© Red Bull / Mark Roe all images
- Client: FCKRY (for Red Bull)
- Location: Barbican, Plymouth
- Date: 27 September 2025
By the Numbers:
- 6,000+ spectators; a record-breaking turnout for the Barbican
- 350 registered competitors, narrowing to finalists in head-to-head knockout rounds
- 1 day event
The Challenge
Red Bull Up The Mast brought a bold new format to Plymouth’s Barbican: competitors sprinting up a greased mast to grab the flag, cheered on by thousands of spectators. For Plymouth City Council, the event attracted the largest single day crowds the Barbican had ever seen. The challenge for organisers was ensuring public safety, managing live show timings, and protecting local business access, all while adapting quickly when a viral Red Bull TikTok post pushed attendance even higher than forecast.
Our Approach
- Xplor supported FCKRY and Red Bull from planning through to delivery.
- Produced overlay and site drawings to map infrastructure, crowd flows, and competitor access.
- Developed a robust Crowd Management Plan, balancing safety with public access to local businesses.
- Worked closely with Plymouth City Council in the build-up and on-site to coordinate logistics, safety, and licensing.
- Managed live event control, ensuring show timings, competitor flow, and crowd safety were aligned.
- Supported infrastructure set-up and ran the day schedule on the ground, coordinating stakeholders and managing crowd dynamics.
The Impact
Despite record-breaking numbers, the event ran smoothly and safely, with crowds managed effectively and businesses kept open throughout. The team’s planning, responsiveness, and on-site management ensured Plymouth hosted a Red Bull spectacle that was safe, spectacular, and celebrated as a huge success for the city.
