Seating excellence at historic Qatargas 2 launch

Arena Seating joined leading UK event suppliers to create one of 2009’s most spectacular corporate ceremonies, this April.

WRG Creative won the contract to produce the opening of Qatargas 2, which has the capacity to supply 20% of Britain’s natural gas. The project was inaugurated by the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, at the terminal in Ras Laffan City, Qatar, in an event attended by The Duke of York, Prince Andrew.

As part of the ceremony a video message by Prime Minister Gordon Brown applauded Qatargas’s ability to supply safe and reliable energy to the UK.

The event, conceived and managed by WRG Creative, was staged in a new dome-shaped structure, surrounded by a temporary lake to present the illusion of a sphere floating in the desert. Inside, a demountable tiered theatre installed by Arena Seating featured upholstered luxury Diplomat and In-Style seating systems.

The unique event, one hour’s drive from the Qatar capital, Doha, presented a range of logistical challenges, which required attentive preparation and experienced operational procedures, which were more than one year in the planning.

Arena Seating’s temporary auditorium had the look and feel of a permanent facility. One thousand Arena In-Style upholstered seats formed the main part of the system, with a module of VIP Arena Diplomat seats installed centrally to welcome the Amir and his guests.

The installation was finished to immaculate standards, with carpeted aisles and timber staircases. “Arena’s team worked well in tough conditions of extreme heat and high humidity, as well as the tightest security standards,” says Dave Withey, Director of Arena Seating. “We were delighted to play a part in celebrating the opening of Qatargas’s hugely significant new service to the UK.”