In this most current market interview, Katie McIntyre gains insights from Emirates Old Trafford’s Operations Director, Anthony Mundy, on the daily running of the venue, as well as hears about the GBP£60m advancement that will height with completion of the new Hilton garden Inn hotel next month, rounding off the world-class using at the house of Lancashire region Cricket Club.
What are the primary difficulties when it pertains to managing as well as operating the multi-purpose location that is Emirates Old Trafford?
As with any type of multi-use facility, we have a number of different stakeholders, with differing needs as well as requirements, all of whom we have to keep happy. At Emirates Old Trafford (Emirates OT), this indicates working with the different seminar as well as event customers, show goers, sports fans, the ECB (England as well as Wales Cricket Board), the regional authorities, police, staff, the board, etc., all of which have different needs in terms of their events as well as requirements, so we’re regularly having to believe about exactly how to provide these. For instance, we may have a cricket match in addition to an event at The point all on the exact same day, however undoubtedly these are two extremely different audiences, with not only extremely different needs as well as expectations, however likewise two different sets of guidelines for us to offer with, i.e. guidelines around stadium safety, according to our stadium security certificate.
In addition, this summer, will see the opening of our brand new, 4-star, 150-bed, Hilton garden Inn hotel, which will benefit from 80 pitch-facing hotel spaces with balconies that can be transformed into business Hospitality Suites/broadcast boxes for events like shows as well as huge One-Day International’s (ODIs).
Emirates Old Trafford will sport a brand new, 4-star, 150-bed, Hilton garden Inn from this summer. Images, courtesy: LANCASHIRE region CRICKET CLUB
How has the location been performing?
Over the last 10 years, we have invested in a £60m redevelopment of Emirates OT, the completion of which will be signalled with the grand opening of the Hilton garden Inn this summer. The hotel plan was significant, costing £15m for the demolition of the old hotel as well as building of the new, however it was central to our service plan to drive our seminar as well as events business.
The original on-site hotel only used 68 bedrooms, so we lost Camiseta Newcastle United a great deal of service to hotels in Manchester. The primary motorist for the new hotel is to be able to double our events earnings over the next few years.
All the money we make, we reinvest back into cricket.
Bedroom pictures in the Hilton garden Inn hotel Emirates Old Trafford Manchester
Having only just completed a major £60m redevelopment programme, which areas do you plan to establish over the next 2-3 years? as well as what are your primary goals in terms of optimising Emirates OT’s future performance?
The venue’s owners, the LCCC (Lancashire region Cricket Club), were loss-making 4-5 years ago, however we’ve been able to turn things around, as well as it is now a profit-making business. This is since whereas we when relied predominantly on drawing in as well as holding worldwide cricket, which indicated peaks as well as troughs, to fill our coffers, it is now our seminar as well as events service bringing in the primary revenue.
Moving forward, 2019 is going to be a huge worldwide cricket year for us, with the location having been awarded the honour of holding both Cricket world cup matches as well as The Investec Ashes test Match. Whereas before we would have been reliant on worldwide cricket events like these in terms of revenue, these are now the icing on the cake!
In addition, having the new hotel – which was privately funded, as well as will be had as well as operated by the LCCC under a franchise contract with Hilton – pits us in a extremely strong position, as well as is because of open this summer. The 80 pitch-facing balcony spaces will be able to fulfil Corporate/Sky Box tasks during matched, before being transformed back into hotel spaces for business as well as hospitality guests.
We have a full summertime of events, from the war of the Roses clash on July 14, to The One like Manchester, Ariana Grande show held on the 4th June. The benefit concert, held in memory of the victims of the 22nd may assault at the Manchester Arena included a star studded line up, from Ariana herself, to Miley Cyrus, Pharrell, Katy Perry as well as Liam Gallagher to name however a few.
This complied with the earlier Courteeners concert, held just a week before which saw 50,000 fans descend on the pitch. Emirates Old Trafford is no complete stranger to holding internationally acclaimed acts however, having previously held Beyoncé as well as Rihanna shows in summertime 2016, as well as a hold of others in the preceding years.
With the new as well as improved conference, events as well as hotel offering, we are having to mobilise whatever as a new business. thanks to our high profile sponsors, such as Emirates, Hilton, Heineken, AO, this all indicates extra kudos for the venue.
The next stage in the venue’s reinvention will focus on non-match day profits as well as investing in the cricketing side of the service to make sure that we have the very best cricket facility in the country…and maybe in the world!
Emirates OT was just recently shortlisted for a number of top market awards, including two classifications in the CHS awards as well as one in the ‘Best Non sporting utilize of a Venue’ classification in the sports service Awards. exactly how crucial are such awards as well as what function do they play?
Generally, in terms of Awards, we take these extremely seriously as well as go into as lots of as are realistic. It’s all about increasing understanding Camiseta LOSC Lille for our new hotel as well as the now total using that clients as well as clients can expect from their next event at Emirates OT. It’s all part of our large advertising strategy, plus it provides fans reassurance.
