Stadium Industry Updates 30 May 2023
The latest updates from the European Stadium Industry!
Stadium Golf Tour adds Stadium MK to UK tour
US-based Stadium Golf Tour has expanded its presence in the UK by sealing an agreement to stage events at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes from July 6-9.
The confirmation comes after Stadium Golf Tour announced in April that Selhurst Park, King Power Stadium, Hillsborough and London Stadium would host events in the UK this summer, along with London’s Twickenham Stadium.
The home stadium of MK Dons, which suffered relegation to English Football League Two earlier this month, will be transformed into a uniquely designed nine-hole golf course, with tee boxes situated around the stadium bowl.
Golfers will then hit shots onto the related green situated on the pitch, with a self-scoring system from eagle to double bogie, depending on how close to the hole they get.
Read more at: https://www.stadiummk.com/news/stadium-golf-tour-is-coming-to-stadium-mk/
Lord’s cricket ground introduces sustainable water
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has unveiled the Re:Water brand as the official water supplier to the club and historic London stadium Lord’s.
Claiming to be the world’s first spring water that comes in a bottle made from 100% recycled aluminium, Re:Water will sit at the heart of the MCC’s sustainability objectives, the club said.
Re:Water has served as the preferred supplier to some of the most high-profile sustainability events globally, including the G7 Summit in Cornwall and COP26 in Glasgow in 2021. Re:Water is also part of the Race to Zero carbon-neutral drive, which aligns with the club’s own sustainability targets.
Read more at: https://www.lords.org/lords/news-stories/mcc-signs-re-water-as-official-water-supplier-in-p
Oxford United stadium plans move forward
Oxford United’s efforts to develop a new stadium have moved a step forward with a second stage of public engagement outlined, while the English League One football club has revealed more details about its vision for the project.
Oxfordshire County Council announced that it had received updates on the proposals for a stadium near Kidlington, including a summary of stakeholder engagement held in April and May and plans for public engagement in June and July.
The proposal is for the stadium to be located on council-owned land, known as ‘the Triangle’, with consultation currently taking place over the venture. The club’s plans to develop a new stadium moved a step forward in March after Oxfordshire County Council agreed a Memorandum of Understanding on the project.
Read more at: https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2023/05/24/oxford-united-stadium-plans-fleshed-out-further-engagement-planned/
Revamped Camp Nou to enhance digital experience
Digital entertainment company TP Vision has agreed a deal to provide screens and digital signage solutions for the revamped Spotify Camp Nou as part of a wide-ranging partnership with LaLiga football club FC Barcelona.
TP Vision, which designs, manufactures and sells Philips TV, Philips Sound and AOC Audio products, will serve as a main partner of Barcelona in the TV, display and sound services category. As part of the deal, TP Vision’s Ambilight TV brand will become Barcelona’s sleeve sponsor, starting from this weekend. Barcelona players will also have the chance to be brand ambassadors and experience TP Vision products first-hand.
Read more at: https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/news/3487188/fc-barcelona-sign-partnership-with-tp-vision-to-put-ambilight-tvs-name-on-the-sleeve-of-the-mens-football-teams-shirt
Luton Town gives update on Power court stadium plans
Power Court
Luton Town has given a fresh update to its new stadium plans ahead of the biggest game in the football club’s recent history this weekend, while confirming that it will need to spend around £10m on its existing Kenilworth Road home, should promotion to the Premier League be secured.
In January 2022, Newlands Park, a mixed-use development deemed crucial for the successful delivery of a new stadium, was approved. In October 2021, Luton stated that it intended to submit final plans for its new stadium in the first half of 2022, stating the project was moving at a “blistering pace”.
The COVID-19 pandemic served to delay efforts, but Luton has now stated that “very good progress” is being made at Power Court as final designs are drawn up. Luton said that a detailed planning application is due to be submitted during the close-season, with the club’s development arm, 2020 Developments, releasing new imagery of the planned new stadium in the heart of the town centre.
Subject to a consented detailed planning application, acting as the centrepiece of a regeneration of a 20-acre site adjacent to Luton Railway Station, the Power Court site already benefits from outline planning consent and the club has now completed land assembly for the whole site with the demolition of the last few buildings.
Read more at: https://www.the-sun.com/sport/8209289/luton-release-pictures-new-stadium-premier-league/
Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground to be renamed “STōK Racecourse”
The Racecourse
Wrexham AFC has announced STōK Cold Brew Coffee as the first-ever naming-rights sponsor of its home stadium, the Racecourse Ground.
The multi-year agreement with the US-based cold brew coffee brand will officially begin on July 1. The historic ‘Cae Ras’ or ‘Racecourse’ will be retained as part of the new official stadium name: STōK Cae Ras | STōK Racecourse.
The principle of attaching a naming-rights sponsor to the Racecourse Ground was discussed with the Club Advisory Board, which backed the idea.
Read more at: https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2023/may/commercial--stk-cold-brew-coffee-named-official-stadium-sponsor/
Panathinaikos signs construction contract for new stadium
Panathinaikos has said it will move into the “most modern stadium in Greece” after a contract was signed to build a new home for the Athens-based football club.
The Super League club expects to move into the stadium within the next three years. In a brief statement, Panathinaikos said the signing of the final construction contract for the stadium is one of the most important moments in the history of the club.
The stadium will be located in the Votanikos area of Athens and will replace Leoforos Alexandras Stadium as the home of Panathinaikos.
Read more at: https://news.gtp.gr/2023/05/23/contract-paves-way-for-construction-of-panathinaikos-stadium-in-athens/
Sustainability at the forefront in CL final
PepsiCo has announced a number of sustainability initiatives around this year’s men’s and women’s Champions League finals as part of its continued partnership with UEFA, football’s European governing body.
PepsiCo and UEFA are aiming to achieve the goal of making Champions League finals “zero waste to landfill” by 2026 through the company’s Pepsi, Lay’s, Doritos and Gatorade brands.
During last year’s men’s Champions League final at the Stade de France in Paris, UEFA and PepsiCo began carrying out circular economy practices centred around the 4Rs Framework outlined in the governing body’s sustainability strategy.
The 4Rs Framework covered initiatives to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover materials. During last year’s match between Liverpool and Real Madrid, data was collected and analysed to define a baseline for improvement actions that would form the basis of UEFA’s guidelines for circular economy in food and beverage at football matches.
Read more at: https://www.pepsico.com/our-stories/press-release/pepsico-and-uefa-unveil-a-series-of-innovative-sustainable-food--beverage-practi05222023
AS Monaco to develop virtual universe with Rarecubes
French Ligue 1 football club AS Monaco has entered into a partnership with Web3 consulting agency Rarecubes.
As part of the deal, which will run until the end of the 2024-25 season, Rarecubes will support Monaco in the development of a “unique and innovative” digital platform.
The virtual universe will be accessible to all fans and will be powered by blockchain technology. Monaco supporters will have access to new opportunities for engagement and interaction with the club to enjoy new experiences and obtain new types of digital items.
Read more at: https://www.asmonaco.com/en/rarecubes-becomes-the-official-web3-partner-of-as-monaco/
Re-uz becomes sustainable cup partner for Paris 2024
Reusable products brand Re-uz has been announced as an official supporter of next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
As part of the deal, Re-uz will provide reusable and environmentally responsible cups and food containers during the Games. The agreement ties in with organisers’ plans to implement circular economy initiatives at the event.
Re-uz, which is part of the Impact Group, will set up a deposit system at venues to promote the return of reusable cups and containers. The company will also oversee logistical support, delivery and washing of all containers.
Read more at: https://www.paris2024.org/en/partners/