News
March 2010
India International Sports Summit - March
StadiArena were pleased to attend and be key note speakers at TransStadia’s inaugural international sports summit.
The prestigious event was held to create awareness, drive publicity and ‘open the minds’ of politicians, bureaucrats and federations to the various benefits of a robust sports eco-system from the standpoint of economy, society, education and culture.
Over a period of time youngsters in India should see sports as a career opportunity with the government supporting the industry with infrastructure facilities.
The summit emphasised this by way of topics such as ‘education & sports’, ‘taking sports to the deepest corners of India’, and ‘public-private partnership in sports’. TransStadia’s and StadiArena’s vision for India, see’s several world class stadia developments within the coming years, allowing India to compete on the global stage.
February 2010
Burnley Football Club's Premier Plan - February 2010
Further to HRH Prince of Wales visit to Burnley on Friday 5th February, Burnley have unveiled ambitious plans for the redevelopment of Turf Moor as part of a project which includes a StadiArena & the country's first "Football University".
Clarets chief executive Paul Fletcher is leading the "Premier Plan", in conjunction with Burnley Borough Council and The Prince's Charities. And he said: "If you dare to dream, dream big, and this is not just about Burnley Football Club, this is about the whole town of Burnley and potentially leaving a massive legacy brought on by promotion to the Premier League."
The proposals, which Fletcher expects will take two to three years to reach fruition, would see an innovative "StadiArena" stand erected in place of the David Fishwick Stand at Turf Moor.
In addition to its use for football, the stand would be employed to stage concerts and conferences.
Fletcher said: "On the basis of one idea involving the building of a new stand at the football club, this could become a much bigger idea shared by all parties."The name of Burnley is now right around the world because of our standing in the biggest league in world football. Our games are beamed around the world and they all now know where we are.
December 2009
TURFs 2009, Delhi - Dec 09
StadiArena were invited to be guest speakers at the Indian Global Sports Summit - TURFS 2009, in Delhi on 15-16 December 2009.
As part of the ‘Infrastructure Development’ and ‘Developing sports in Rural Locations’ sessions, StadiArena spoke of the key benefits derived from establishing a sporting hub, with satellite locations offering talent development and sports education.
As part of StadiArena’s ongoing international projects, community benefits will continue to be high on the agenda.
November 2009
Brazil World Cup 2014
Organised by the UKTI and British Expertise, StadiArena participated in the Brazil seminar mission for delivering major sporting events, focussing on the 2014 Soccer World Cup.
Presentations and meetings were held with several host cities included Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Natal, and whilst in Sao Paulo, StadiArena attended the national ‘Expo Stadia’ exhibition and conference.
The focus of the mission was to inform and advise the Brazilian authorities and organising committees of the revenue, community and legacy benefits delivered by StadiArena.
Discussions will be ongoing during the planning and build up to 2014.
Stadiarena awarded neutralcarbonzone accreditation
As part of our climate change policy and to further reduce our impact on the environment, StadiArena has offset the Greenhouse Gas emissions that we as a company create to achieve neutralcarbonzone® accreditation.
The offset credits (VCUs) were verified and issued in accordance with VCS 2007, and pertain to the period prior to the project's registration under the CDM.
During the past decade, the carbon credit provider has invested more than $100 million in environmental initiatives, making environmental responsibility an integral part of its manufacturing process and long-term strategy.
StadiArena actively encourages all clients, partners and suppliers to consider how they can reduce their own carbon footprint.
August 2009
Exclusive Territory Agreement
On the 4th August 2009, StadiArena entered into an exclusive territory licence agreement with Transtadia Ltd (India).
TransStadia have been appointed as the sole distributor and strategic partner for the marketing and implementation of StadiArena’s patented technology throughout India, Pakistan, Nepal , Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Further to the signing of the Ahmedabad MOU at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit in January 2009, this exclusive territory licence will incorporate multiple stadium developments throughout South East Asia, forecast to generate in excess of £5m of licencing revenues to StadiArena by 2015.
Ian Stokes (StadiArena COO) said “This is the first exclusive territory licence agreement that StadiArena has entered into, and we are pleased to have such a progressive, ambitious and professional partner as TransStadia. Their commitment and dedication to delivering a world class sporting infrastructure is highly impressive, and we are proud to be part of their vision for India’s stadium evolution”.
The Times of India followed the story. Their coverage can be seen here or downloaded as a PDF here.
June 2009
StadiArena wins 2 UKTI Awards
'Innovative Company of the Year' and 'Best West Midlands Exporter of the Year'
On the 11th June 2009, at the UK Trade and Investment awards held in Birmingham, West Midlands, StadiArena gratefully accepted two prestigious awards from Dominic Jermey, OBE, Managing Director, UKTI.