The stadium service style as well as advancement summit 2016 at Lancashire CCC, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester. photo by Paul Heyes, Tuesday November 01, 2016
Can you explain for us the facilities now on offer at Emirates OT?
Emirates Old Trafford is not only house to LCCC however likewise a world-renowned cricket as well as events venue. The multi-functional area indicates the location can welcome both domestic as well as worldwide cricket, in addition to holding a variety of conferences, events as well as even worldwide musicians for concerts, including the likes of The Courteeners, Beyoncé as well as Rihanna.
The location has a capability of 25,000 for sport as well as 50,000 for concerts, with best-in-class facilities not only for the UK however globally. in spite of being 150 years old! In fact, Emirates OT has been utilized as the blueprint basic for others, with even a delegation from Lord’s having explored the venue.
In terms of facilities, we can cater for as much as 2,000 across a multitude of events, from little meetings to big exhibitions. The high end area is completely supported by dedicated as well as in-house services, such as event task managers, IT support as well as experienced event planners.
With over 3,600m² of space, 43 satisfying rooms, 800 on-site car parking spaces, fantastic transfer links as well as our soon-to-open 150-bedroom Hilton garden Inn hotel on-site, Emirates Old Trafford is an event organisers dream.
Opened as a cricket club in 1864, Lancashire country Cricket Club is steeped in history as well as this is remove to see throughout a few of Emirates Old Trafford’s special location spaces, including within the Pavilion. integrating the finest traditions of English cricket with modern, high end hospitality, the award winning Pavilion – together with The point – has made Emirates Old Trafford a leading seminar as well as events venue in the North West.
Originally developed in 1895, the pavilion underwent an intensive £7.5m redevelopment that was completed in 2013, as well as now uses a hold of spaces, which can fit as much as 700 guests/delegates across eight suites as well as nine executive boxes.
Similarly, our flagship venue, The Point, which opened in 2010, uses a blank canvas to influence imagination as well as can hold a large variety of events including dinners, conferences, exhibitions, weddings and much more, with capability for as much as 1,200 covers. With natural daylight as well as uninterrupted panoramic views of the world popular cricket pitch from its seven metre high windows as well as sensational balcony, The point makes for the best destination to hold any type of event, whether service or leisure.
How crucial is knowledge-sharing between peers? as well as is it something you welcome/encourage?
Cricket is a extremely open industry, we routinely share operational as well as construction-based data. security Officers from up as well as Camiseta Sport Club Internacional down the country satisfy every quarter, as do Groundsmen, those included in venue/event operations, as well as lots of more.
We believe in sharing concepts on best-practices as well as any type of non-sensitive industrial data. as well as a number of cricket stadiums utilize the exact same consultants. We want to be the best-in-class, to ensure that indicates discovering as well as knowledge-sharing with our market peers.
When it pertains to sustainability as well as ‘green’ initiatives, what technologies, best-practices are you employing at Emirates OT?
The redevelopment, including the hotel, all function ‘green’ technologies, like rainwater-harvesting, DMS controls, LED lighting, including automatic on/off, ventilation systems as well as CHP (combined warm & power) systems. In terms of pitch irrigation, we utilize bore holes as well as utilize the harvested rainwater to water the pitch.
We’ve likewise introduced a new souvenir cup effort this year, which substantially reduces the amount of squander tonnage.
What function does innovation play at Emirates OT as well as which trends, technologies, etc., are you currently tracking?
In terms of the CWC in 2019, the ECB will furnish all hold venues with in-stadium Wi-Fi to enable for services like in-seat F&B ordering. The stadium will have Wi-Fi throughout the bowl as well as I comprehend the ECB are currently tendering for this.
Looking forward, Wi-Fi as well as app innovation will be crucial in terms of monetising secondary spend as well as will open great deals of doors. We’re currently utilizing POS software application from Verteda however are likewise thinking about their Q-Jacker application.
Whereas we’ve been focused on the advancement over the last 10 years, the next huge investment will be in fan interaction as well as the fan Experience.
Anthony Mundy, Operations Director, Emirates Old Trafford
Huge thanks to Anthony Mundy as well as all the team at Emirates Old Trafford, which was the location for The One like Manchester, Ariana Grande concert, that was held on June 4. The benefit concert, held in memory of the victims of the may 22 assault at the Manchester Arena included a star-studded line-up, from Ariana herself, to Miley Cyrus, Pharrell, Katy Perry as well as Liam Gallagher, to name however a few.
Main image, top: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester. ODI England v Australia. photo by Paul Heyes, Sunday September 13, 2015.
The Operations as well as administration teams of Lancashire region Cricket Club at Emirates Old Trafford as well as of Manchester United FC at Old Trafford were awarded the Judges’ option award at the recent stadium service awards for the shipment of the One like Manchester / Ariana Grande benefit concert.
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