Arena Group establishes West Coast base with acquisition of Stuart Event Rentals

Global special events provider Arena Group has acquired San Francisco, Calif.-area Stuart Event Rentals, a move that will provide the company with a West Coast operations center to complement its U.S. operations in the Midwest and East Coast.

Stuart president Michael Berman and executive vice president Andrew Sutton will continue in their current roles to develop West Coast business and ensure continuity for clients and staff.

“Delivering to clients the best experience possible with quality products and five-star service will always be Arena’s focus,” says Arena CEO Greg Lawless. “Our goal is 100 percent customer satisfaction. Stuart will help us achieve this as a best-in-class product and solution provider on the West Coast. Michael and Andrew have grown up in this industry and understand the needs and expectations of its customers. The Arena Group is looking forward to many years of business development and market growth through the leadership and contributions of these two well-known industry veterans.”

The acquisition will offer local events and national projects with a countrywide inventory base, as well as increased access to trained and skilled labor, according to a press release on the acquisition.

“In an industry strongly burdened by private equity ownership managing for short-term, bottom-line results, Arena/Stuart clients will benefit from a long-term investment in products, people and innovative event services,” Berman says. “We are very excited to provide both our clients and team members a home they can count on instead of worrying about who will own their equipment solutions provider when their event occurs.”

Stuart Event Rentals has provided premium event rentals to corporate, social and nonprofit events for generations. Spanning four continents, the Arena Group provides special event experiences to its client base through a large inventory of clearspan tenting, flooring, tables and chairs, kitchen equipment and HVAC, as well as custom, in-house design and manufacturing capabilities and some of the most cutting edge and innovative under-the-tent product lines available. The combined company will deliver to the West Coast the latest structure technology, branding, and custom, engineered solutions along with more than 100,000 square feet of under-the-tent inventory.