As flightcases wheel back to warehouses following another whirlwind summer season, Concert Stuff Group (CSG) cemented its reputation as one of the ‘go-to’ names in full-service event solutions. With its headquarters based in North Carolina, CSG capped off the summer in style, delivering five back-to-back concerts at Chicago’s Soldier Field during the final week of August, featuring Oasis, My Chemical Romance, The Lumineers, and a double-bill of System of a Down.
Just over eight miles away, CSG’s sister companies – G2 Structures and Guardian Barrier Services – were simultaneously working their magic at Wrigley Field, constructing the live infrastructure for a headline performance by Chris Brown, while also deploying teams to support both ARC Music Festival and North Coast Music Festival, located on opposite sides of the city. “Very few companies in the world are capable of executing multiple stadium shows within one city, night after night,” stated Jim Brammer, CEO of CSG. “Our ability to deliver simultaneously at Soldier Field and Wrigley Field illustrates exactly why Concert Stuff Group is such a valued partner for artists and promoters across the globe.”
At Soldier Field, G2 Structures utilised its K2i staging systems, while Guardian Barrier Services provided a full range of barrier configurations to ensure robust crowd management. Together, they laid the foundation for unforgettable fan experiences, drawing tens of thousands of attendees to Chicago’s largest open-air venue each night.
Meanwhile, the very same collaboration at Wrigley Field helped bring Chris Brown’s show to life, without skipping a beat, even as Guardian’s experienced crews raced against time to support two genre-spanning electronic music festivals across the city.
Reflecting on this impressive logistical feat, Greg Hareld, Managing Director of G2 Structures, informed TPi: “Whether it’s one venue in a city or five, we make sure to never lose sight of the client’s needs. Every deployment is treated with equal importance and is led by a dedicated Crew Chief whose sole focus is to ensure a successful delivery. Behind the scenes, our centralised operations team supports them every step of the way, this is how we deliver locally while thinking globally.”
Managing morale, alignment, and technical performance across several large-scale venues and festival sites running in tandem is no easy task, even for seasoned veterans. So, what makes CSG so uniquely positioned to pull it off? “The success of G2 Structures, and indeed the wider CSG family, boils down to one crucial element – our people,” Hareld emphasised. “We work relentlessly to maintain clear communication, show real appreciation, and ensure every team member feels both valued and heard.”
While the company is rightly proud of its commitment to offering highly-competitive pay and benefits, Hareld was quick to note that material rewards are only part of the picture. “Those things mean little if our field crews don’t feel genuinely supported,” Hareld acknowledged. “Every person on our management team has spent time on the show floor, we’ve lived the challenges our crews face. That shared experience helps us lead with empathy and connect in ways that are both authentic and impactful.”
Equally important, Hareld noted, is the company’s ‘people-first’ culture, built on open communication, early alignment, and active support throughout every project. “From the outset, we focus on setting our teams up for success – clearly defining goals and equipping them with the right tools, both digital and analogue. We stay closely connected throughout the lifecycle of each deployment, using real-time feedback loops to troubleshoot potential issues before they escalate,” he added. “Above all, we prioritise respect – respect for the work, and for the people doing it. That consistency helps create a strong, unified culture, where mutual trust and shared purpose underpin everything we do.”
A key advantage in CSG’s arsenal, according to Hareld, lies in its network of highly specialised companies, seamlessly integrated to deliver turnkey solutions across multiple sites and disciplines. “We’ve woven together a collective of like-minded partners, all pulling in the same direction: our clients’ success. So, when an existing client engages one business unit and then wants to expand their collaboration, they can do so confidently, knowing they’ll receive the same culture of excellence and unwavering commitment across the board,” he explained.
With a successful summer season now behind them, CSG isn’t slowing down. As the company looks ahead, Hareld is clear-eyed about the road ahead: “Our primary goal is simple – to deliver the same high level of performance, reliability, and creative excellence to clients.”
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Words: Jacob Waite
Photo: Concert Stuff Group
