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The Stadium Event & Hospitality Awards returned last night at Liverpool's Anfield Stadium
The Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards have resumed after a two-year break marking the 15th annual awards event, and 20th anniversary of organisers, Stadium Experience.
Specialist events and hospitality teams from 40+ football and rugby club venues across the UK have celebrated their ‘off the pitch’ successes.
The prestigious event, sponsored by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company, was hosted place at Anfield Stadium, home to Liverpool Football Club. Around 400 guests attended to represent their teams in conference and events, matchday hospitality, chef teams, public catering, operational departments and senior management. They experienced a warm welcome to Liverpool in the venues iconic Dugout Lounge, which included a fine dining four course menu, with awards ceremony and live entertainment, before partying into the early hours of the morning until 4am.
The event is organised by Stadium Experience annually, and recognises the efforts and dedication shown by the catering, conference and events teams at every football and rugby stadium across the UK. Since the awards programme began, around 450 awards have been presented to the very best in the business. For 2002, over 75 football and rugby clubs were nominated for awards, with 22 different clubs scooping at least one of 39 gongs (across 13 categories).
Independent Awards Judging
Each award category is independently judged. Some are voted for by stadium directors, and others are decided by teams of experts with many years experience in their fields. Read more about the independent judging panel.
The Results…
Newcastle United Football Club scored 3 of the top awards and 1 silver, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club achieved 2 winning awards and 3 silvers, whilst Worcester Warriors Rugby Club scooped 1 top award and 3 silvers. The final winner of the awards evening was Leeds Rhinos Rugby Club, who won the top gong for Overall Matchday Hospitality Experience 2022, fighting off tough competition from over 20 participating venues across the leagues. The full list of 2022 award winners includes:
*NEW* 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.
WINNER – Morecambe Football Club – Jodie Assitt
SILVER – Newcastle United Football Club – Graham Proctor
BRONZE – Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club – Rachel Laming
*NEW* Best Retail Catering Award – Sponsored by Kepak Convenience Foods
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.
WINNER – Manchester City Football Club
SILVER – Ashton Gate Stadium (Bristol)
BRONZE – Hull City Football Club
Match Day Sales Team of the Year Award – Sponsored by Green Gourmet
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.
WINNER – Worcester Warriors Rugby Club
SILVER – Aston Villa Football Club
Non-Match Day 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.
WINNER – Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
SILVER – Worcester Warriors Rugby Club
BRONZE – Wasps Rugby Club
Best Stadium Events Venue Award – Sponsored by Hi-Impact Media
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.
WINNER – Newcastle United Football Club
SILVER – Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
BRONZE – Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
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.
WINNER – Newcastle United Football Club
SILVER – Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
BRONZE – Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
Chef Team of the Year Award – Sponsored by Chef Works
This award was judged by Salon Culinaire chefs as part of the live kitchen event at the HRC Event at ExCel in London in 2020. 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.
WINNER – West Ham United Football Club
SILVER – Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
BRONZE – Everton Football Club
Visiting Rugby Directors Award – Sponsored by Conference News
This award is voted for by Directors at rugby clubs. 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.
WINNER – Northampton Saints Rugby Club
SILVER – Wigan Warriors Rugby Club
BRONZE – Hull Football Club
Visiting Football Directors Award – Sponsored by FC Business
This award is voted for by Directors at football clubs. 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.
WINNER – Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
SILVER – Fulham Football Club
BRONZE – Norwich City Football Club
Matchday Hospitality Awards – Sponsored by MSL Verteda
Reported by professional Salon Culinaire chef judges who experience hospitality at UK clubs this season 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)
WINNER – Leeds Rhinos Rugby Club
SILVER – Worcester Warriors Rugby Club
BRONZE – Morecambe Football Club
Matchday Hospitality Award – Medium Stadium (1001 – 2000 hospitality seats)
WINNER – Southampton Football Club
SILVER – Blackburn Rovers Football Club
BRONZE – Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
BRONZE – Hull City Football Club
Matchday Hospitality Award – Large Stadium (2001+ hospitality seats)
WINNER – Newcastle United Football Club
SILVER – Leeds United Football Club
BRONZE – Hampden Park Stadium
Overall Matchday Hospitality Award – Presented by Carlsberg UK
This award pitches all sized clubs against all, to announce the overall winning UK stadium.
WINNER – Leeds Rhinos Rugby Club
SILVER – Worcester Warriors Rugby Club
BRONZE – Southampton Football Club
Stadium Experience Chair Person Collette Salmon, commented: “Every year we go all out to showcase that stadia across the UK are at the top of their game when it comes to both hospitality and events. After an extremely challenging two years, this has never been more important. Our member venues are always looking for new and innovative ways to deliver above and beyond customer expectations – Whether on a match day or on a non-match day. Our consortium works hard behind the scenes so the customers have a fantastic experience. This year’s awards evening was a fantastic celebration of all of this hard work, and a key milestone in bringing everyone back together to mark the 15th annual awards event, as well as the 20th Anniversary of Stadium Experience. Huge congratulations to all of this year’s worthy winners.”
Jodie Assitt, Events Manager at Morecambe FC won the Outstanding Contribution Award, she commented: “I would like to thank everyone from our team. 2021 has been a challenging year for every one and it’s great that our input can have such a huge impact on the Covid-19 pandemic. Thank you once again and up the Shrimps!”
Leeds Rhinos Rugby Club won the Matchday Hospitality Award – Small Stadium and the Overall Matchday Hospitality Award. Rachel Fox, Account Manager for Sodexo at Headingley Stadium, said: “The opportunity to bring the team together to experience a fantastic night with like-minded colleagues from UK stadia has been amazing. To achieve an award and recognition on top is just phenomenal. I can’t wait until next year!”
Newcastle United FC won the Operations Team of the Year Award. Gemma Nugent from Sodexo at the venue, commented: “This year has been a rollercoaster for all at NUFC. We have conquered some monumental challenges so words cannot describe how delighted we are to accept this award on behalf of our incredibly hard working team at NUFC!”. Rachel Divers is the Sales Manager at the club. She added: “At St James Park, we pride ourselves on delivering unforgettable experiences, not just on matchday for for every client event, so we are thrilled to win the Best Stadium Events Venue Award!”
Tottenham Hotspur FC had a successful evening with many awards. Harry Champion, Private Members Club Manager, said: “Elated! 3 years in the making regardless of the score on the pitch, we ensure our away directors always have a great experience. That’s hospitality at it’s finest.”
Tony Davison, Commercial Directors at Northampton Saints Rugby Club, commented: “The welcome at the cinch Stadium is so important to everyone at the club; everyone at the club works together to make to everyone feel at home, that includes the directors. We are so happy to win this award and be a part of this fantastic organisation.”
Worcester Warriors had big wins at the event. Alison Jones, Development Manager, said: “We feel so proud and privileged to have won tonight. We feel blessed and grateful. Thank you!”
Southampton FC took the top prize for Matchday Hospitality Award – Medium Stadium. Aimee Richardson, Sales & Marketing Manager, commented: “Thrilled to win the award. It represents all the hard work Saints have put into the fans, clients and stadium visitors over the last few years.”