RWS Global announces acquisition of Great Big Events

Live events leader RWS Global has today announced the acquisition of Australian-founded Great Big Events (GBE), a leading event production company known for its work on the world’s biggest sporting events.

As a result of this transaction, the company is launching RWS Global Sports, a new division of RWS Global that will provide a range of offerings including venue design, entertainment, sports production and merchandise.

Advising that the new RWS Global Sports division will serve as a one-of-a-kind solution for clients, offering best-in-class, end-to-end live experiential offerings for audiences worldwide, Ryan Stana, Chairman and Chief Executive of RWS Global, stated “this exciting acquisition redefines the possibilities for integrated, live sports and entertainment experiences on a global scale and propels us into a new realm of innovation and creativity.

“Fusing together our teams, resources and talent strengthens our position as leaders in the live experiential sector and allows us to deliver unprecedented live sports and entertainment experiences for our clients and their audiences across the globe.”

GBE co-founder Kim Henshaw will join and lead the RWS Global Sports division, bringing extensive industry expertise and knowledge that will be invaluable as RWS Global continues to expand its presence in the live entertainment and sporting events market. This acquisition represents an incredible opportunity for growth and innovation.

Henshaw, now RWS Global Sports Executive Vice President, stated “we are thrilled to be joining forces with RWS Global and excited about the endless possibilities ahead.

“With our combined expertise, we will develop unparalleled live sports experiences and set a new standard for the industry. Today marks the beginning of an incredible journey, and we can’t wait to showcase the innovative and groundbreaking work we will achieve together with RWS Global.”

This acquisition follows the previously announced strategic investment from RWS Global’s first institutional investor, Bluestone Equity Partners, a private equity firm with diverse sports and entertainment assets.

The investment will support the new RWS Global Sports division in delivering revolutionary viewer experiences across major upcoming international events over the next three years with ambitious plans for further global expansion.

Additionally, the deal sees RWS Global strategically expanding its digital capabilities with the acquisition of GBE’s suite of fan engagement apps, including Ultimate Fan App and Anywhere Live, along with the integrated software system, PV4. This portfolio of interactive event apps and software further enables RWS Global to deliver connected, dynamic experiences across major global sporting events.

RWS Global is establishing an office in Sydney, its fourth global hub, complementing existing locations in New York, London and Cincinnati.

The RWS Global team now comprises more than 300 full-time employees and engages over 8,000 seasonal talents annually.

GBE's past credits include over 100 world championships, world cups, Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth and multi-sport Games.

Main image: Established in 1995, the Sydney 2000 Olympics was one Great Big Events' first event successes. Credit: VenuesLive.