The Game Fair 2025

Summary

The Game Fair 2025 marked a record-breaking year at Ragley Hall, welcoming 128,000 visitors across four days, the highest attendance ever recorded at the venue. With footfall at this scale, seamless waste management and labour provision were critical to maintaining site presentation, visitor experience, and operational safety throughout the event.

ODS was appointed to deliver a robust and flexible waste management solution capable of performing under intense pressure, restricted access, and extended operating hours. Through detailed planning, experienced leadership, and a highly responsive onsite team, ODS ensured the event ran smoothly from pre-event setup through to post-event operations, supporting a successful and Client: well managed show.

Requirements

The event organisers required a waste management partner capable of supporting a high-profile event with record visitor numbers, while maintaining consistently high standards across a large site.

Key requirements included:

• A professional, visible onsite presence aligned with the scale of the event.

• Reliable service that supported a positive visitor experience throughout each day.

• Extended daily coverage to prepare the site before opening and manage operations after close.

• A calm, experienced team able to operate effectively during peak periods

ODS was appointed to deliver a dependable, well managed service that would support smooth event operations and perform confidently at scale.

Challenges

The scale of The Game Fair 2025, combined with 128,000 visitors across four days, created significant operational pressure. With the event open from 8am to 6pm, waste management teams were required on site before gates opened and after close to maintain presentation and safety standards.

This was further complicated by:

• Limited vehicle movement allowed within the event footprint during public hours

• Restricted 3.5T vehicle usage reducing traditional waste-collection options

• No mobile phone signal across large parts of the site, making communication and coordination difficult

ODS was required to deliver consistent, high-quality service across long operational days within a highly constrained event footprint.

Solutions

ODS designed and delivered a fully integrated waste management operation tailored to the site’s constraints, scale, and extended daily operating hours.

The solution included:

• 480 x 1100-litre bins and 150 x 240-litre bins strategically positioned across the site

• A dedicated fleet including 1 Refuse Collection Vehicle, 8 Roll-on Roll-off containers, and 1 x 3.5-tonne Luton vehicle

• 1,420 labour hours delivered across four days, ensuring continuous coverage before, during, and after public opening hours

To overcome access and communication challenges, the team implemented practical, proven solutions:

• A radio-based communication system to maintain reliable coordination across the site

• Buggies with trailers to service bins and transport waste where vehicle access was restricted

• Optimised collection schedules and crew deployment to maintain service levels while complying with onsite movement rules

Ben and Craig led the operation onsite, supported by an experienced, proactive team who adapted quickly to changing conditions and peak-time demand.

Results

The result was a smooth, dependable operation that supported a record-breaking year for The Game Fair:

• Nearly 100 tonnes of waste removed safely and efficiently

• Public areas kept consistently clean and well managed throughout long event days

• Seamless transitions between daily event close and the following morning’s opening

• Positive feedback from both event organisers and attendees

Client testimonial

"By providing extended, end-to-end coverage and a calm, solutions focused presence onsite, ODS helped maintain operational efficiency, presentation standards, and visitor experience across the entire event.

Following our positive experience at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, we appointed ODS as our waste management partner for The Game Fair, a significantly larger event.

Ben and Craig once again led a proactive, solutions focused service at scale, supported by an amazing team on the ground who were always ready to help. We look forward to continuing to work with ODS for many years to come."

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