Over 100 delegates from around the world joined us at the home of Manchester City on 5 June 2013 for the sold out event.

More than 20 international speakers shared their knowledge, tips and strategies on the premium seat, VIP and luxury suite sector of the stadium business industry.

There was a large American attendance at the Seminar, including speaker Al Guido, VP of Sales and Service, San Francisco 49ers who taught us some invaluable insights into how they do it across the Atlantic.

We would like to thank everyone who attended Premium Seat Seminar 2013 for making it a huge success.

Keep an eye out for the pictures taken at Premium Seat Seminar 2013 which we will be uploading over the coming days.

We would love to see your pictures too. Click here to share with us on Twitter! Remember to #Stadiumbiz.

We look forward to seeing you all again in 2014…

If you are unable to join us in Manchester you have missed out on so much! But you don’t have to miss out on everything. Follow us @stadiumbusiness and search #stadiumbiz to watch the action unravelling.

We will be posting Tweets throughout the 3 day Summit including: latest news and any facts or statistics to come from sessions. Our delegates can also use Twitter to pose questions to our speakers.

Have you got a question to ask our speakers? Then do so on Twitter!

TheStadiumBusiness Awards 2013

Now in its 4th year, TheStadiumBusiness Awards are the first industry awards for the stadium sector by the stadium sector. The Awards evening takes place at the Emirates Old Trafford County Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire, on Thursday 6th June 2013. View website.

We will be announcing the winners of the 17 categories live on Twitter.

Don’t miss a thing!

The 60-page publication covers the Seminar and all elements of the three-day Summit, including full details of all the speakers, ‘behind the scenes’ tours, our sponsors, exhibitors, networking events 
and much, much more.

The Final Programme covers all key meetings within the Summit programme, including:

• Fan Experience Forum 2013 (Weds 5 June at Etihad Stadium);
• Premium Seat Seminar 2013 (Weds 5 June at Etihad Stadium);
  
• TheStadiumBusiness Summit 2013 (Opening tour 5 June at Etihad Stadium/conference 6-7 June at Hilton Deansgate/Closing tour at Old Trafford on 7 June);
  
• TheStadiumBusiness Awards 2013 (Thurs 6 June at Emirates Old Trafford, LancsCCC);
  
• Small Market Economics workshop 2013 (Fri 7 June).

See you in Manchester!

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY HERE

(Note: The file is large! 28Mb PDF)

Due to an overwhelming response all the places for Premium Seat Seminar 2013 have now been filled. Ian Nutall, Founder of Premium Seat Seminar, is thrilled with the news!

“I’m delighted with the take up to our second Premium Seat Seminar. Showcasing Manchester City’s world class facilities will be the perfect way to end the day. We look forward to seeing everyone in Manchester.”

If you would like to join the waiting list please email Premium Seat Seminar, Events Coordinator, Oana, including your full name, contact number and organisation. Seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis as/when cancellations occur. Click here to email Oana.

TheStadiumBusiness Summit 2013

There are still places available for TheStadiumBusiness Summit 2013, which is the largest dedicated meeting in the world of the owners, the operators and the developers of the world’s leading stadiums, arenas and major sport venues.

The Summit takes place on 5, 6, 7 of June 2013 in Manchester and also includes a tour of Old Trafford.

View the programme here.

We are delighted to confirm Caryn Dolich, Senior Manager, Living Social, US (formerly Premium Services Manager at the New York Yankees and Team Marketing Manager at the NBA) as a guest speaker at Premium Seat Seminar 2013 on 5th June at Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

In the session Packages and Pricing, Caryn will explore how delivering the right price, to the right consumer, at the right time, builds client retention and grows new sales.

CLICK TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE

About the Speaker

Caryn Dolich, Senior Manager, Living Social, US

Caryn formerly joined the New York Yankees as Premium Services Manager and oversaw client services, renewals, and account management for all Suites and Premium Seats at the totalling 1,100 accounts and $128m in annual revenue.

She also oversaw Team Marketing and Business Operations at the NBA League Office where she worked with Premium Seating & Suite Directors/VPs to develop pricing strategies, new inventory/products, sales processes and tactics.

Caryn’s current role is with LivingSocial, as she manages sports business within their Entertainment platform. She works with teams to help sell premium packages (club seats, luxury suites, etc.).

Sports in North America have pioneered the premium seat business for decades – how applicable is its business model and delivery methods to other markets?

Which aspects of the US model can positively impact teams and venues in different regions?

Our expert panelists moderated by Heather J. Lawrence, Associate Professor at Ohio University, USA will pool their experiences on both sides of the Atlantic to share best practices in the industry.

Your expert panelists include:

• Bill Rhoda, Principal, CSL International, USA
• 
Heath Harvey, Club Wembley Director, Wembley Stadium, UK
• Miroslav Siedem, Head of Premium, O2 Arena – Prague

About the speakers:

Dr. Heather Lawrence is an Associate Professor of Sports Administration, Director of the Professional Master of Sports Administration program, and the Robert H. Freeman Professor of Business at Ohio University.

She earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida, and also received Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Sports Administration from Florida.

Bill Rhoda is a Principal with CSL and specializes in providing market and financial advisory services to the sports industry. Over the past 20 years, Bill has consulted on over 350 sports and entertainment projects for professional, minor league, collegiate, high school and amateur organizations.

Bill’s experience over the past decade has included a variety of project types ranging from major league sports projects to international projects.

Heath Harvey career firstly specialised largely in commercial development projects in the UK and internationally, particularly within the golf and leisure industries.

Since January 2010, Heath and his team efficiently delivered record new seat licence sales as well as annual renewal levels of 98%. Highlights of his hospitality delivery includes 4,000 premium packages (£14m+) for the UEFA Champions League Final both within Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena in 2011 and his team are due to repeat this again in 2013.

