Following the success of the 2006 FIFA Fan Fest in Germany, 2010 saw FIFA extend their fan sites to include a further six official cities across the world alongside the nine cities in South Africa.
Darling Harbour in Sydney was one of the cities chosen to host the free event which broadcasted all the World Cup games live. The site which was open 24/7 from 11th June until 12th July, saw up to 20,000 people gather to watch the big games.
ES Group was contracted as one of the key suppliers for the event, managing the design and installation of scaffold structures. ES Group provided over 3,000m2 of scaffold structures including VIP hospitality decks.
ES Group was trusted to work with Darling Harbour's prized circular water feature, usually an attraction for the site, but for the Fan Fest event, the 20m diameter recessed water fountain created a hazard for large crowds. To resolve this, ES Group built a scaffold substructure within the water feature, bringing it up to ground level, and with a combination of steel frame and carpentry detail, a flush finish was achieved. This increased the crowd capacity for the site, and ensured the safety of the public.
The event was produced by the Department of Premier and Cabinet through Community Engagement and Events also featured interactive games, appearances by footballers from Sydney FC, Central Coast Mariners and Matildas and family fun ensuring that there was no other place to be in Sydney during the World Cup.
