Neptunus ace it with new super-size hospitality facility for tennis fans at LTA’s cinch Championship 2022
The Assignment
The LTA cinch Championship is one of the key fixtures of the Lawn Tennis Association’s grass court season in the lead up to Wimbledon, attracting many of the world’s top stars.
The LTA had originally commissioned Neptunus in 2019 to create a new state-of-the-art flagship hospitality pavilion exclusively for the championship. However, the coronavirus pandemic saw the 2020 tournament cancelled - delaying the debut of the new facility. And while the 2021 edition was able to go ahead, Covid restrictions meant a greatly reduced capacity.
For 2022 the LTA was finally able to open the gates to full capacity with Neptunus required to virtually double the size of its spectacular hospitality structure at London’s famous Queen’s Club to cope with the increased number of spectators.
The Solution
The temporary hospitality facility in 2021 had spanned 1800 square metres with an equivalent amount of mezzanine as numbers were reduced to meet the social distancing regulations. However, for 2022 Neptunus’ Evolution structure was extended to 3,300 square metres, plus a similar mezzanine, along with 900 square metres of external hospitality space, as tennis fans flocked back in huge numbers to the popular tournament.
A two-storey Evolution II structure formed the South Pavilion which was predominantly for hospitality including a VIP restaurant alongside public areas for dining and refreshments. Space was also set aside within the facility for a sound-proofed media centre for international sports journalists and broadcasters while outdoor hospitality areas were also created.
It took a 30-strong crew of Neptunus technicians with support from sub-contractors just 36 days to build. With the look and feel of a permanent building, the pavilion included internal and external mezzanines with panoramic views across the tennis courts.
In addition to the media space and VIP areas the facility also incorporated sponsors’ suites, a café restaurant, merchandising booths and bar areas along with essential services such as kitchens and a first aid room. Neptunus were responsible for the internal fit-out, climate control, lifts, floor coverings and luxury toilets within the structure. The extended facility demonstrated the amazing flexibility and versatility of the dynamic temporary structure technology that can be adapted to meet any requirement.
The Challenge
Queen’s Club is situated in a busy area of west London with difficult access for large vehicles. Delivery of tonnes of equipment and the build process had to be conducted during a tight time frame and operating within the strict covid protocols.
Meticulous advanced and onsite planning and a collaborative approach with the LTA ensured a smooth build process was completed on schedule.
Technicians also had to sound-proof for the Media Centre within the pavilion to ensure broadcasts and interviews could be conducted without noise from the adjoining bars and restaurants.
The Verdict
Jen Motet, the LTA’s Head of Event Operations, says: “It has been brilliant to introduce the full-size Evolution II structure to the cinch Championships this year after a reduced provision in 2021. This has really enabled us to be flexible with the spaces we have within the South Pavilion building and provided a higher quality of experience for our range of user groups. We have worked closely with Neptunus throughout and have been very pleased with the results.”
