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Last of the summer wins: a look back on a summer of event excellence
Last of the summer wins: a look back on a summer of event excellence
Story Business 25/09/2024
As the summer sun warmed Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, we have enjoyed another season of iconic events at our venues. From the Foo Fighters rocking the stage to the excitement of Major League Baseball, it’s been a fantastic celebration of music, sports, culture, and community. None of this would have been possible without our world-class venues and the hard work of our amazing events team, who delivered over 150 different events, filmings, brand activations, and production unit base parking for filming. In this blog, we’ll look at how it all came together to make this summer one to remember.
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Since 2019, Major League Baseball’s London Series has chosen London Stadium to be their home away from home, and the all-American past-time has been a welcome addition to the Park’s summer line-up! This year has been no different, with the event returning to rave reviews and award-winning success, with London Stadium winning the Fan Experience award with the Major League Baseball (MLB) London Series at TheStadiumBusiness Awards 2024.
This highlighted the exceptional efforts of the team at London Stadium, who consistently go above and beyond to create unforgettable experiences for event attendees. For Major League Baseball, they crafted an authentic ballpark atmosphere, offering guests an all-American menu across the concourse and Stadium Island. This included unique offerings like donut burgers, two-foot-long hotdogs, and themed cuisine inspired by the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, among many other delights.
The event doesn’t only offer amazing outcomes for attendees but boosts the local economy for the benefit of east London. This includes £37 million generated in 2019, then £50 million in 2023, and while the figures aren’t yet in for 2024 – we know this year will have been another roaring success.
Monster Jam, a thrilling high-energy monster truck showcase, also returned for their third year on the Park. Monster Jam, like MLB, is a testament to London Stadium’s ability to pull off major makeovers in short periods of time. The truck-flipping extravaganza involves adding hundreds of tonnes of dirt where the football pitch would usually be, while MLB includes adding over 144,000 square feet of synthetic turf – you can watch the stadium’s transformation over the course of summer here.
Community and culture
Community and culture
Returning for a third consecutive year this August, UK Black Pride has solidified its position as the world's largest and most significant celebration for LGBTQI+ individuals of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American, and Middle Eastern descent. This vibrant and empowering event is a beacon of inclusivity, drawing thousands of attendees from diverse backgrounds to come together in solidarity and celebration of their shared identities and cultures.
Lady Phyll, Chief Executive Director of UK Black Pride, expressed the importance of the event’s partnership with Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, stating, “UK Black Pride have found a home at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – working alongside the experienced dedicated events team at the park, we have been able to create an event which champions our community and celebrates East London”.
The Park's expansive and iconic grounds provided the perfect setting for UK Black Pride's multifaceted celebration, which featured a dynamic mix of live performances, cultural showcases, workshops, and more. This event serves as both a celebration and a powerful platform for raising awareness of the unique challenges faced by LGBTQI+ people of colour. Each year, it continues to grow in size and significance, reinforcing its role as a crucial space for fostering community, pride, and resilience.
The Park’s community festival The Great Get Together also made a comeback this summer, with a lineup of dance and music performances from community groups, drummers and parading, community workshops, and sporting activities. The festivities spanned a large area of the central park, Mandeville Place, Tessa Jowell Boulevard, Fountain Rooms, and Riverside East.
This summer also saw the opening of the Stratford Waterfront public realm, which as well as debuting Sadler’s Wells Hip Hop Games, welcomed Greenwich and Docklands International Festivals' (GDIF)' ‘Dancing City’ to the Park. The 25-year-old festival is London’s largest celebration of world-class theatre, circus, spectacle and dance- a perfect fit for our large outdoor event capabilities. As well as performances on East Bank’s Stratford Waterfront, GDIF also captivated audiences on Stratford Cross and other areas across the Park.
Music
Music
The Foo Fighters’ return to London Stadium delivered two unforgettable nights of music and energy. What made these nights truly special was not just the music, but the sense of unity among fans, creating a shared experience that exemplified the power of live performances. The team at the stadium worked tirelessly to ensure that everything—from security to crowd management to sound quality—was seamless, allowing the audience to focus purely on the magic of the night. This also meant huge demand on our infrastructure, Stratford station saw its two busiest days so far this year in June as Foo Fighters played on June 20 and 22 with 225,785 and 229,952 entries and exits respectively.
Similarly, Burna Boy’s electrifying performance brought his unique Afrobeats to east London. His performance attracted a diverse crowd, reflecting his international appeal and the increasing demand for African music on the world stage. The stadium pulsed with energy as Burna Boy showcased his artistry, and his connection with the audience was palpable. With world-class sound, lighting, and logistics in place, the venue once again proved its capacity to host large-scale events that cater to diverse musical tastes.
As the sun sets on another remarkable summer at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, we look ahead to the future with excitement. The success of this season highlights our team’s ability to create experiences that are not just memorable but transformational for attendees, artists, athletes, and the wider community. The range of events demonstrates the Park’s versatility and status as a premier destination for world-class events. These events were just a drop in the ocean of an incredibly busy summer, which also included London Athletics Meet, Dancing City, screenings of all the major sporting tournaments, Disco-sailing, London Mural Festival, among others.
We are already planning an exciting line-up for next year, filled with more incredible moments that will bring people together. If you would like to be a part of next year’s summer of event excellence on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, check out our event spaces for hire.
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