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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Ballroom to sporting arena...
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PARADISE ISLAND, The Bahamas - Lights are low as rumblings of excitement and anticipation fill the air. A spotlight shines as national anthems are sung. Then, lights flash and music crescendos as Atlantis, Paradise Island’s big event begins to unfold. However, this is neither a concert nor a banquet; it is the Imperial Ballroom, one of the resort’s event spaces that transforms into the Imperial Arena for a few days of the year. This half-million dollar temporary stadium serves as home to the most exhilarating Division I men’s early-season college basketball tournament, Battle 4 Atlantis.
To make this transformation from ballroom to basketball arena a reality, two powerful teams come together from over 3,000 miles apart. The teams from Atlantis, Paradise Island, and Angel City Designs (ACD), are guided by their respective expert leaders in the months leading up to Battle 4 Atlantis. Atlantis’ Event Production is led by Quinton Brennen, Executive Director of Special Events, Weddings and Concert logistics, while ACD is led by the company’s President, Mark Yumkas.
ACD’s relationship with Atlantis started in 2005, with the grand opening of the resort’s Marina Village. The Los Angeles-based ACD was founded in 1998 and is a top-tier brand marketing, special event design, production and coordination company that creates, develops, and executes marketing strategies through special events.
ACD’s distinguished reputation boasts an impressive resume of high-profile events, such as the 2014 Grammy Celebration in Los Angeles (for 5,000 guests), NBC Universal’s Golden Globes Celebration, and FOX Broadcasting’s Super Bowl Saturday night celebration, as well as the royal wedding of the Crown Prince of Qatar.
“We have worked with ACD for a number of years now.They are our production partners and we rely heavily on them for their expertise when it comes to the creation of the Imperial Arena. They help with the design, layout, seating, court, entrance and exit flow – every element of the Arena.”, says Brennen, a 15-year veteran at Atlantis.
Brennen is at the helm of the Battle 4 Atlantis production team. He is responsible for coordinating the logistics of building, set-up, and breakdown, as well as sourcing equipment (bleacher seating, lightning, audio, etc.) and shipping everything into Paradise Island on 40-foot containers.
Over a seven-day period, an 80-person production team works 10-hour shifts that entail physically building and breaking down the entire 3,500-seat Arena. Yet the majority of work begins well in advance for both Atlantis and ACD.
Mark Yumkas, Angel City Designs and Quinton Brennen, Atlantis, Paradise Island
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According to ACD’s Yumkas, his initial reaction to the ambitious transformation was excitement. “What a great challenge to develop a basketball arena customized to NCAA Division I standards that creates not only a fan experience, but a true Atlantis guest experience!”
Prior to the physical set-up is the process of arranging for all the necessary equipment and supplies’ arrival in The Bahamas from the United States. Brennen explains that equipment (packed into 20 containers) is sourced at least six months out and shipped two weeks prior to the Tournament.
“We work closely with U.S. and Bahamas Customs to ensure everything arrives into the country,” explains Brennen. “Our Freight Forwarder [Tropical Shipping] and our Customs Broker also play a large role in the process.”
The transformation into the Imperial Arena begins with physically dissembling the ballroom and assembling equipment, followed by technology-related installations.
First, over 100 beautiful chandeliers throughout the Imperial Ballroom are removed. These elaborate light fixtures are taken down 10 days prior to the Tournament over the course of a day and carefully stored. Once this step is complete, the teams begin set-up of lighting and audio in the ceiling, which takes roughly two days. Next are the bleachers, which are built in three days. Only after the physical implementations are completed can all customized and necessary Information Technology (IT), power lines, and game equipment be installed and tested.
Another challenge the teams face each year is the installation schedule, which can change based on events that are taking place in the Imperial Ballroom pre-and post-tournament. Each year, Atlantis and ACD evaluate the program and fine-tune it so the guest experience continues to improve with every event.
“Atlantis’ Special Events team, under the direction of Anna Schmid, is the best in the business,” maintains Yumkas. “I cannot think of another resort in the world that executes events on a level that makes both the guest and player experience so extraordinary.”
What’s most rewarding for Yumkas is hearing guests’ feedback of how terrific, exciting, and successful their on-property experience is.
“I like to think we have a major part in that success, especially from the tournament perspective,” says Yumkas. “I cannot think of another location or collective team anywhere in the world that could put together what we do here. I use the word a lot, but it truly describes the experience… extraordinary.”
© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com
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