Arena Structures’ links with The Open Championship

Arena Structures supplied a wide range of structures to protect the Royal and Ancient organisers, their patrons, the public, VIP guests and media from harsh weather conditions at the 137th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale this July.

Padraig Harrington won his second consecutive Open Championship, beating off some stiff competition and very testing elements on the famous links course to retain the coveted claret jug, with over 201,000 people attending the event.

Arena’s Projects Director Ron Smith alongside Project Manager Mark Shelley delivered 27,000m² of structures across the golf course for a wide variety of uses. Looking over the 18th hole was the most impressive glass fronted triple-decker Patrons hospitality. Hosting VIP’s from the six Open Patrons: Unisys, MMC, Rolex, Nikon, Lexus and RBS, the guests enjoyed individually designed restaurants and separate bar areas.

As the public arrived they went through airport style security checks within an Arena 30m TFS (Tensioned Fabric Structure), whilst double decker structures were used to create the Keith Prowse hospitality overlooking the first fairway, with a new Horizon double decker accommodating the VIP R & A Club tent. Other structures included the official merchandise hall, a media structure accommodating over 600 international media, the corporate hospitality village with over 2,500 guests a day, varied public catering areas offering fish and chips to seated restaurant facilities and a range of Milano peaked structures fulfilling many uses around the course

Arena’s Construction Manager Jason Stockwell and his team working on their 12th Open brought a lot of experience to the project. 16 men worked over a 7 week build period.

Royal and Ancient assistant director Michael Wells said: “We worked very closely with Arena and rely on their experience and expertise in creating temporary structures in sensitive environments.”