StadiArena won the ‘Innovative Company of the Year’ award for technology-led companies who can demonstrate that their investment in technology has given them a competitive advantage in international markets.
StadiArena also picked up the award for ‘Best West Midlands Exporter of the Year’. This is the overall winner voted by the UKTI panel and audience on the night.
The annual awards, marking the best in international trade over the past year, were organised by UK Trade & Investment, the Government organisation that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy, as well as helping overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK.
The judges were impressed by StadiArena’s remarkable progress in creating international brand awareness for their unique and patented product, which converts an outdoor stadium into an indoor arena within minutes – delivering legacy, new revenues and community facilities.
Within the last 12 months StadiArena has been active within the UK and throughout Europe, in addition to research and trade visits to South Africa, USA, China and India.
In January 2009 it was announced that in partnership with TransStadia (India), StadiArena will design, build and manage a new 30,000 capacity stadium complex being built in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The complex will not only include the StadiArena functionality, but will also have a 200 bedroom hotel, gymnasium, members club and sports academy - training India’s stars of the future.
Four further projects are under negotiation within India, and as well as Burnley FCs (English Premier League) planned development, StadiArena are now focusing on Brazil and the 2014 World Cup.
StadiArena’s founding Partners, Paul Fletcher MBE , Patric Cassidy and James Cassidy all expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the support and guidance of the UKTI, and Ian Stokes, Chief Operating Officer thanked Mark Sankey, International Trade Advisor, for his continued help and assistance in establishing StadiArena’s international presence.
StadiArena Video from The UKTI Awards
January 2009
StadiArena – New Wembley of India
Indian StadiArena Development Announced
Download the Gujarat Press Release. Right Click Save As
On the 12th January 2009 at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi announced that he is to build the worlds first truly multi-purpose 30,000-40,000 capacity stadium in Ahmedabad Mega city, Gujarat, India.
In partnership with StadiArena, Mr Modi will champion this innovative development in the sporting and cultural evolution of India, supported by a government investment in excess of Rs.200 crs (GBP 30 million), to create a world class venue which by
using the British technology, will revolutionise the way stadiums and stands are built around the world.
October 2007
StadiArena will be attending the following exhibitions and conferences
Sport 2020: The changing face of the global sports industry
The Landmark, London. Thursday October 25th 2007
As the global sports sector continues to grow, the old certainties are disappearing. The industry is facing complex and fast-moving changes driven by globalisation, new lifestyle choices and technological advance. But unlike industries experiencing similar forces, sports organisations need to move forward in cooperation as well as competition.
On October 25th 2007, Economist Conferences, in collaboration with the NFL, will bring together global leaders from sports, business and government in a unique event to discuss and debate the key issues driving the development of the global sports industry. With a programme involving many of the most influential figures in the industry, Sport 2020 is a unique opportunity to gain a clear understanding of the drivers of success.
The FT Sports Industry Summit
The Cumberland Hotel, London. Thursday November 1st 2007
The Financial Times and the Sport Industry Group are proud to present the second annual FT Sport Industry Summit 2007, to be held in November 2007 in London.
Building on the success of the inaugural Summit last year, it will again be the pivotal event of the sport business calendar with decision-makers and agenda-setters addressing the fundamental challenges facing the fast changing global sport industry. Over the course of the day, delegates will be given a unique insight into the thinking of these leaders and business people. The format of the day will allow audience participation, debate and an open forum.
The Summit will again bring together the leading figures from right across the world of sport; not only from sporting associations and their sponsors, but financial institutions, broadcasters and government, all of whom will come together to debate the up-and-coming challenges and opportunities for the sports industry.
StadiArena's Global Launch at the World Cup Winning Captain's Dinner - October 2007
Click here to download this news as a PDF.
November 07
SoccerEx - November 07
In its 11th year, Soccerex has firmly established itself as the only global convention dedicated to the professional b2b football environment.
To reflect the opportunities that the 2010 FIFA World Cup will bring, Soccerex we be held in Sandton, South Africa in the 3 years leading up to the event. Soccerex is honoured to be hosted by the Gauteng Province, the economic hub of South Africa, and host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, final and many matches in-between.
Further to their October launch, StadiArena exhibited and part-sponsored the event, and through the gala dinner charity auction, helped raise significant amounts for South African charities.
Patric Cassidy stated "It is our first attendance at SoccerEx, and the reaction to StadiArena has been phenomenal. We have met with several organising committees responsible for the next three world cups and European championships, ensuring that StadiArena's ability to create positive legacy, is recognised and acknowledged at the early stages of competition planning".
Professor Steve Grigg - Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa speech at Soccerex 2007
December 07
One Goal One Million - The PFA Centenary Trust Fund Auction - December 2007
For the last 34 years the PFA have awarded just one player each year the ultimate accolade, the ‘Players Player of the Year' award.
