Stadium tent event has tight timelines, hot temps

A clear tent offers gala guests a view of a high-profile locale.

Prestige Party Rental of Prospect Park, N.J., has enjoyed opportunities to work on events at MetLife Stadium, the East Rutherford, N.J., home to the New York Giants and the New York Jets, numerous times. So even with a tight timeline, Prestige president Tom Hazen and his crew were prepared for a May installation of a structure tent on the field for a gala fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Until things began to heat up.

Before the day of installation, temperatures in New Jersey hadn’t been above 75° Fahrenheit for the year. But that day, the mercury hit 98° on the field. Outdoor workers normally require a couple of weeks to acclimate to that kind of heat. But the crew took appropriate precautions and forged ahead.

“Our crew toughed it out as always with a lot of fluids,” Hazen says. “We installed a prep tent earlier so the crew could take breaks from the sun and elements.”

Because only one day was afforded for the installation and one for removal, Prestige used a 16-person crew. In the end, that number was more than what was needed, but Hazen would do the same again under the circumstances.

“Without question, it was the right decision based on the timeline and weather,” he says.

The crew installed a clear 25-by-45-meter Anchor/Röder clearspan structure, anchored with 200,000 pounds of concrete ballast because staking wasn’t allowed. In addition, the crew installed AstroTurf®, staging and a catering prep tent.

Prestige Party Rental was brought into the project by event production company esp Productions of Farmingdale, N.Y.

“The event was absolutely perfect,” Hazen says. “The client loved the clear tops and the guests had a great view of the stadium. The weather was perfect for the event.”