Arena Leisure : Four Arena UK & Europe companies support 146th Open at Royal Birkdale

Record breaking crowds benefited from the temporary infrastructure at The Open 2017, delivered by four divisions of Arena UK & Europe: Arena Structures, Spaceworks, Well Dressed Tables and Arena RIM Scaffolding between July 19th and 23rd, 2017.

The attendance at The 146 Open surpassed the 230,000 mark set at Royal Liverpool in 2006, making it the largest-ever Championship held in England and reflected a 17% increase since The Open last visited Royal Birkdale in 2008. Record advance ticket sales made it the fastest-selling Championship in history and the fans were thrilled by a final day that resulted in Jordan Spieth lifting the coveted Claret Jug.

It wasn't only the volume of people that tested the 26,000 sqm of on-course facilities provided by Arena Structures, the weather that added teeth to the links course from the players' perspective ranged from gorgeous sunshine to torrential downpours with thunder and lightning and winds off the sea.

Huge demand for The Open's official hospitality offering led to all six packages selling out, from our triple deck Patron's Club which hosted the main brand partners to the Champions Club, running alongside bespoke HSBC and Mastercard structures and the impressive retail outlet housed in Arena's flagship I-Novation temporary building.

Michael Wells, Director of Championship Staging for the R & A, states: 'We have a fantastic team which been focused for many years on improving the on-course experience for the players, spectators, partners and broadcasters.

'Working with all our supply partners we have made significant advances in the eighteen years I have been in this role and I believe it is that continual improvement in standards that underpins ever-increasing popularity. Arena have been a significant part of that journey through the years.'

Before any temporary structures were built on the undulating course Arena RIM Scaffolding were on site mid-May installing fifteen artic loads of scaffolding to create level foundations for structures and viewing platforms across the course. Managing director Willy Irish also project managed the provision of 47 media structures to broadcasters SKY, including camera platforms, branded clad towers and the flying camera towers.

At the other end of the installation Arena's creative fit out teams transformed the temporary structures interiors into a variety of environments to suit the multiple requirements depending on usage and the brand occupying the space. Spaceworks and Well Dressed Tables, also divisions of the Arena Group, supplied expansive ranges of event furniture and tableware.

Arena UK & Europe CEO Grahame Muir comments:

'The Open is one of the World's largest, most prestigious events on so many levels from the near quarter million live audience to global television audiences. We are very proud to have supported Michael (Wells) and the R & A team. Michael has contributed massively to improving standards across 18 years' of Opens and we wish him all the best as we look forward to the 147 Open taking place at Carnoustie (15-22 July 2018).'