Thirty four years. Thirty four winners.
By auction, the PFA have recently offered the opportunity for just one person to own a unique collection of these players shirts.
Gordon Taylor said "This was a fantastic bid... thank you to Mr Cassidy and the Cassidy Group and the StadiArena team".
StadiArena, working with the PFA ,will allow the collection to tour the UK and internationally, to raise funds for The Manchester Children Hospital Appeal.Specially commissioned by The PFA, one half of the shirt is the club colour of each player and the other half of the shirt the colour of the country each player represented. Each one is framed and has the players autograph embroidered on it along with a photograph of the player and their original signature.
Patric Cassidy of StadiArena is shown accepting this priceless collection while meeting various sporting and television celebrities
The framed winners shirts won by Patric Cassidy are as follows:
| 2007 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 1990 | David Platt | ||
| 2006 | Steven Gerrard | 1989 | Mark Hughes | ||
| 2005 | John Terry | 1988 | John Barnes | ||
| 2004 | Thierry Henry | 1987 | Clive Allen | ||
| 2003 | Thierry Henry | 1986 | Gary Lineker | ||
| 2002 | Ruud Van Nistelrooy | 1985 | Peter Reid | ||
| 2001 | Teddy Sheringham | 1984 | Ian Rush | ||
| 2000 | Roy Keane | 1983 | Kenny Dalglish | ||
| 1999 | David Ginola | 1982 | Kevin Keegan | ||
| 1998 | Dennis Bergkamp | 1981 | John Wark | ||
| 1997 | Alan Shearer | 1980 | Terry McDermott | ||
| 1996 | Les Ferdinand | 1979 | Liam Brady | ||
| 1995 | Alan Shearer | 1978 | Peter Shilton | ||
| 1994 | Eric Cantona | 1977 | Andy Gray | ||
| 1993 | Paul McGrath | 1976 | Pat Jennings | ||
| 1992 | Gary Pallister | 1975 | Colin Todd | ||
| 1991 | Mark Hughes | 1974 | Norman Hunter |
January 2008
Financial Times Article 3rd January 2008
Business Life
Sports clubs put stadiums back in play
By David Owen
Published: January 3 2008 18:23 | Last updated: January 3 2008 18:23
How to squeeze the most out of your fixed assets is a common question in business but it has particular resonance in the sports industry, where large and expensive stadiums often lie more or less idle for days, even weeks, on end.
Now a partnership involving five men whose paths first crossed at Coventry City, an English football club, has come up with an innovative idea to help sports clubs earn more from the vast outdoor arenas necessary for showcasing their core product.
Rock concerts or corporate events could be held on the hallowed turf between fixtures, with the audience seated where sports fans would normally be urging their team on.
Modern stadiums have already helped clubs augment revenues in recent years by incorporating permanent features, ranging from hotels to executive boxes, into the building's design.
What distinguishes the idea conceived by StadiArena, the new partnership, is that it allows part of a big outdoor stadium to be converted temporarily into a more compact indoor arena - and, critically, to be converted back within as short a time as 20 minutes.
This, StadiArena's backers believe, dramatically extends the kind of events that can be staged at stadium-type venues and promises a mini-revolution in perceptions of what can and cannot be financed.
"The typical payback period for a football stadium is 25-30 years at present," says Patric Cassidy, a property developer who is one of StadiArena's partners. "If we can show clubs how to achieve a massive reduction in that payback time, their projects will be a lot more bankable. And if we enable them to bring in extra revenue while diversifying from their core sport, we will be underpinning their business plan."
The method of creating the temporary indoor venue is simple. Huge 25-metre wide aircraft hangar doors would be lowered from the roof of the stand behind one of the goals to block off and create an enclosed space. The stage would lie in the area between the front row of seats and the edge of the pitch.
According to Paul Fletcher - a former professional footballer turned stadiologist, whose idea it was - the optimum depth of this area is 20 metres, although it could be less. "If we can go to 20 metres, we can get in a tennis court," he says. Rock concerts for 2,000-6,000 people would be a likely use of the space - making stadium rock stars out of smaller bands not just large-venue performers such as Bruce Springsteen, who will be appearing at Manchester United's Old Trafford and Arsenal's Emirates stadiums this year.
Another use could be corporate events such as product launches. "I could imagine a big plc having its AGM there," Mr Fletcher says.
He puts the additional capital cost of including a StadiArena element in a new 25,000-seat sports stadium at £5m to £6m. "We feel that the payback [time] in general should be around three to four years," he says. While a StadiArena-type venue cannot be simply added to an existing stadium, it does not necessarily require the redevelopment of more than one end of the ground.
