Planning and executing the biggest sporting event of the year
On February 1, more than 115 million people in the United States will watch the ‘biggest football game of the year’. In Glendale, Arizona, the land around the University of Phoenix Stadium will transform into a small city that will host hundreds of thousands of fans, employees and volunteers.
While two teams have fought through a long, tough season to reach the big game, logistics planners have been hard at work making sure the biggest sporting event of the year goes off without a hitch.
Making it to the final game of the year takes determination for teams, players, coaches and front office personnel. The same rings true for the logistics team planning the most watched annual event. With the whole world tuning in, the slightest oversight could have game-changing effects.
The logistics of putting on the biggest event of the year seems endless and complicated. With the venue changing every year and unpredictable weather, anything can happen. Long before the 6:30 p.m. ET kick-off, people are preparing every detail, and the planning work has been ongoing for months.
From temporary fencing to the halftime show stage, to the miles of banners and thousands of boxes of merchandise, logistics managers have to coordinate deliveries, build temporary warehousing space, manage that space, all within short time windows. Oftentimes, the deliveries are taking place in hard to get to locations, while complying with federal regulations and strict requirements.
The execution of these deliveries depends on precise planning and having a strong workforce in place to receive shipments and move equipment as fast as the trucks delivering them are coming in and out of the loading area.
All shipments to the University of Phoenix Stadium and the surrounding area must be managed and maintained, from merchandise tents to generators to food and beverages. The logistics team plans these shipments to take place without interrupting the day’s activities. Generally, the deliveries take place during the night with approved transportation providers following a carefully coordinated schedule.
Moreover, the logistics plan doesn’t end when the winning team lifts the championship trophy. After the confetti has dropped and the MVP tells everyone he’s off to Disney World, everything must be put back the way it was. Tents will quickly come down, unpurchased food and merchandise will be shipped out, and temporary fencing removed. This will include the same intricate details to bring trucks into tight spaces, while getting them loaded and out on the road quickly.
When it comes to putting on the biggest game of the year, the logistics team is just as important as the players are. Planning and executing every detail before and after the game will make sure the biggest sporting event of the year goes off without a hitch.
The big game is a great example of why project logistics matters to the average football fan.
Want to learn more? Visit ryder.com