Stadium Experience, the not-for-profit marketing collaboration of 41 UK football clubs from Premiership to League Two, has broadened its membership base and invites rugby venues to join for the first time.
The organisation was established in 2002 by football clubs wanting jointly to promote facilities as a consortium, raising the profile of stadia as venues for conferences and events, in addition to sporting fixtures.
Stadium Experience has been one of the successes of the football hospitality industry, providing members with support and assistance and showcasing their services to a wide network of individual and corporate customers. Over that period, the industry has raised standards immeasurably across the board in customer service, catering and variety of offerings.
Stadium Experience also celebrates the improved standards of the industry at its annual Hospitality Awards, the ‘Oscars’ of stadium hospitality.
Julian Britton from Wolverhampton Wanderers is a longstanding member of Stadium Experience and says: “Wolves have been members of Stadium Experience for nine years and enjoy the many benefits of being part of an industry specific organisation both commercially and from an information sharing point of view. Having over 40 members from all over the UK gives us more collective marketing power as a group, but also gives a voice to lower league clubs who otherwise would struggle to be heard. Stadium Experience does excellent work in promoting non match-day events within some of the greatest stadia across the UK.”
This summer, Stadium Experience has evolved to welcome rugby stadia as members for the first time. Stadia with conference and events facilities can enjoy the benefits of membership, including: joint marketing initiatives such as attending national exhibitions, advertising, e-shot campaigns, social media activities and the Stadium Experience website.
Members can enjoy networking, seek advice, share best practice and regularly meet to bring the latest industry developments to the table.
New Rugby members so far include: Twickenham, Worcester Warriors, Murrayfield, London Irish, and Wigan Warriors.
Murrayfield is the largest stadium in Scotland, welcoming up to 67,000 in its all-seater stadium. Lynne Geary, Director of Sales and Marketing at the stadium, says: “A key challenge of event management at stadia is managing expectations and dispelling the myths of what we can offer. With our extensive range of facilities, we can cater for large events of 1,000 people or smaller meetings for just 10 people, and of course everything in between. By joining Stadium Experience we aim to enhance our profile nationally, and help conference buyers really understand just what a stadium can offer as a unique venue for their next event.”
Lisette Maas from Notts County and voluntary Chair of Stadium Experience (and part of the Stadium Experience team pictured above), adds: “We are delighted to be opening our membership up to rugby stadia. They have a great deal to offer and we look forward to getting to know the new members over the coming months.”
To find out more about Stadium Experience, visit stadiumexperience.com.
This was first published in the September issue of CN. Any comments? E-mail conferencenews@mashmedia.net
