Big Ten Rentals

What Big Ten Rentals does

Big Ten Rentals is a privately held event and party equipment rental company headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa, founded in 1981. The company rents a comprehensive portfolio of physical event infrastructure — event tents (rope-and-pole, frame, Losberger clearspan, and hybrid designs ranging from 10'x10' to 80'x150'), portable bleachers seating 15 to 412 people, tables and chairs, temporary stages, crowd control equipment, mobile refrigeration trailers, generators, HVAC equipment, refrigerated beer trailers, dance floors, audio systems, inflatables, and event lighting — to customers across the Midwestern United States, including Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, and North Dakota.

The business model is asset-based rental: customers request quotes through the website or by phone, and Big Ten Rentals delivers, professionally installs, and subsequently removes the equipment. Pricing is unit-based and pay-as-you-go, with transparent list prices for smaller items (e.g., $69 for a 10'x10' pop-up tent, $1.95 per plastic folding chair) and quote-based pricing for larger custom installations (Losberger clearspans, multi-tent corporate layouts). The company sells primarily through direct channels — phone, website, and on-site consultation — supplemented by marketplace listings on WeddingWire and The Knot, Yelp, and Google Reviews.

Customer segmentation is horizontal, spanning individual consumers (weddings, graduation parties, backyard gatherings), corporate and enterprise clients (John Deere, Transamerica, Anheuser-Busch, Target, HyVee, WinField United, West Liberty Foods, Rail.One, Summit Agricultural Group, ANP Liquid Fertilizer), community/public event organizers (Special Olympics USA Games, USA Gymnastics, William Penn University, Chicago District Golf Association, Adventureland Park, 402 Events), and seasonal retail operators (Cornellier Fireworks, TNT Fireworks, HyVee fireworks stands). The company maintains memberships in the American Rental Association, Advance Textiles Association, and Greater Iowa City Chamber of Commerce, and is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding or parent entity.

Name

Big Ten Rentals

Legal name

Big Ten Rentals

Website

https://bigtenrentals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Big Ten Rentals is a Midwest-based event equipment rental company founded in 1981, supplying tents, bleachers, stages, tables, refrigeration, and full event infrastructure with delivery and setup across Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and surrounding states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Equipment Rental

NAICS

General Rental Centers (53231), All Other Consumer Goods Rental (532289)

SIC

Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Event Rentals (Furniture, Staging, Tents) (HSACADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tent & Canopy Rentals (HSACAFAA), Event Furniture Rentals (Tables, Chairs, Lounge) (HSACAFAB), Climate Control Rentals (Heaters, Fans, Misting, AC) (HSACAFAG), Outdoor Event Equipment Rentals (Umbrellas, Patio Heaters, Fire Pits) (HSACAFAL)

Keywords

• Event equipment rental
• Tent rental services
• Bleacher rental
• Mobile refrigeration rental
• Crowd control equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rental: Rental of event equipment including tents, bleachers, tables, chairs, stages, crowd control, generators, HVAC, mobile refrigeration, and accessories. Customers pay rental fees for specified time periods with delivery and setup included.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Big Ten Rentals rents tents, bleachers, tables, chairs, stages, crowd control equipment, portable restrooms, mobile refrigeration, and HVAC equipment on a delivery-and-setup basis for events across the Midwest. The company serves corporate, community, and individual event hosts from its Iowa City, Iowa base, with bundled logistics and installation handled in-house.

