2016 STADIUM EVENTS & HOSPITALITY AWARDS

STADIUM EXPERIENCE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES THE 2016 STADIUM EVENTS & HOSPITALITY AWARDS

Stadium Experience is pleased to officially launch the 2016 Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards, and announce that the host venue will be the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

The awards will take place at the home to Aviva Premiership Rugby Club Wasps and Coventry City Football Club on Thursday 2nd June 2016. Around 400 guests will experience a fine dining four course menu, awards ceremony, followed by DJ and Las Vegas themed after party onsite at the Grosvenor Casino Coventry until 4am.

The state-of-the-art venue opened in 2005 and boasts over 20,000sqm of flexible event space, along with a 32,609-seater stadium, onsite hotel and Grosvenor Casino Coventry. Andy Gibb, Managing Director of Ricoh Arena, commented: “We are delighted to be hosting the Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards, and are looking forward to welcoming such a wide range of industry organisations and colleagues.

“It is very fitting that we are to host the event – as we now encompass all elements that the awards celebrate – and have made significant improvements to the venue as it celebrates its 10th birthday.

We will help make the event a truly memorable occasion.”

The prestigious event aims to recognise the efforts and dedication shown by the catering, conference and events teams at every football and rugby stadium across the UK. Entries are now open and there will be a total of 11 possible awards up for grabs, including:

Media Choice Award

Non-Matchday Mystery Shopper Award

Star For The Future Award

Operations Team of the Year Award

Best Sales or Marketing Initiative Award – NEW for 2016

Chef Team of the Year Award

Directors Choice Award

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)

The Big One - Overall Matchday Hospitality Award

Collette Salmon from Liverpool Football Club and Chair of Stadium Experience, added: “We are thrilled to launch the 2016 awards today, which are now open to enter.

These will be the twelfth annual awards organised by Stadium Experience, which continues to grow bigger and better every year. Ricoh Arena has an exciting evening planned, in which stadium teams will really be able to celebrate their achievements in true style.”

More information is available online at - www.stadiumexperience.com/awards/2016 . Stadium Experience is also keen to explore opportunities with potential sponsors who would like to get involved.