Stadium Experience to welcome Rugby venues for the first time.
Stadium Experience is a not-for-profit marketing collaboration of around 40 major UK football clubs from Premiership to League 2. The organisation was established in 2002 by football clubs wanting to jointly promote facilities as a consortium, raising the profile of stadia as venues for conferences and events, in addition to sporting fixtures. Today, the association announces it will welcome Rugby venues for the first time.
Revolutionary when it was founded 11 years ago, Stadium Experience has been one of the great 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 offering. Stadium Experience also celebrates the improved standards of the industry at its annual Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards, which have become known as the “Oscars” of stadium hospitality.
Julian Britton from Wolverhampton Wanderers is a longstanding member of Stadium Experience. He said: “Wolves have been members of Stadium Experience for 9 years now and enjoy the many benefits of a 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 is an impeccably managed organisation and does excellent work in promoting non matchday events within some of the greatest Stadia in across the UK.”
This summer, Stadium Experience has evolved to welcome Rugby stadia as members for the very first time. Both football and rugby stadia across the UK can take advantage of the support and promotion the not-for-profit organisation is able to offer. 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. As well as support in the form of networking, seeking advice, sharing best practice amongst other members and regular meetings to bring the latest industry developments to the table. New Rugby members so far include; Twickenham, Worcester Warriors, Murrayfield, London Irish, and Wigan Warriors, who have joined 41 major UK football stadia members. See all of Stadium Experience’s members.
Murrayfield is the largest stadium in Scotland, welcoming up to 67,000 in its all-seater stadium, and was one of the first Rugby members to join Stadium Experience this summer. Lynne Geary, Director of Sales and Marketing at the stadium, commented: “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 Football Club and voluntary Chair of Stadium Experience, said: “We are absolutely 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 of our team over the coming months.”
Find out more about joining Stadium Experience.
Find out the key stats and contact details for all of our unique stadium venues by downloading our Stadium Venue Guide.