Miroslav Siedem has more than 30 years’ of experience in the hotel, hospitality and entertainment industry. Miroslav joined The O2 Arena Prague, in 2004, ahead of the new venue’s hosting of the World Ice Hockey Championships, serving as a member of the preparatory and organisational team.

Today, Miroslav is Head of Premium Seat Sales, responsible for selling club and the premium seating capacity of the arena.

He participated in the organization of the world’s major events held in O2 Arena, including Basketball Final Four, Davis Cup Final, Fed Cup Final and NHL Prague Premier.

>>JOIN THE DEBATE<<

After the Seminar, attendees of Premium Seat Seminar 2013 and Fan Experience Forum 2013 will be joined by delegates of TheStadiumBusiness Summit 2013 for an expert tour of the key hospitality spaces and guest services at Etihad Stadium.

We’ll explore Manchester City FC’s award-winning fan engagement activities. From the pre-match City Square precinct to post-game digital activation, the club has defined and delivered a ‘holistic, lifecycle’ approach to fan engagement around Etihad Stadium; an approach recognised throughout the sporting world as ‘best in class’.

The guided expert tour includes:

• A look at the Club’s heritage;
• The fan zone;
• Community projects;
• Future plans;
• A behind the scenes look at the home player dressing room;
• The tunnel;
• Pitch side;
• The Manager’s chair;
• The press conference room;
• The Premier League Trophy.

>>BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE<<

How does a leading venue position its premium seat products and service in such a market – and what brands provide ‘best fit’ and effective activation alongside such a diverse customer base?

We are delighted to confirm Steven Ziff, VP of Marketing, Brand Strategy, Sunrise Sports & Entertainment as the latest addition to the speaker line-up at Premium Seat Seminar 2013 on 5th June at Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

Steven will be providing unique insights from the NHL Florida Panthers and the BB&T Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Last year, Sunrise Sports and Entertainment completed installation of the Club Red seating sections encompassing the center ice seats during hockey games. This is marketed as “an all-inclusive sports-based nightclub experience”.

About the speaker:

As the Vice President of Marketing & Brand Strategy for the Florida Panthers & the BB&T Center, Ziff oversees all areas of marketing, creative, partner brand activation, game presentation, grassroots & fan development, and community development for the Club and the Arena, as well as the Florida Panthers Foundation. His responsibilities also include generating new revenue streams and leveraging partnerships for the Panthers and Sunrise Sports & Entertainment.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE

WHO’S COMING?

And, with just 40 days still to go, the Premium Seat Seminar has already attracted an audience of global stadium business executives. Here’s a selection of the confirmed attendees already:

• Tottenham Hotspur Ltd
• VfL Wolfsburg Fußball GmbH
• Chelsea FC
• LivingSocial
• Sports Economics LLC
• National Hockey League
• Arsenal FC
• Decide Consulting Ltd
• O2 Arena – Prague
• FC Shakhtar
• Jet Set Sport
• CSL International
• Wembley National Stadium Ltd
• Ohio University
• San Francisco 49ers
• Marylebone Cricket Club
• Get Real Sport Sales
• RFU
• Fulham FC
• Sunrise Sports & Entertainment
• Wales Millennium Centre
• Wembley Stadium
• Chelsea FC
• 20.20 Ltd
• ISG
• Cape Town Stadium and Green Point Park
• The Product People International Pty Ltd
• Brentford FC (Lionel Road) Ltd
• Cardiff City FC
• 20.20 Ltd
• SMG Europe- Manchester Arena
• Manchester United FC
• AFL Architects
• Agilysys
• Arena One GmbH
• Biuro Inwestycji Euro Gdańsk, Poland

…and many, many more!

Join us in Manchester for two days of discussions, site visits and peer-to-peer networking that will change your stadium business forever!

>>BOOK NOW<<

But how does one transition to new facilities without losing the connection with the old? And how best to plan for future developments in customer services into the project timeframe?

We are delighted to confirm Jonathan Gregory, Commercial Director, Fulham FC as the latest addition to speaker line-up at Premium Seat Seminar 2013 on 5th June at Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

In a presentation entitled Craven Cottage – Heritage into Commercial Reality, Gregory will outline the club’s premium seat strategy and future plans relating to the new Riverside Stand.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Fulham FC was established in 1879 and Craven Cottage, its famous home, is one of the oldest grounds in the Premier League.

“Heritage, tradition and nostalgia are attributes every brand desires,” explains Gregory. “But an old stadium with deteriorating facilities is not.”

Gregory emphasises the ambitious goals for the new stand to reach into London’s significant premium seat market: “Up against other world-class facilities, particularly in football, Fulham’s challenge is to build the finest premium seat and corporate hospitality facility in London – indeed the world.”

To embrace its unique riverside position to deliver the best fan experience possible – this is the journey the Club is now taking.

Hear all about it at Premium Seat Seminar 2013.

CLICK TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Jonathan Gregory – Commercial Director Fulham F.C.

Jonathan graduated from Loughborough University and worked for both Coca Cola and PepsiCo in Sports Marketing roles. He joined Puma as Head of Team-sports before joining Wembley Stadium as Commercial Director in 2004. At Wembley he oversaw all sponsorship, marketing and PR aspects of the stadium project and well as the sales of Club Wembley.

More recently he held the position of Director of Partnerships for The FA/England 2018 World Cup bid before joining Fulham F.C in the summer of 2011 as Commercial Director where he manages all commercial revenue streams into the club and the commercial aspects of the new Riverside Stand development.

Riverside Stadium images courtesy: Fulham FC/KSS