Summary

• For the first-ever Microsoft event in Houston, Sullivan Group transformed Minute Maid Park into an entertaining and intimate celebration.
• More than 10,000 guests were treated to interactive games, live music, fireworks and more.
• Sullivan Group had only 30 days to plan this world-class event, from start to finish.

Objective
For three days in July of 2008, Houston welcomed the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, one of the company's top three annual global events. As part of this gathering, Sullivan Group was called upon to orchestrate the Microsoft Partner Event - a celebration saluting approximately 10,000 authorized Microsoft distributors and partners, each a vital member of the global Microsoft family.

Challenges
With only about 30 days to plan a world-class event reflective of the Microsoft brand, Sullivan Group sprung into action. The production process began with event-theme formulation. Dubbed Field of Dreams, Microsoft partners were summoned to "get their game on" in an environment centered around sports, as well as games of chance, intellect and talent.

Production Management
Making the most of Minute Maid Park's Concourse level, Sullivan Group producers engineered fun-and-games areas, housing a host of energized activities. These areas included Xbox Alley - featuring numerous virtual sports games; a dueling-piano bar; the Union Station Karaoke Club that also featured a video deejay. While strolling between these entertainment hubs, attendees could enjoy arcade and carnival-style games, as well as food representative of Houston culture, classic baseball fare, and an international selection to satisfy the multicultural crowd. At the center of it all, the Minute Maid Park floor was home to a number of live bands, culminating in a headlining act.

Results
The evening's crescendo came with the gradual opening of Minute Maid Park's retractable roof. After much anticipation, the night skies provided the perfect backdrop for an impressive fireworks display, witnessed by attendees who made their way to the Minute Maid Park field level. Ultimately on-time, on-target and on-budget, Field of Dreams proved to be, quite simply, a grand slam.