Published by Neil ThompsonStadium Experience has officially opened its doors to cricket and athletics venues this summer, with two new venues already joining the team. The not-for-profit marketing consortium was originally established in 2002 just for football stadium venues, and evolved in 2014 to welcome rugby stadium venues too. Today, Stadium Experience works with 40+ football and rugby clubs across the UK, and aims to share best practice and promote stadia as unique and prestigious venues for meetings, conferences and events.
For the first time ever, cricket and athletics venues are now able to join as official Stadium Experience members and take part in all aspects of the group’s activities. Cricket and athletics venues will also be the first participants of the 2023 Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards, with the opportunity of matchday hospitality judges attending their venues this summer (entries are open from July 22 – April 23).
Just some of main activities of Stadium Experience includes;
- Sharing best practice and ideas with regular dedicated networking events each year for sales teams and public catering teams.
- Joint exhibition opportunities
- Meeting event buyers and key agencies as a consortium.
- Promotional activities, such as online marketing, social media support, regular newsletters to event bookers, advertising and PR.
- Receiving sales enquiries.
- Group discounts and offers from key suppliers.
- An annual awards celebration; The Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards
- and much much more….
Two cricket venues have already joined the Stadium Experience family, including Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the north, and Hampshire Cricket on the south coast. Yorkshire County Cricket Club shares the Headingley Stadium with existing Stadium Experience Members, Leeds Rhinos Rugby Club. Kelly Englefield is Head of Business Development at the stadium, and commented: “Allowing Cricket clubs to join the unique network of likeminded business professionals that is Stadium Experience will benefit both venue and portfolio. Cricket stadiums have some of the best conference facilities in the country, and will most certainly feel a huge benefit from the valuable information shared and industry support they will receive. As a sales representative of a dual Rugby and Cricket club this adaptation of membership brings further excitement as I will now be able to showcase the full stadium and all its facilities.
“Cricket stadiums like so many other sports facilities rely on the revenue generated by the conference and events market as this is constantly viewed as an area of potential growth. I see my Stadium Experience membership as an extension of my own in house sales team, Debbie and the Leadership Team will be on hand to help, support and guide your business to receive the maximum exposure for a fraction of the cost of some other organisations. My advice is ‘get involved you won’t regret it.”
“Stadium Experience originally started in 2002 with around 5 clubs getting together to share ideas. This has continued to grow and develop over two decades into a consortium of over 40 fabulous stadium venues all across the UK. These venues have so many synergies, as well as a drive to continually improve and offer something a little more unique compared to traditional venues. Stadium Experience is all about sharing knowledge, developing new ideas and driving up standards across the industry. We are really looking forward to welcoming our cricket venue colleagues into our team!”
Collette Salmon, voluntary Chair of Stadium Experience
Tom James, Head of Sales & Commercial Partnerships at The Ageas Bowl, home of Hampshire Cricket, added: “Here at The Ageas Bowl, we are delighted to be joining Stadium Experience, their extensive portfolio of members is extremely impressive and we look forward to being a part of it moving forward.”
If you represent a football, rugby, cricket or athletics venue and are interested in finding out more about joining Stadium Experience, read more here or contact office@stadiumexperience.com.
