A BRADFORD company pitched in a huge sporting event that was broadcast to a global TV audience.

Setstage builds sets for TV, podcasts, theatre and music and in its latest project constructed dugouts for the two teams which competed in the Major League Baseball (MLB) London Series.

The event saw St Louis Cardinals battle Chicago Cubs in two games held over two days at the London Stadium, home of West Ham United, on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Action from Major League Baseball's London Series at the London StadiumAction from Major League Baseball's London Series at the London Stadium (Image: PA)

Honours were even over the weekend, as Cubs won the Saturday clash 9-1, while St Louis were Sunday’s victors, 7-5.

Setstage built the two dugouts, measuring 23 by 5.5 metres, at the side of the field.

 

The two-game series is a huge showcase for the company as the matches were screened across the world, including on BT Sport in the UK.

A group of up to 20 people worked on the dugouts when they were built at Setstage’s base at Newhall Way, off Rooley Lane. 

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A view from the dugout built by Set Stage in the lead-up to the London SeriesA view from the dugout built by Set Stage in the lead-up to the London Series (Image: Set Stage)

The firm’s team put the dugouts in place inside the stadium ahead of the matches. After the event, the dugouts were placed into storage for future use.

Phil Sharp, Setstage director, said: “It’s a big, big thing. It is growing so fast for us. We don’t know what the next phone call will be. We’re expanding massively. Our stuff is going further afield.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The London Series dugout which was built and assembled by Bradford's Set Stage The London Series dugout which was built and assembled by Bradford's Set Stage (Image: Set Stage)

Meanwhile, Setstage is working on a huge project in time for this Christmas.

The team is building the full set for Peter Pan, the star-studded pantomime which will run at the London Palladium between December 9 to January 14, 2024. The cast includes Jennifer Saunders, Julian Clary and Nigel Havers.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Action from the London Series matches between Chicago Cubs, red trim, and St Louis Cardinals, blue, which featured the Set Stage-built dugoutsAction from the London Series matches between Chicago Cubs, red trim, and St Louis Cardinals, blue, which featured the Set Stage-built dugouts (Image: PA)

They are the latest high-profile projects for Setstage after it built stage sets for a number of acts in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest - including for the UK.

Setstage built the set for this year’s UK entrant Mae Muller, who performed ‘I Wrote A Song’ at the iconic competition. 

The company also built the voting desk used on stage at the final by the show’s presenters. This featured LED lighting with a series of colourful hearts.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Some of the pieces for the dugouts arrive at the London StadiumSome of the pieces for the dugouts arrive at the London Stadium (Image: Set Stage)

It is the second successive year the firm has built the UK’s set. The 2022 entrant Sam Ryder finished second at the Eurovision final held in Turin.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The London Stadium housed two Major League Baseball matches last weekendThe London Stadium housed two Major League Baseball matches last weekend (Image: PA)

Setstage was set up by directors Phil Sharp, Steve Dolan and Dan Bell in 2020 and they opened their construction unit in 2022.