As of January 13, Pennsylvania-based ModSpace has been awarded the bid to provide more than 45,000 square feet of temporary space for Super Bowl media, security, and tailgate festivities at and around Raymond James Stadium. The mobile-office contract included partnerships with Oregon's Noel Lesley Event Services and Los Angeles-based Party Planners West.
Plans include 16 modular structures for the both the NFL Experience event and Tailgate Party-two signature Super Bowl events-during the week preceding the big game and office complexes of about 98 buildings to house staff, media, and security. Additionally, two structures will also be assembled in the end zone of the stadium to host media representatives on game day. Construction is scheduled to begin immediately.
ESPN the Magazine is also taking advantage of the accessibility and creative freedom offered by a temporary structure, as opposed to a one of Tampa's stationary venues. The magazine, along with event producer Event Eleven, will convert the parking lot at 202 South Morgan Street in downtown Tampa into the venue for their annual Next party on January 30, and the Next Day tailgate event on the following day. A 20,000-square-foot quadra-span structure from Canadian tenting company Tentology will house several sponsored lounges from partners such as Old Spice and a custom-built 800-square-foot garage-style lounge from Castrol. LG Appliances will also sponsor a full kitchen setup for a Jock Chef segment on Saturday.
"From taking over an eight-story unfinished building in Detroit to closing down a 10-block area in downtown Miami for 10,000 guests or erecting a massive tent in a park in the middle of old Scottsdale, we strive to be different and give our guests a unique event experience every chance we have," said Blandine Reid, senior director of ESPN. "We just could not accomplish that by doing the NEXT event in a nightclub."
A 5,525-square-foot sand volleyball court will also be constructed on site, as part of a partnership with AVP Pro Beach Volleyball. With 300 tons of imported sand, the temporary court will host pro matches throughout the weekend.
Further riffing on the convenience of temporary structures, sponsor Gibson Guitars will provide its tour bus to serve as the dressing room and greenroom for performing talent at the ESPN events, such as DJ Samantha Ronson, Wyclef Jean, and Sean Kingston.
