In Focus: DT Sports - Taking Hospitality To The Top of The League
Stadium hospitality standards are reaching new heights with huge investment being made in facilities and services. DT Sports gives the lowdown on how clubs are upping their game when it comes to corporate experiences.
In the early days of football, stadiums were no-frills venues designed to meet the basic needs of local supporters. Luxury wasn’t a priority, or even expected – fans came for the action on the pitch, and nothing more. Fast forward to today and it’s safe to say stadium hospitality has undergone a remarkable transformation.
While improved food and drink offers can be enjoyed in the stands and fan zones, giving much more choice than the onetime pie and drink option, it’s the guest and corporate hospitality offer where the biggest changes have been seen.
Amanda Cook and Joe Darcy, co-founders of DT Sports, which specialises in designing and creating sports venue hospitality spaces, believes this new dawn of football club hospitality is driven by a desire to extend matchday entertainment and customer loyalty – far beyond the pitch.
Amanda Cook, said: “Football clubs today want to offer corporate guests an unforgettable experience, and one that they will talk about long after the game has finished. We have worked with a wide range of sporting clubs designing new offices, gyms, training facilities and changing rooms, but it’s football where the biggest investment is being made in making hospitality stand out.
“More clubs than ever are offering premium packages, luxury seating, top quality cuisine and half-time keynote speakers. But it’s not just about the matchday guest, high quality space can attract private and exclusive hire bookings all year round creating an additional revenue stream – so looking good and offering outstanding facilities is hugely important to our clients.”
DT Sports recently completed two new spaces at Elland Road for long-term partner Leeds United which comprised the creation of the new Peacock Suite, an expansive lounge with exceptional pitch views, and a renovation of The Eddie Gray Suite, which now provides an elevated food offering with the restaurant boasting its own micro herb garden, dry-aging meat chamber, open pass and theatre-style kitchen.
This year at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, DT Sports has designed four new hospitality suites for the Premier League club. The new suites provide a combined capacity of 1000 covers and offer premium hospitality facilities all equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment to enable the spaces to also be used for non-matchday functions.
Furthermore, a recent project at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium saw DT Sports design and deliver a stylish refurbishment for club partner Adidas’ corporate box following similar upgrades for the brand at Manchester United and Leeds United.
Joe Darcy, said: “Through consultation and modelling we design spaces to suit a club’s budget considering everything from capacity and theme to how a matchday serving works.
“Projects often need to fit around the football season, and our in-house teams of experts are adept at delivering stand out spaces in short programmes in line with the closed seasons or gaps in play.
“We also know how important it is for club owners to be able to achieve a good return on investment in new facilities without compromising on design and functionality, so we manage all aspects of the design and build taking the pressure off the club. We deliver spaces fully fitted and furnished, including catering and bar facilities, so that the venue can be up and running immediately.
“We are now working with many clubs beyond their hospitality needs helping to shape their employee facilities as well as elevate training grounds to offer best in class amenities.”
DT Sports has a long-proven history of delivering outstanding spaces on time and on budget and a creative flare which means every space is different with its own unique style and personality. As a specialist division of award-winning commercial interior design specialist Design Tonic, it has become a trusted partner in the sports and hospitality markets.
Web: www.designtonicltd.co.uk/dt-sports/ Email: hello@designtonicltd.co.uk Tel: 0113 873 0090
