Over 400 guests attended the sell-out event to represent their teams in conference and events, matchday hospitality, chef teams, public catering, operational departments and senior management.
The Stadium catering partner, Sodexo Live!, welcomed guests to a drink’s reception in the player’s tunnel and pitch side, before viewing their exclusive ‘Tunnel Club’.
The awards were hosted upstairs in the Mayo Wynne Baxter Lounge, with guests sampling the club’s 2024 award-winning ‘Tunnel Club’ menu, produced by MasterChef: The Professionals winner, Steven Edwards.
For the second year running, Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club scooped the top gong for Overall Matchday Hospitality Experience 2025, fighting off competition from 31 participating venues across the leagues.
The Chef Team of the Year Award required chef teams to prepare, cook and present a three-course menu within 90 minutes suitable for their Club Chairman to entertain the Head of the FA or RFU to dinner. Results:
- Winner: Edgbaston Stadium
- Silver Chelsea Football Club
- Bronze: Leeds United Football Club
Dan Billingham at Edgbaston Stadium, said: “We pride ourselves on the amazing food we provide to guests at the Edgbaston and are really pleased our talented team are getting the recognition they deserve. We’d like to congratulate our chefs and thank them for their creativity, professionalism and hard work.”
The other winners included:
- Event Agents Choice Award: Manchester United Football Club
- Non-Matchday Mystery Shopper Award: Rangers Football Club
- Matchday Sales Team of the Year Award: Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
- Non-Matchday Sales Team of the Year Award: Manchester City Football Club
- Operations Team of the Year Award: Liverpool Football Club
- Stadium Event of the Year Award: Manchester City Football Club (Christmas at City- Fan & Family Event)
- Above & Beyond Recognition Award: Katy Johnson at Leeds Headingley Stadium
- Best Retail Catering Award: Hull City Football Club
- Visiting Rugby Directors Award: Leeds Rhinos Rugby Club
- Visiting Football Directors Award: Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
- Matchday Hospitality Award Small Stadium (up to 1,000 hospitality seats): Stockport County Football Club
- Matchday Hospitality Award Medium Stadium (up to 2,000 hospitality seats): Brentford Football Club
- Matchday Hospitality Award Large Stadium (over 2,000 hospitality seats): Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club
Stadium Experience Chair Person Collette Salmon, commented: “Another year and another milestone, we have now grown our membership to over 70 Stadium Venues across the UK across Football, Rugby and Cricket.
“Our aim is to make sure that our venues keep up to date with new trends, directives, offering diverse and sustainable events, giving our customers the best experience in a very unique way, different to other venues adding a bit a little bit of the sporting magic to events, whether they are a having a business or personal event.”