Summer is the busy period for event stewarding contractors, as the popularity of such set-piece events as Glastonbury continue. From the October 2017 print issue of Professional Security onwards, we’re featuring a ‘fly on the wall’ series of pages on Showsec‘s security and stewarding operation at the Midlands half of the annual long weekend V Festival.
Leicester-based Showsec reports that it has taken on more work at stadiums across the UK this year, in London and Wales where it covered a number of sold-out shows.
At Wembley Stadium, pictured, the contract firm provided front of house, backstage and pit staff for concerts – including Jeff Lynne’s ELO – and sporting events over the summer. Likewise at Twickenham Stadium, Showsec worked on two huge U2 concerts and rugby events.
At the London Stadium at Stratford, originally built for 2012 and known as the Olympic Stadium, where large-scale concerts are still a relatively new venture for the venue, Depeche Mode brought their “Global Spirit Tour” there in June, shortly before Guns N’ Roses performed for two nights on their “Not In This Lifetime Tour”, which became the highest grossing tour of 2017.
Each show drew over 50,000 fans; Showsec provided back of house security and pit staff. Build and break operations were also included for all of these concerts (which totalled around six weeks of work), and Showsec were also involved in the planning stages for several months beforehand.
Paul Legge, Regional Manager for the South of England, said: “I had a fantastic opportunity to plan and work across three of the most famous stadiums in the world this summer. Within five short weeks we had delivered, with outstanding success, a backstage and pit operation to some of the biggest names in the music industry. It’s always a pleasure to work at any stadium, but to cover three in such a small space of time was fantastic.”
As for the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, it hosted Take That on their “Wonderland Live” tour, for which Showsec provided build and break, back of house and pit staff on behalf of SJM. Other Showsec staff supplemented the stadium’s own front of house operation, helping to manage the 27,000-strong crowd as they arrived at the venue.
At the end of that month, Justin Bieber performed at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on the penultimate date of his “Purpose World Tour”, which grossed over $250m. Showsec were involved from start to finish, providing security staff for the build-up, production, back of house, dressing rooms and pit.
Martin Lewis, Area Manager for Wales and South West area, said: “It’s always a thrill to be involved in shows featuring world famous artists. It’s also a great opportunity to put our skills into practice in a high-profile environment. At stadium shows like these, we work a number of stakeholders including stadium management, promoters and production companies, which is a great opportunity to cement those relationships. We had worked with both clients before – AEG for Justin Bieber and SJM for Take That – and we look forward to any opportunity to work with them again in the future.”
Other events covered by Showsec in that region included the 39th annual Bristol Balloon Fiesta; an Olly Murs concert in Singleton Park in Swansea; and Burning Lantern Fayre, a new 8,000-capacity festival in St Fagans; to name only one August weekend.
And on Saturday, September 9 the We Are Manchester concert was the occasion for the re-opening of the Manchester Arena, scene of a suicide bombing in May. The comedian Peter Kay wore a yellow Showsec jacket on stage, explaining to the audience that he had worked as a steward on the night the arena first opened in 1995.
Money from ticket sales has been donated to the Manchester Memorial Fund, to go towards a permanent memorial for the victims of the terror attack.
General Manager of Manchester Arena, James Allen, said in a statement: “The concert was a phenomenal success and this was down to the commitment of everyone involved, from the amazing artists to the dedicated arena teams, production and emergency services. However, it was the people who attended on the night representing Manchester who embraced the spirit of the event, and showed the strength that Manchester has and that the Arena is truly a part of the Manchester community.”
