The Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards 2023 – Nominations

Stadium Experience is pleased to announce the official award nominations for 2023 – 78 football, rugby and cricket clubs across the UK have been nominated for awards in The Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards 2023. The awards, sponsored by Global Payments & Hungrrr, will take place at St. Mary’s Stadium, home to Southampton Football Club on Thursday 8^th June 2023.  Around 350 guests from over 40 clubs will experience a fine dining three course menu, awards ceremony, followed by an exclusive onsite after party until 4am.  2023 will be the 16^th annual awards event organised by Stadium Experience.

The prestigious event recognises the efforts and dedication shown by the catering, conference and events teams at every football, rugby and cricket stadium across the UK.  There will be a total of 14 different award categories, with a Bronze, Silver and Winner award for each presented on the evening.  This means there are at least 42 awards up for grabs in 2023.  This year’s categories include:

Outstanding Contribution Award

Sponsored by Taste Beverages

This award recognises those individuals who are simply outstanding at what they do, and continuously shine. This may be someone at the start of their career, making great strides in their roles, or someone in a more senior role leading the way in excellence.  

Best Retail Catering Award

Sponsored by Rollover Hotdogs

This award recognises the best retail catering teams at stadia across the UK.  This team will demonstrate commercial growth, high quality food offerings or proactive sustainability improvements. 

Matchday Sales Team of the Year Award

Sponsored by iVvy Venues

This award recognises the best matchday sales team in stadium venues across the UK.  Judges are specifically looking for teams demonstrating consistent growth and using new ideas to drive sales and cross-selling. 

Non-Matchday Sales Team of the Year Award

Sponsored by Special Occasion Linen

This award recognises the best non-matchday sales team in stadium venues across the UK.  Judges are specifically looking for teams demonstrating consistent growth, using new ideas to create unique and different events, whilst also providing value for money and overcoming any challenges.

Non-Matchday Mystery Shopper Award

Sponsored by Hi-Impact Media

Judged by HGEM, this award is based on a mystery shopper corporate/business event sales enquiry call and follow up email correspondence.

Best Stadium Events Venue Award

Sponsored by Rational UK

This award recognises the very best stadium events venue within the UK. Judges are specifically looking for a stadium venue which consistently displays exceptional venue facilities and outstanding guest experiences. 

Operations Team of the Year Award

Sponsored by Braehead Foods

This award recognises the often unseen behind-the-scenes teams that make stadium events run so smoothly. Judges are looking for teams which go above and beyond the call of duty to provide the very best service to customers. 

Chef Team of the Year Award

Sponsored by Chef Works & Bragard

This award is judged by Salon Culinaire chefs as part of the live kitchen event at the HRC Event at ExCel in London. Chefs teams had one hour to prepare, cook and present a three-course menu suitable for their Club Chairman to entertain the Head of the FA or RFU to dinner. 

Visiting Directors Awards – Football & Rugby

Sponsored by FC Business & Conference News

The Visiting Directors Award categories are voted for by Directors at each club. They are asked to nominate the club where they had the best away experience when travelling with their team. They are specifically asked to consider the welcome, service and catering when casting their votes.  There will be an award for both rugby and football venues. 

Matchday Hospitality Award

Sponsored by Chefs & Events Staffing

Reported by professional Salon Culinaire chef judges who experience hospitality at UK clubs this year using strict criteria.  This is divided by size of hospitality offering with an award for: 

Matchday Hospitality Award – Small Stadium (up to 1000 hospitality seats)

Matchday Hospitality Award – Medium Stadium (1001 – 2000 hospitality seats)

Matchday Hospitality Award – Large Stadium (2001+ hospitality seats)

Overall Matchday Hospitality Award

Presented by headline sponsors, Global Payments & Hungrrr

This award pitches all sized clubs against all, to announce the overall winning UK stadium. 

Stadium Experience Chair Person, Collette Salmon, commented: “Stadium teams work tirelessly, striving to bring excellence in their venues for both matchday hospitality and non-matchday events.  These awards recognise and celebrate all of this hard work and commitment.  This will be the 16^th annual awards we have organised, and will now include cricket venues for the first time reflecting our growing membership.  Congratulations and best of luck to all of this year’s award nominees – We look forward to announcing the results at St. Mary’s Stadium in Southampton on 8^th June!”

Independent Awards Judging

Each award category is independently judged (Stadium Experience does not judge any of the awards).  Some categories are voted for by stadium directors, HGEM judge the Non-Matchday Mystery Shopper Award, Salon Culinaire judge the Chef Team of the Year Award, and others are decided by teams of experts with many years experience in their fields.  Read more about the independent judging.

Book Tickets 

Tickets are available from just £105 each (discounted member rate), and you can book your awards tickets here. This years tickets will be digital, provided by Tixserve.

Get Involved

If you would like to promote your business and support this event with sponsorship or supplying a particular product or service, please view more details on sponsorship opportunities or contact us at office@stadiumexperience.com.

The 2023 Venues Nominations Are: