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Aggreko Heats Up Super Bowl Action

Friday, February 4, 2011

More items for Environmental Controls

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers weren't the only power on display Sunday (Feb. 6) at Super Bowl XLV in Cowboys Stadium. The UK also had a player in the mix—for the 21st time.

Amid some of the coldest winter temperatures ever in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Aggreko plc provided large-scale power generation and heating for the entire event, including the half-time show, practice fields and several “celebration sites.”

Glasgow-based Aggreko is a global provider of temporary power generation and temperature control solutions.

Following months of planning and preparation, Aggreko’s major events division powered everything from lighting and video during The Black Eyed Peas' half-time performance to stadium security. Aggreko also provided power and temperature control for the international media compounds broadcasting the event to a worldwide television, Internet and radio audience.

Last year’s Super Bowl was the most watched television program of all time, with more than 100 million viewers in the United States alone.

50 Miles of Cable

“This is Aggreko’s 21st year supporting the big game and its many festivities, and each event brings a unique experience,” said Gordy Broussard, Vice President, National Sales and Marketing, Aggreko North America.

“As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, and the sheer size of the new stadium makes this one of Aggreko’s largest supply of uninterrupted power and heating for a single event.”

Aggreko also powered both teams’ practice facilities and several celebration sites and VIP areas.

Services included:

• 13 MWs of generator power (enough for approximately 3,000 medium-sized homes);

• 4600 kW of heating; and

• Approximately 50 miles of cable.

“This job [required] finding creative ways to distribute 50 miles of cable in and around the building and install temporary utilities, while keeping the area safe and not detracting from the beauty of this amazing facility,” said Broussard.

Aggreko had the support of its national network of more than 50 service centers and a team of 12 employees, who began installing the complex array of equipment several weeks ago. Dismantling will require an additional two weeks.

Event Power

Aggreko has provided electrical power and climate control for television broadcasts, movie productions, concert tours and some of the world’s highest-profile events, including the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the 2009 U.S. Presidential Inauguration, and the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Aggreko has already signed a $30 million contract to provide temporary power generation services for the 2010 Asian Games and Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China. The company will provide about 65 megawatts of power generation and associated distribution for 16 stadiums, the opening and closing ceremonies, and the International Broadcast Centre. 

The company also has a $59.5 million contract with the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to be the exclusive supplier of temporary energy services for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Aggreko will also be a sponsor of both Games.

Facility Game Plan

Plenty of contractors worked alongside Aggreko to get things ready for the game at the NFL’s largest and most expensive indoor venue. The $1.2 billion, 3 million-square-foot, 10-level Cowboy Stadium facility, which opened in 2009, has 80,000 seats; 300 luxury boxes; a 660,800-square-foot domed roof; and 11,500 parking spaces.

According to Populous, the NFL's consulting architect for the Super Bowl, the game set-up also required:

• 200,000 square feet (18,580 square meters) of tents;

• 8 miles of fencing;

• 3,000 feet of concrete barricades;

• 26 temporary broadcast booths;

• 260 port-a-potties; and

• 8,000 linear feet of duct tape for the media route.

Although it was not in the plans, fall protection for the Vince Lombardi Trophy might not have been a bad idea. The Packers' new Super Bowl trophy, made by Tiffany & Co., stands almost 21 inches tall and 6 pounds, 11 ounces (3 kilograms), the NFL says. It is worth more than $25,000.

Comment from Mark Baum, (2/7/2011, 2:14 PM)

They get an "A" on their job--and the city, for taking care of the ice and numerous other things, gets an "F". There was no Plan B. I hope they never get another Super Bowl. Go, Pack!!