Star Events Group Ltd has recently been appointed as the technical management company for the Stadium. Part of its remit is to enable the production to fully utilise the capacity of the retractable roof. After consultations with the engineering company, the stated capacity of the roof was increased considerably: over 50 tonnes can now be flown above the arena stage positions and, for the first time, shows using the whole stadium can fly delays from the retractable roof as well. This enabled Star Events Group and Madonna's production team to replace the proposed ground support solutions for the delay PA, spotlight platform and mother-grid needed to support the protruding mirror ball truss with a flown alternative. This reduced sightline problems and also increased the floor space available for the audience.
The venue can also be transformed into an arena format by means of a drape flown across the whole of the stadium width (200m). Any incoming production can hire this 'half hall' and suspend their lighting, PA and video rigs on a mother-grid supplied by the venue. The stadium also supplies a rolling stage, again managed by Star Events Group Ltd.
Event manager for the Stadium Claire Jenkins says: "Star Events Group's involvement at the Stadium has had a huge impact for us. The changes they have made have allowed us to be able offer more to promoters than any other stadium of its kind. Star Events Group engineers will analyse the rigging loads for every show coming into the Millennium Stadium and be on-site to ensure the retractable roof is not overloaded. We are extremely excited about Madonna coming to the stadium this weekend, we've no doubt it will be a spectacular show."
(Chris Henry)
