Ricoh Arena Visit For World Cup Stadium Managers

Last updated : 19 June 2009 By Covsupport News Service
Fifteen stadium managers from twelve countries, some of whom will be staging World Cup Finals matches in South Africa and Brzail have been on a fact finding mission at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena.

As part of a training programme run by Ian Nuttall of the European Venue Management Institute, Representatives from Euro2012 in Poland and Ukraine, the FIFA World Cup in South Africa 2010 and Brazil in 2014, Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Mexican football club Atalante and Brazilian football club Flamengo were given a tour of the Ricoh Arena complex before meeting ACL's Daniel Gidney, Liz Cooper, Jacky Isaac, Anthony Mundy and Justine Hewitt

Soeaking to the Ricoh Arena website, Ian Nuttall said: "EVMI views Ricoh Arena as a leading example of modern stadium management, where football is important to the business but there are other elements which are key to the business's success.

"Looking at the concerts, conferences, exhibitions and hotel it is a truly multi-purpose stadium and the Ricoh is one of the best examples in the UK, if not the world.

"There is a forward-thinking management team in place that has focussed on customer service and introduced the first cashless payment system in the UK. As such, it's a great example for other stadiums to follow.

"Daniel discussed financial management and strategic business planning, Liz gave us insights into dealing with concert promoters and event organisers and Jacky talked about human resources."

Wojciech Rokicki, Stadium Coordinator at PL.2012, which is the government agency responsible for delivering the Euro2012 tournament in Poland, added: "The course was a great opportunity to learn so much about professional stadium management from the executive teams at London's Twickenham Stadium and Coventry's Ricoh Arena.

"This has been especially important for Poland where we are building six stadiums to host UEFA's most prestigious tournament in just three years' time."

"The group only visited two venues in the UK - Twickenham and the Ricoh Arena - and we were delighted to host their visit," said ACL CEO Daniel Gidney. "We hope our advice will play a part in the management structures put in place to run some of the world's top sporting tournaments."