and built all of the relevant and related production metalwork infrastructure needed on site including an extensive FOH mix area, side screen supports and wide wings, delay and spot towers, wheelchair access platforms, as well as all the Mojo barriers and even the concession stand framework.
Flash was promoting the entire 'Yasalam' weekend of F1 connected events in and around the city, which included appearances by 64 leading international artists across several venues. The project was managed for Al Laith by Ross Cameron, working closely with Flash Events' project manager, Jean Carl Saliba.
Jo Marshall, director of Al Laith Event Services comments, "The big challenge was the scale of the project - it involved a massive amount of kit, approximately 30 of our top crew and enormous amounts of pre-planning, which all paid off with an extremely smooth delivery."
It's the second year that Flash has staged the F1 weekend events. This year the programme was extended and the production values were upped substantially. Says Lee Charteris, "Al Laith were one of only two contractors who supplied equipment and crew for all the events we were running over the F1 weekend. This was because we knew they could supply the right kit, quality, service and enough top crew simultaneously."
The Ferrari World stage now stays in place until January, where it will host a series of other major concerts promoted by Flash.
In addition to the Yas Island concerts, Al Laith also supplied an 18m Orbit stage erected on the Corniche for Beats On The Beach, four free concerts tied into the nearby F1 fanzone area run by Carlo Boutagy. Artists playing here included Kelis, Sean Paul, The Beat and a selection of leading Middle East performers, and the events were enjoyed by up to 45,000 people each night.
Other companies involved in the Ferrari World concerts were Delta Sound, who supplied a K1 system, CT who provided all the video kit, Eclipse (LC Screens), Gulf Show Power (power, distribution and technical support) and PROTEC (lighting).
(Jim Evans)