Product overview

Big Ten Rentals is a party rentals and event equipment company offering a comprehensive portfolio of rental products for events across the Midwestern United States. The core offerings include event tents (rope and pole, frame, clearspan Losberger structures, and hybrid tents in sizes from 10'x10' to 80'x150'), portable bleachers (seating 15-412 people), tables and chairs, temporary stages, crowd control equipment, mobile refrigeration units, generators, HVAC equipment, refrigerated beer trailers, dance floors, audio equipment, trailers, inflatables, and lighting. The company operates from Iowa City, IA and delivers setup services throughout Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tent rentals Rental of party and event tents including pole tents, frame tents, and Losberger structures for weddings, corporate events, festivals, and community gatherings, with delivery and professional setup included.
• Bleacher rentals Rental of hydraulic towable and stationary bleachers for sporting events, parades, graduations, and spectator gatherings with delivery and setup services.
• Table and chair rentals Rental of tables and chairs for weddings, corporate functions, community events, and personal celebrations, supplied with delivery and setup support.
• Stage rentals Rental of portable stages for concerts, ceremonies, speeches, and live-event performances with delivery and setup.
• Crowd control equipment rentals Rental of barricades, bike racks, fence panels, and related crowd management equipment for events requiring traffic or attendee flow control.
• Mobile refrigeration rentals Rental of mobile refrigeration units for temporary cold-chain needs at events including food and beverage service, weddings, festivals, and large-scale catering.
• HVAC equipment rentals Rental of portable HVAC equipment for climate control within tents and temporary event structures during warm- or cold-weather events.
• Portable restroom rentals Rental of portable restrooms for outdoor events, festivals, and remote gatherings lacking permanent facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bleacher setup time: under 20 minutes from arrival to guest-ready
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 402 EventscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Recurring partnership with 402 Events for corporate event support in Nebraska. Big Ten Rentals provides equipment and installation for events organized by 402 Events, a Nebraska-based event production company.
• Chicago District Golf AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Multi-year partnership providing elevated bleachers and press risers for the annual Chicago Golf Show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
• BNY ProductionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 August 2017Event production partner for political events. Big Ten Rentals provides equipment for events organized and promoted by BNY Productions.
• American Rental Association (ARA)minorOthersMembership in the American Rental Association, the trade association for equipment rental companies. Provides industry networking, best practices, and credibility.
• Advance Textiles AssociationminorOthersMembership in the Advance Textiles Association, providing access to textile industry resources and connections for tent and fabric materials.
• Greater Iowa City Chamber of CommerceminorOthersMember of the Greater Iowa City Chamber of Commerce, providing local business networking and community presence.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• L & J Rentals: Iowa-based tent, table, chair, and event equipment rental company serving the Eastern Iowa and Quad Cities corridor. Direct geographic and product-line overlap with Big Ten Rentals, competing for the same wedding, corporate, and community event customers.
• ABC Special Event Rentals: Regional party and event rental provider offering tents, tables, chairs, inflatables, and concessions equipment. Comparable horizontal product range and similar SMB/community event customer base to Big Ten.
• A-1 Tent & Party Rental: Multi-state party and event rental operator in the Midwest providing tents, tables, chairs, and inflatables. Direct horizontal competitor to Big Ten for community, wedding, and corporate events across overlapping geographies.
• Classic Party Rentals: National party and event rental company offering tents, tables, chairs, linens, and décor for weddings and corporate events. Directly comparable product mix and full-service installation model, with broader national footprint than Big Ten.
• Hollywood Tents & Events: Midwest-based event rental company specializing in clearspan and frame tents, staging, and seating for corporate events, festivals, and sporting events. Closely comparable product mix and target customer segments to Big Ten.

Others

• Losberger Cover GmbH: Manufacturer and supplier of clearspan tent structures that Big Ten uses as its premium offering. Functions as a supplier/strategic partner rather than a competitor, but anchors Big Ten's high-end capability and access to large-scale event infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Cort Event Furnishings: National furniture and event furnishings rental provider serving corporate events, trade shows, and experiential marketing. Overlaps with Big Ten on tables/chairs/lounge furniture and corporate event segment, but with far broader inventory and national reach.
• United Rentals: North America's largest equipment rental company with adjacency to event and infrastructure projects through aerial, power, and HVAC equipment. Not a direct tent rental competitor but represents the well-capitalized national operator expanding into event-adjacent categories.
• Sunbelt Rentals: One of the largest equipment rental companies in North America with a dedicated event, tent, and climate solutions division. Overlaps with Big Ten on tents, power generation, and HVAC rentals, but as part of a much broader industrial/general equipment portfolio.
• GL Events: Global event infrastructure provider offering temporary structures, seating, exhibition services, and event equipment worldwide. Comparable clearspan tent and bleacher capability at the high end, though serving primarily very large international events rather than regional party rentals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bigtenrentals
• Facebookfacebook.com/BigTenRentals
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-ten-rentals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Ten Rentals