Lessons from Hibernian FC’s 150th Anniversary
Football fans turn up early. They leave late. They expect everything to work.
At the 150th anniversary of Hibernian Football Club, that expectation was multiplied.
Hibernian hosted German side Rot-Weiss Essen in a symbolic match that replayed the first European Cup tie by a British club. The occasion meant history. But it also meant planning.
We delivered a full fanzone on-site at Easter Road. Our team built and handed over everything on schedule. We stayed on-site to troubleshoot. And we left only after the last supporter had gone home.
That’s how we do it.
Key insights from the event:
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Get pitch-perfect permits early
Local authority sign-off, club approval, and emergency services coordination all take time. We managed the full compliance schedule in advance. -
Design for crowds, not just space
Fans don’t queue neatly. They flood. They push. We allowed for overspill, sightlines, access lanes, and reflow. Our clearspan structures kept walkways open and crowd flow steady. -
Allow for weather, expect wind
Marquees must stand up to changeable weather. We pre-checked loading data and anchoring methods. Zero movement. No surprises. -
Work with club staff, not around them
Club operations don’t stop. We coordinated with the stadium’s own matchday teams. Power. Comms. Catering. No conflict. -
Clear handover. Immediate response.
We supported the fanzone throughout. Not just a build and go. Problems were fixed in minutes, not hours.
You already know the pressure of live events.
You’ve probably had to work around late deliveries, clashing suppliers, or poor layouts.
So ask yourself:
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Do you have one contractor who can deliver everything?
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Can they design, build, staff, and dismantle at speed?
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Are they briefed and ready before your fans arrive?
We were promoted pitchside by Hibernian FC for a reason.
That level of recognition is earned.
Ready to talk about your next event? We’re ready to help.