Although construction of a first StadiArena has yet to begin, Mr Fletcher says he would be "very unhappy" if four UK clubs do not sign up within 12 months. "One club, basing its calculations on holding two concerts a week, worked out that it could cover its player wage bill with a StadiArena," he says.
Most football fans would want the front row to be less than 20 metres from the edge of the pitch. However, if the potential financial benefits are as substantial as StadiArena argues, this is unlikely to prove an insuperable obstacle, a theory supported by the level of early interest.
"We are talking to 158 different stadium developers, contractors and government bodies worldwide," says Mr Cassidy.
"Thirty-seven UK football clubs have expressed interest, as have US colleges keen to add an indoor arena to their frequently very large American football stadia", he says.
Mr Cassidy is hopeful of the future for StadiArena. "We are talking to the South African government, the Brazilian government, the Polish government, all of which will be staging big international football tournaments in the coming decade and have stadia to build."
StadiArena meet with Chinese and French delegations
February 2008
Burnley FC Leading the Field.
On Wednesday 5th February 2008 Burnley Football Club announced their plans for a £30million redevelopment of Turf Moor, and will be the first club in the country to install the revolutionary StadiArena – a product which converts an outdoor stadium into an indoor arena, within minutes.
Paul Fletcher MBE, the originator of the concept and also the Burnley FC Development Director , said : “This is a very exciting project and a massive development that will have a big impact on Burnley Football Club. It will bode well for the future, because when you build stadiums you ideally look to give them a 50 year life span.
The inclusion of StadiArena means that rather that the traditional football usage of a stadium (which is only 1 year out of 50), Turf Moor can become a genuine community facility, maximising club revenues, whilst delivering social and economic benefits to our supporters, businesses and the local population.”
Patric Cassidy of StadiArena said “We are incredibly proud of our inclusion within Burnley’s plans for the future, and truly believe that we will assist Turf Moor in becoming a role model for the next generation of Stadia’s constructed both nationally and internationally”.
March 2008
China Media Delegation Visit StadiArena March 2008
A Chinese media delegation visited StadiArena at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on the 29th March, as part of The British Embassy’s promotion of the UKs leading innovative sporting products.
The 45 minute programme will be aired twice on China Central TV (CCTV) as part of the station’s Light of Science and Technology series. This is Chinese TV’s longest running popular science series, with coverage of the innovations in other Chinese media during a week-long campaign in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.
Additional press coverage will further increase China’s awareness of StadiArena, and give a greater understanding of how we assist in addressing legacy issues and creating community facilities whilst delivering a revenue generating facility .
April 2008
StadiArena in Hong Kong and Beijing April 2008
As part of StadiArena’s continuing development in China, in April visits were made to Hong Kong and Beijing to progress discussions with several Provinces planning stadia construction.
StadiArena are currently negotiating 3 contract builds with a further 15 potential sites under discussion, giving a revenue value of approximately $1.4billion.
In partnership with the China Sports Venue Association, StadiArena are providing consultancy for the design, construction and management of the 695,000 sporting venues due to built within the next 10 years.
StadiArena attends The PFA Awards 2008
Famous faces from football's past and present were on hand in April as StadiArena attended The Professional Footballers' Association Awards 2008.
StadiArena Partner Patric Cassidy presented the company's donation to The Professional Footballers' Association Centenary Charity Fund.
MAY 2008
StadiArena's Global COP in India
In May, StadiArena visited Delhi, Mohalhi and Mumbai to establish links with the local schools and community prior to launching our Community Outreach Programme.
Pictured from the Paragon Senior Secondary School in sector 71, Mohali are President B.S.Shergill, Mrs B.S. Sherigill, colleagues and pupils.
JUNE 2008
Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid
In June, StadiArena sent a delegation to Chicago to introduce and discuss the inclusion of the revolutionary product within the City’s Olympic bid. High on the agenda are the issues of legacy, sustainability and community use – all factors delivered by StadiArena.
There is significant political, public and press interest in how StadiArena can help Chicago become successful in winning the valuable Olympic votes, and during October 2008, StadiArena expect to participate in London’s 2012 Games US Event Tour, visiting Indianapolis, Chicago and Colorado.
July 2008
StadiArena Sponsor Coventry City Football Club
On the 14th July Coventry City unveiled their new kit - sponsored by StadiArena.
Simultaneous to the UK launch, the shirts were seen in Delhi, on the Great Wall of China, and at the British Embassy in Chicago.
December 2008
SKY SPORTS Live - Reading vs Coventry City 01.12.08
Sky Blues captain Danny Fox celebrates with Elliot Ward and Clinton Morrison after putting Coventry City ahead after 26 mins with a sweetly struck free kick . Michael Doyle has an effort from range to try and salvage a result for the away team.