UK SPORTS VENUES DESERVE A MEDAL

Spring and the sporting season, with the promise of summer, is an inspiring time to think about showing off our nation's amazing range of stadiums and racecourses as an arena for business and sector events or hospitality. Professional events planners have long been familiar with the advantages of hosting conferences, meetings, parties, luncheons as well as exhibitions and product launches in such stadiums and have witnessed, first-hand, the dramatic effect on delegates and guests - the look on their faces.

Sweeping expanses, eye-catching architecture and pride in our history all make sporting venues an exciting option for gatherings. One of the most appealing features is the sheer vastness of space on offer which means such sporting locations are perfect for the whole gamut: huge landmark conferences, imaginative teambuilding exercises and the big entertainment bash sit well here as do smaller meetings or a fine-dining experience for an exclusive guest list. There are usually so many rooms and suites it's easy to be completely versatile.

We have a wealth of impressive venues up and down our land - from Hampden Park in the north to Ascot in the south - so clients find the perfect venue close to their base if that's what is required.

Events teams working with sporting venues have a special eye for adding that unique touch to send guests home with a valuable memory as a souvenir. Some cricket grounds offer rooms with views of the wicket and pitch; at the racecourse you'll enjoy champagne and an elegant brush with British tradition, whilst the rugby ground may be the ideal setting for an outdoor BBQ with a tour of the trophy room perhaps.  Did you know, for instance, that at Twickenham there is a secret underground space called The Cellars used for banqueting?

Hampden Park, the five-star rated stadium in Glasgow - the home of many an historic Scottish event - today it is home to both landmark conferences and award-winning hospitality. A sporting venue with an interior space on a vintage, traditional vibe can be found in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire at The John Smith's Stadium, home to both Huddersfield Town Football Club and the Giants Rugby League Club. Together with St James' Park, Newcastle United Football Club's famous ground, these are just some of the sporting venues in which we host with Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events. In partnership with Lime Venue Portfolio - seasoned experts at finding that space with the wow factor - we also work with many rugby, cricket, football grounds and racecourses throughout the UK.

UK racecourses, whether Cheltenham, Haydock Park, Newmarket or our national institution Ascot, have an impressive capacity to cater for hundreds of guests and for large meetings or conferences you'll usually find that rooms can be configured as a theatre, classroom or boardroom to suit the tone of the gathering.

I have been lucky enough to attend Ascot several times now and, though I don't consider myself a 'hat person', I am developing quite a collection of fascinators and hats - some traditional, some more quirky.  Each one symbolises a particular visit and the memories of people I met, with whom I shared some laughs and exchanged family news; of amazing stylish outfits I coveted and the odd betting triumph I enjoyed.  Each one also symbolises how in spring and summer if you mix business with sun, superb food and wine, a favourite sporting venue and a display of adventurous exploit and achievement it actually makes for a perfect combination - quite a heady cocktail of an experience.

(Pictured here are St James' Park, Hampden Park and The John Smith's Stadium). 

Written by Sue