When a major sportswear brand needed a temporary arena on a busy Shanghai plaza, the venue had to be ready fast, weather-sealed, and tall enough for a full basketball court plus lighting truss.
The surrounding mall and pedestrian flow meant there was no room for trial-and-error: the structure had to arrive, rise, and open on a tight schedule. A basketball court tent was the clear answer, but it had to be wide, unobstructed, and strong enough to carry AV and ventilation loads.
25x20m Aluminum Frame Event Marquee for Outdoor Sports
The installed unit was a aluminum event tent with a 25 m clear span and 20 m length, giving roughly 500 sqm of column-free floor space. The side height was 4 m, the ridge line peaked above 7 m, and the bay spacing was 5 m. This left enough room for a full basketball court, perimeter seating, and a stage for the brand activation while keeping spectators away from the building columns.
The frame was built from hard-pressed extruded aluminum alloy 6061-T6, anodized for corrosion resistance. The roof cover was an 850 gsm PVC-coated polyester with UV inhibitors, and the sidewalls used 650 gsm PVC in the same color family. Hot-dip galvanized steel connectors linked the frame sections. This combination is the same as our standard canopy tent line, so every component could be reused across later events.
Clear span design for sports activations. A clear span roof eliminates interior poles, which is essential when athletes, cameras, and moving rigs share the same floor. The roof load is carried by the perimeter frame, so the court can be marked without obstructions and the lighting truss can run straight from one end to the other. For this Shanghai plaza, the 25 m span also meant the tent could be positioned over the existing pavement without drilling into the surrounding landscaping.
Assembly schedule. The entire frame was assembled in two working days, including base plates and tensioning. The modular design lets each bay be built independently, so the crew could start at one end and finish at the other without staging the full structure in advance. For a plaza with limited laydown space, this matters. The PVC skin followed the frame, and the wood sports flooring was laid on top of a protective subfloor layer, preserving the public tiles underneath.
Flooring and lighting options. For this project, the client chose a maple-style wood sports floor with basketball court markings, installed on a levelled base. Overhead, the lighting truss was suspended from the frame, carrying stage lights and a central LED screen rig. Side entry gates were left open with branded wind barriers, and air movers were hung from the truss to keep the space cool. These are the same options we offer for any arcum tent or clear-span sports hall, just sized to the 25 m module.
Technical Specifications
- Frame struts: extruded aluminum 6061-T6, anodized
- Fabric cover: 850 gsm double PVC-coated polyester, waterproof, DIN4102 B1 flame retardant, UV and tear resistant
- Connector: hot-dip galvanized steel
- Wind load: 80–100 km/h with proper anchoring
- Snow load: 75 kg/m²
- Temperature range: -30 °C to +70 °C
- Span: 25 m clear span, 20 m length, 5 m bay spacing
- Certifications: CE, TÜV, ISO 9001, SGS
- Options: sports flooring, lighting truss, HVAC, glass wall, transparent roof, lining
Logistics and site preparation. Delivery was planned around the mall loading hours. The frame shipped in standard 40 ft containers and was craned onto the plaza in three lifts, each 5 m bay staged close to its final position. Base plates sat on rubber load-spreading pads and the structure was ballasted with water-filled anchors instead of being drilled into the pavement. The eight-person crew completed assembly in two days, and after the final match the same frame was dismantled and re-erected at a second venue later in the season. For a venue operator, that repeatability is what separates a modular 25 m tent from a one-off build. The crane work was coordinated with mall security, and the plaza returned to normal pedestrian traffic within 48 hours of the last match.
Related Projects
For a similar setup indoors, our Gym Tent line covers training halls and multi-use courts from 15 m to 50 m wide. The modular floor and wall systems can be matched to any span. If the event needs a curved profile instead, the Arcum Tent offers the same clear-span benefit with a roof shape that sheds wind from any direction.
Project FAQ
Can a 25x20m tent really host a regulation basketball court?
Yes. The clear span of 25 m leaves the court, sidelines, and scorer table area free of columns, while the 20 m length fits the full court plus end buffers.
How do you protect the plaza surface during installation?
We use a subfloor protection layer under the sports flooring and base plates with load-spreading pads. The structure is ballasted or weighted rather than drilled, so the existing pavement is not damaged.
What happens if the weather turns during the event?
The PVC roof is fully waterproof, and the sidewalls can be fitted with solid panels or clear windows. The wind rating of 80–100 km/h is tested with the correct anchoring, so short-term weather changes do not stop the event.
Browse our earlier outdoor sporting event tent for sale case for a similar plaza setup. Get a quote: tell us your event dates, court size, and site surface. We return a layout, load plan, and FOB price within 24 hours.
Send the site details, required size and operating season for a tailored specification.
How to Choose the Right Clear-span sports event tent
When sourcing a Clear-span sports event tent for basketball & sports activation in Shanghai, China, compare the main options before you buy:
| Option | Recommended for | Key note |
|---|---|---|
| Clear-span sports event tent (this) | Commercial basketball courts | 500 m², wood floor, lighting truss |
| Permanent court hall | Fixed venue | High CAPEX |
| Inflatable dome | Quick pop-up | Lower durability |
For a 25×20 m configuration, our engineering team confirms span, eave height, and wall system (glass, PVC, or transparent) to match your site and local wind load.
