Many creative University of Tennessee staff spent a year and a half planning an extraordinary evening to launch its capital fundraising campaign, aptly named “It Takes a Volunteer.” The attention to detail was incredible!

Imagine walking into Thompson-Boling Arena and not recognizing it. Every seat was hidden, the basketball court was carpeted, and even the behind-the-scenes service areas were transformed into showcases for the university’s colleges and departments.

We were honored to play a small but impactful role in this special evening. Our team created a 108-foot-long white sheer fabric tunnel that led guests from the arena concourse down the steep steps to the arena floor. Black draping concealed the concession stands and blocked the view into the arena, leaving guests wondering what awaited them at the bottom. Bandit Lites illuminated our tunnel with orange and white lighting, creating a beautiful and memorable first experience. We also created a separate 48-foot tunnel for guests entering by elevator.

A project of this size and location required extensive planning to ensure guests could walk through the narrow, sloping tunnel safely. I invited Gary, a fellow decorator from Alabama and an expert in our industry’s rigging, to assist. After several site visits and careful measurements, we secured every upright to the arena seating, added extra weights, and ensured no fabric obstructed the walkways.

It took a team of 10 people an entire day to complete the installation, and they did an outstanding job!

One of the things I appreciated most about this event was that so many of the special effects, screens, sound, video, lighting, and production elements were created by University of Tennessee talent and local Knoxville companies. We truly have an incredible community of special event professionals, and I’m grateful to be one of them.

The photos show the inside of the tunnel, along with one view from the outside to help illustrate its length. Pictures simply cannot capture the feeling of walking those 108 feet without knowing what incredible experience awaits you.

It was a wonderful reminder that it really does take a volunteer, and a talented team of dedicated people, to make something extraordinary happen!