Bring your next meeting to the North’s innovative stadium venues for a unique and exciting delegate experience.
Maximising the potential of an event’s essentials while offering a little bit extra to motivate delegates, stadium venues are consistently staying ahead of the game as unique meeting providers in the industry. Collaborating with around 40 major football, rugby, and cricket clubs across the UK, Stadium Experience is boosting the awareness of what these iconic venues can offer for planners.
“Stadium venues are unique and prestigious settings suitable for all your meeting needs,” said Stadium Experience Marketing Manager, Debbie Rigney. “The variety of adaptable spaces, from intimate boxes to large suites, provide great options for all forms of meetings and conferences. Paired alongside stunning pitch views to admire the stadium’s architecture and all the match-time action, events taking place at these venues provide an experience far apart from more traditional locations.”
On the map
Ideally located to offer excellent transport links and ample parking, stadia’s easy accessibility always kicks meetings off to a great start and is further complimented by reputed events teams ready to welcome delegates from their first arrival and direct them to their designated event space. Currently the newest purpose-built Rugby League stadium in the country, the home ground of St Helens R.F.C, Totally Wicked Stadium, sits within easy reach of the M6 and M62 and less than half an hour from Liverpool and Manchester. The free on-site parking for over 350 vehicles also leaves larger delegate numbers in good hands, with the neighbouring Mercure Hotel providing a convenient spot for colleagues to base themselves overnight if required.
Unique experiences
The prospect of walking around the playing and changing areas graced by sporting stars is already an exciting enough incentive for delegates to participate in a stadium venue-held event long before its launch date. The same unique setting also makes endless breakout opportunities for planners to embellish their meeting with added entertainment value as the day progresses.
While discovering some of Liverpool F.C.’s history in a behind the scenes venue tour or admiring the view from a rooftop walk, groups at Anfield Stadium can also hear a motivational talk from one of the club’s footballing legends during their next training course or workshop before getting a photograph with the club’s silverware to bring home a lasting memento from the event.
Green credentials
Forward-thinking measures to improve their environmental impact and achieve sustainable development goals are rapidly granting stadium venues recognised accreditations, with over 700 sites currently participating in Green Tourism’s Green Meetings standard. Sustainability initiatives become a key focus during stadia refurbishment to reduce energy and minimise heat loss, while EV charging points have also grown substantially in recent years for non-match day event attendees.
Crowned the Greenest Club in Scotland, Edinburgh’s Easter Road Stadium and home of Hibernian F.C. notably marked the end of 2020 having recycled 100% of all matchday waste, removing single use plastics, and expanding its plant-based menu options. As the industry moves into 2023 newly motivated after COP27, planners can still rely on stadium venues to keep sustainability a top priority when finding their next event.
Team spirits
Innovative group activity ideas combined with thoughtful localised Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives continue to raise the bar for team building events across northern stadium venues while taking full benefit of the vast outdoor space available. Relaunching in May 2023, the Manchester City Corporate Cup at Academy Stadium is inviting colleagues to take part in a 32-team tournament while helping to raise funds for youth-led programmes with the venue’s partnering charity, City in the Community.
“The tournament lets planners promote their company on their shirts and pitch side LED boards before networking at an after- party,” explained Debbie. “It’s a perfect way to make memories within your team and further cement your company within the events industry while raising money for a good cause.”