Requirement

A tailored beverage dispense system for London’s new O2 Arena to meet the venue’s high-volume demand for quality beer and lager at peak times. AEG specified that at full arena capacity it should be possible to serve customers with a minimum of one and a half drinks each during the pre-event timeframe, a period of approximately 30 minutes. The O2 Arena has a capacity of 22,000 across five levels.

Solution

The Cornelius UltraFlow fast-pour system dispenses beer over three times as fast as standard systems. UltraFlow doesn’t just speed up delivery; it also guarantees a high quality drinks experience. The system is customized for each application to ensure that every pint is delivered with consistent taste, temperature, carbonation and head height. For arena operators, caterers and consumers, selling more drinks in a shorter space of time is crucial to improving spend-per-head. The small timeframe in which refreshments can be sold is one of the key operational constraints, particularly concert intervals.

Intervals are the prime time to sell refreshments, but they last just 15 minutes, when spectators tend to swamp bars and kiosks. Cornelius has worked closely with AEG to specify the equipment and install the system, which comprises everything from sub-zero cellar cooling to the point-of-purchase fonts. Within the stadium there will be a total of 39 bars & kiosks with 26 using the UltraFlow systems. Free-Flow Dispense systems are installed within the bars in the Chairman’s Club, VIP Lounge and the exclusive Indigo2 backstage bar, including soft drink dispense solutions and bottle cooling cabinets.

The UltraFlow system delivers high-volume, fast throughput dispense that reaches maximum capacity during peak demand times pre-event and during intervals. Its purpose-designed sub-zero cooling system ensures maximum cooling capacity even during peak periods. The completed system is capable of dispensing an astonishing 33,000 pints during the 30-minute period prior to the concert starting