At sporting events, hired air conditioning units can help to maintain a comfortable temperature for both participants and attendees.

What attendees expect

Before, during, and after a sporting event, those invited to enjoy the corporate hospitality provided at the venue (in corporate hospitality boxes, lounges, themed marquees, VIP areas, etc.), or indeed those that have paid for it, expect the temperature to be ‘just right’, particularly if they are event sponsors.

Impressing visiting delegations

Where delegations of sports administrators (incl. decision-makers) are invited to enjoy corporate hospitality at a sporting event, providing conditions to the highest standards can be the difference between that venue (or even that country!) being awarded host status for a major competition (an Olympics, a football or rugby World Cup…). Visiting officials will be scrutinising every tiny detail, with poor ventilation or an inappropriate temperature in corporate hospitality areas being something they could well take note of.

When air con units are most likely to fail

Many corporate hospitality areas at sporting venues have fixed (or ‘built-in’) air conditioning systems that are state-of-the-art and are designed to provide a sufficient supply of cool air when and where it is needed. But fixed systems can fail at the most inconvenient times; they also need to be serviced and/or maintained periodically. In extremely warm weather, systems can also prove inadequate when it comes to keeping corporate hospitality guests from getting all hot and bothered.

Thankfully, rented air conditioning can ‘save the day’ should any of the aforementioned problems occur. A specialist air con hire company will have a same day service, with the right units, fans and chillers often being on site, set up and operating in a matter of just a few hours.

(Leased chillers are powerful air-conditioning units: substantial, high capacity cooling machines that provide volumes of cool air that air conditioning units simply cannot.)

Types of sporting events

Rented air con could be utilised at just about any sporting event: major international cricket matches, football and rugby fixtures, lawn tennis and athletics championships, at Grand Prix events, horse racing meetings, polo matches… all provide corporate hospitality to the highest standards for ‘special guests’ who expect to enjoy themselves, basically feeling spoilt (not spending the entire time discussing whether the corporate hospitality lounge temperature is too high or low!).

Air con rental for marquees

At sporting events, corporate hospitality areas (and dedicated areas for media personnel, ‘media cabins’) is usually provided using marquees or other temporary structures. Poor insulation can be a major factor here, and so several air conditioning units (or even hired heaters) may be employed to create the desired temperature.

The machines can be thermostatically controlled (making them energy efficient) and can usually be placed outside of the hospitality area(s), with cool air then being distributed inside via air handlers.

So many benefits to external positioning

External positioning of units offers real flexibility, and can mean that if a corporate hospitality structure is designed with a specific scheme (e.g., use of ‘home team’ colours, the sponsor’s branding/logo, etc.) then the hired air con units can be kept out of sight, as far as possible. This also allows organisers and attendees to make the most of the space inside the marquee, and noise levels from air con units will not be an issue.

(Although ducted air con units can easily be rented and used at some sporting events, at marquees, split machines and/or chiller units are usually most appropriate.)

Ideal temperatures

Ideal temperatures for marquees and temporary structures will vary, of course, depending upon marquee size, attendance, the time of year. For basic corporate hospitality provision at a small marquee, where 150-250 people are invited, 65°F (18.33°C) is generally regarded as a comfortable temperature.

Questions an air con specialist will ask

When planning air con hire with a sports event manager, an air con specialist will consider: the size of the structure, where the units will be located, what activities will be taking place, the time and day of the event, and, of course, budget.