Behind the Scenes: The Logistics of the Longines Global Champions Tour

The Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) is one of the world’s most prestigious show jumping series, famed for its iconic city venues and flawless organization. From Paris under the Eiffel Tower to London at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and with new destinations like New York and Vienna on the horizon, the tour transforms landmark locations into world-class arenas. Behind the glamour lies a vast logistical effort. Jeremy Eviston, part of the LGCT logistics team, shared with us the detail, precision, and innovation required to make it all possible.

Turning Iconic Spaces Into Arenas

“Locations are carefully chosen based on their unique characteristics—ambiance, look and feel, and amazing backdrops. London in the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Paris under the Eiffel Tower are perfect examples; but also our upcoming events in New York with the Manhattan Financial District and the Statue of Liberty in the background, and Vienna with the Schönbrunn Palace in the background. We visit the site, carry out a feasibility study, produce layout plans, decide on infrastructure type and design, and work around obstacles. Every element from stables, tents, stands, arena, can go up and come down without leaving a mark.”

From Arrival to Opening Day

“Planning and organization start months and months in advance, with site visits, permits, and local supplier contracts taking up the bulk of the pre-construction work. The build itself takes little over two weeks. The first phase consists of constructing the large temporary structures: VIP tent, GC Lounge, and public grandstands, as well as laying power cables all over the site. The second phase consists in preparing the sand arenas, continuing with the construction of the public areas such as the commercial village and kids’ area, decorating the hospitality areas, and constructing the stabling tents. The third phase ensures everything is ready for the arrival of the horses: placement of ground protection mats, erection of stable stalls, installation of bedding, and a full horse arrival plan in place. The fourth phase finalizes the installation of LGCT and sponsor branding, furniture, lighting, and audio systems, with all staff briefed on procedures.”

Perfect Footing, Everywhere

“We employ local footing specialists who provide their extensive experience and expertise to ensure the footing is to 5* standard. We always have a silica sand with integrated fibre that is delivered in approximately 65 truckloads, spread equally around the arenas and then rolled with heavy machinery, irrigated, and harrowed until it reaches a solid, compact depth of around 15 centimeters.”

Moving Horses and Equipment Globally

“We at LGCT have an expert team who coordinate movements of all LGCT equipment and horse competitors globally. Our team organizes all logistics relating to intercontinental horse traveling, from animal quarantine to chartering horse transport airplanes. The team also organizes all of our own material, from jump poles and wings to the LGCT merchandise stand materials and podium pieces.”

Consistency Meets Local Character

“Every venue brings its own unique qualities depending on local customs and cultures; no location is the same—that’s what’s so special about our tour. We only aim to enhance the character of the site without overshadowing it. We, at LGCT, bring brand consistency to every show by maintaining our prestigious standards in the show organization, sport, entertainment, and hospitality.”

Backup Systems for Reliability

“Spare generators, backup timing gear, duplicate cabling for power and data, and extra pumps for watering. We always keep specialized technicians on-site for each division so that if there is a critical outage, it’s quickly resolved.”

A Sustainable Approach

“All our branded materials including jump poles and wings are reused time and time again over many years—we don’t replace anything unless it’s strictly necessary. Branding, carpets, and many other materials are recycled. We use toilets with vacuum pumps to use less water. All horse waste is brought to local farms and spread on the land as organic fertilizer. All our specialist suppliers for each event are sourced locally, which diminishes transport impact on the environment.”

The Unseen Effort Behind the Glamour

For spectators, LGCT is about sport, elegance, and unforgettable backdrops. For the logistics team, it is months of preparation, sleepless nights, and constant problem-solving. Jeremy summed it up perfectly: “When you see the horses jumping under the lights, the crowd cheering, and the TV feed going out worldwide—it makes all the stress worthwhile. That’s when we know we’ve done our job.”

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