The system features as part of £1 million joint venture between the Millennium Commission, caterers, Letheby and Christopher, the Welsh Tourist Board and the Millennium Stadium, to expand on the original design of the stadium. It allows the main bowl to be divided into four possible staging configurations, accommodating events for audiences between 12,000 and 46,000. As the first arena system of its kind in Europe, Blackout's team headed by MD Steve Tuck and project manager Ken Nock collaborated with The Millennium Stadium's Chief Executive, Paul Sergeant, from the outset.
The innovative system comprises three key parts: an 18m by 12 metre modular stage, full stadium width partition drape and a 40 metre by 20 metre lighting mother grid. It was inaugurated in July for REM's performance as part of their Around the Sun world tour where one of the arena configurations was deployed to facilitate an indoor arena environment for a 36, 000-audience capacity as opposed to the stadium's previous fixed capacity limit of 63,500 for a live concert.
Paul Sergeant comments: "We cannot overstate the value of the arena system supplied by Blackout. It puts the stadium in a league of its own as a very multifunctional venue. The original design of the stadium with its removable pitch and retractable roof has been terrific and has put us on the international map in sporting terms. But this new concept opens the doors for us to host a wide range of events and concerts as diverse as rock, pop, jazz and classical. Other sports apart from football and rugby can now be staged here including, tennis, boxing and basketball. Additionally, the arena now has the potential to offer the largest conferencing and exhibition centre in the UK."
The Grid structure comprises Total Fabrications' T2 support system, which is a new and advanced demountable structural modular truss system that boasts integral protection for personnel against falls from a height. Modified to Ken Nock's exacting specifications, it provides one of the safest methods of climbing and working at height that has ever been seen in Europe. The T2 grid is attached to the Stadium's unique tracking roof using special brackets installed by Blackout with inbuilt load cells to prevent any misuse or structural overloading.
The main drape system features 12 9m x 35m black lightweight and flame retardant molten trevira drapes. They have been suspended by Blackout from a small gauge truss system, which is flown across the pitch. Another 110m of drapes have been supplied to be suspended either side of the main system, providing masking seat levels. Additionally, Blackout supplied a 18m by 12m rolling stage, which was manufactured by Total Fabrications to Blackout's specifications.
(Jim Evans)
