The winners of TheStadiumBusiness Awards 2020 are announced today to celebrate the global stadium sector’s outstanding success stories of the previous 12 months.
“The stadium sports and entertainment sector is in turmoil. Never before have so many events been cancelled, so many venues closed — with such broad restrictions on travel put in place. And there is little end in sight,” commented Ian Nuttall, Co-Founder of TheStadiumBusiness Awards. “But these awards recognise the work of the industry in full-flow during 2019.”
“Congratulations to everyone who reached the shortlists. My personal thanks to the expert judging panel who gave their time and expertise at this difficult time. Winners included our sector’s leaders, achievers and stand-out venues, who should all be very proud of their achievements last year. Their work provides ideas and inspiration for everyone in our industry as we move towards re-opening and welcoming the fans back to our facilities.”
Now in their 11th year, TheStadiumBusiness Awards are the only awards to recognise a whole spectrum of achievements from across the industry.
Historically the awards are announced at a gala dinner held during TheStadiumBusiness Summit, but in line with the restrictions on travel and gatherings, this year the winners have been announced online. Winners and those shortlisted will be celebrated at a Winners’ Party during the rescheduled TheStadiumBusiness Summit on 2-3 December 2020 at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, UK.
Hundreds of nominations were whittled down to create the shortlist, judged by an independent panel of industry figures comprising:
- Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale MBE, CEO, Everton FC;
- Mike Bohndiek, CEO, PTI Smarter Venues;
- Michael Bolingbroke, Senior Executive in Leisure & Sport;
- Peter Bryan, Vice-President of Construction and Development, Chase Center;
- Christine A Lau, Sr Director, Sports & Community Programming, Singapore Sports Hub;
- Marie Lindqvist, VP & General Manager, Stockholm Live;
- David Manica, Principal, MANICA Architecture;
- Ian Nuttall, Founder, TheStadiumBusiness;
- Milton OBrien, Director of Commercial, Venues Canberra;
- Raj Saha, General Manager, Fiserv Forum;
- Mika Sulin, Chairman, Sport & Live Vision.
OUR 2020 WINNERS
The Winners as voted by the Judging Panel (and Shortlisted Nominees in each category) are as follows:
VENUE OF THE YEAR AWARD
For a new stadium, arena or major sports venue that opened (or re-opened after renovations) to great success between 1 January 2019 and close of entries 24 January 2020.
Category Winner: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Shortlisted nominees:
- Allianz Field, Minnesota
- Chase Center, San Francisco
- Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
- Golden1 Center, Sacramento
- Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
- Optus Stadium, Perth
- Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD
For the sports venue leader, pioneer or visionary.
Category Winner: Rick Welts, President and COO, Golden State Warriors
Shortlisted nominees:
- Kieran Nulty, Vice-President of Arena Experience, Fiserv Forum
- Valerie Camillo, President of Business Operations, Philadelphia Flyers and Wells Fargo Center
- Eric Woolworth, President, Business Operations, Miami HEAT Group
- Rick Welts, President and COO, Golden State Warriors
- Guy Ngata, CEO, Coca-Cola Arena
- Andy O’Sullivan, Venue Director, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
EVENT OF THE YEAR AWARD
For the best sports or non-sports event, guest event, concert or one-off spectacle held at a major sports venue in the previous 12 months.
Category Winner: Metallica & SF Symphony Orchestra opening Chase Center, San Francisco
Shortlisted nominees:
- Metallica & SF Symphony Orchestra opening Chase Center, San Francisco
- First NFL International Game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
- Manchester United FC tour (Optus Stadium/VenuesLive/Tourism WA), Perth
- Match in Africa 6: Federer-Nadal (Cape Town Stadium), Cape Town
- MLB London Series (London Stadium), London
- Miami Open makeover at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
For an individual (or team) that delivers consistently outstanding service to a particular stadium, arena or major sports venue… without recognition!
