Area 51 helped two-time world boxing champion Ricky Hatton create a knockout charity event in his hometown of Manchester in aid of charity.
The much-loved Brit fighter celebrated his glittering sporting career by staging the stunning gala event at Victoria Warehouse with a host of special guests. The party was given a spectacular Las Vegas show feel thanks to the Area 51 team who completed a fleet-footed makeover with gusto.
“Welcome To Fabulous Manchester With Ricky Hatton” was a superb success and featured live performances by the reformed Black Grape featuring Shaun Ryder and Northside as well as three tribute bands (The Happy Mondaze, The Complete Stone Roses and The Oasis Experience) who continued the “Madchester” feel.
Original Happy Mondays star Bez was one of several high-profile DJs who also took part while Rowetta (Happy Mondays) starred in a show that celebrated the 10th anniversary of Hitman Hatton’s IBF world title victory over the then outstanding champion of the day, Kostya Tszyu which took place in Manchester in front of 22,000 diehard local Hatton supporters.
Area 51 helped create the Las Vegas party atmosphere and a team of eight technicians completed a ten-hour installation that included four custom-made gold mirror logo shields, black and gold pillars, giant sized signs for the stage and a 2.4-metre tall Hatton logo which hung over the audience. The team also adorned the VIP seating area with black and gold drapes complete with large hanging playing cards and added a red carpet entrance to the main hall and another one to the VIP area.
The Area 51 specialists also installed special lighting systems for the bars and a number of Area 51 performers were on show throughout the evening including Tiki themed stilt walkers, aerialists, magicians and more.
Hatton attended the event with his glamorous fiancée Jennifer Dooley and a number of VIP guests. Proceeds were donated to two of the former boxer’s favourite charities: Barnabus, a homeless charity hat offers a vital lifeline to 600 people every week; and Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention which is the UK’s sole charitable organisation dedicated to identifying early signs of the disease.
GALLERY