Category Winner: Kath Phipps, Receptionist, Aon Training Complex, Manchester United FC, UK
Shortlisted nominees:
- Ricardo Casañez, Head of Venue Operations, Club Atletico de Madrid, Spain
- Kath Phipps, Receptionist, Aon Training Complex, Manchester United FC, UK
- Shaun Oliver, Vice-President of Operations, Red Bull Arena, USA
- Doug Metcalfe, Stadium and Operations Manager, Burnley FC, UK
- Thomas Skov Petersen, Head of Marketing, Brøndby IF, Denmark
- Volunteer Army at Gazprom Arena, Russia
FAN EXPERIENCE AWARD
For the stadium, arena or major sports venue that has delivered consistently outstanding levels of service and fan experience at every stage of the customer journey.
Category Winner: Curva Futura at Cagliari Calcio, Italy
Shortlisted nominees:
- Fan Experience approach at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
- Customer Journey at Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia
- Brøndby IF’s new FanZone, Denmark
- Gritty Makeovers – Flyers / Wells Fargo Center, USA
- HSBC World Rugby Sevens at Cape Town Stadium, South Africa
- Curva Futura at Cagliari Calcio, Italy
- The ‘High Street’ Concourse at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, UK
PRODUCT INNOVATION AWARD
Awarded for a product or service that has uniquely transformed and improved the way stadiums, arenas and sports venues do business.
Category Winner: Staydium Glamping at Eden Park, New Zealand (Samsung/Airbnb)
Shortlisted nominees:
- In-arena, Checkout-free Convenience store at Golden1 Center (Sacramento Kings/Zippin)
- Menu-Inclusive Season Ticketing at Levi’s Stadium/49ers (49ers/Levy)
- Staydium Glamping at Eden Park, New Zealand (Samsung/Airbnb)
- Uhuru’s UriCall app-free in-seat ordering (Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament)
- LAVA real-time customer experience marketing platform (Staples Center/LA Live)
- Suite Exchange platform at Chase Center, San Francisco
SUSTAINABILITY & COMMUNITY AWARD
Awarded to the individual, team or venue that has achieved success in the pursuit of sustainable venue management.
Category Winner: Mental Health First-Aid Initiative at The NEC Group
Shortlisted nominees:
- Big Sleep Out – Preston North End FC
- Compostable Packaging Initiative at SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground/Biopak)
- Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium naming rights (Kiyan Prince Foundation/QPR FC)
- First LEED Platinum certification for sports venue O+M (U.S. Bank Stadium)
- “Infinitely Recyclable” aluminium cup – Pepsi Center/Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE)
- Mental Health First-Aid Initiative at The NEC Group
- Vegan first kiosk at Stamford Bridge (Chelsea FC)
SPONSORSHIP, SALES & MARKETING AWARD
For the stadium, arena or major sports venue that has delivered consistently outstanding levels of service and fan experience at every stage of the customer journey.
Category Winner: Coca-Cola Arena launch in new market UAE
Shortlisted nominees:
- SoFi Stadium/LASED Premier Sales Center (Rams and Chargers), Los Angeles
- Chase Center partnership (SF Warriors/JP Morgan Chase)
- Assembly Room/New City Terrace at Wells Fargo Center
- Cloud-Based VIP sales solution at SportPaleis Group
- Coca-Cola Arena launch in new market UAE
- The (new) International Suite at Old Trafford (Manchester United FC)
VENUE TECHNOLOGY AWARD
For the stadium, arena or major sports venue that has delivered innovative technology to transform and improve the way it operates.
Category Winner: 49ers Executive Huddle (SAP/49ers)
Shortlisted nominees:
- Intel’s True View system at Capital One Arena/Fiserv Forum/State Farm Arena
- 601 Analytics Platform (Miami Heat/601 Analytics)
- Matchday Easy Mobility platform (AS Roma/Stadio Olimpico)
- Immersive Education at National Soccer Hall of Fame at Toyota Stadium, Frisco
- 49ers Executive Huddle (SAP/49ers)
- Frictionless Purchasing at Citi Field (New York Mets/Aramark/Clear/Mashgin)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Outstanding Achievement Award is being held back – and will be presented at TheStadiumBusiness Summit on 2 December, with consideration given to those stadium industry executives who have shown true leadership and inspiration before and during the industry’s lockdown due to COVID-19.
For more ideas and inspiration from this year’s Awards nominations, you are welcome to download a copy of the Winners Brochure:
[DOWNLOAD 2020 WINNERS BROCHURE]
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