http://www.stadia-magazine.com/news.php?NewsID=11615
Compass Group signs £125 million Ricoh Arena deal
Compass Group UK & Ireland has signed a £125 million catering and facilities management deal with the Ricoh Arena in the UK. The contract includes catering for the next 10 years, as well as a full facilities service across the venue. Compass Group will be responsible for hotel management, housekeeping, security, guest services, portering and the venue’s sales and marketing operation.
The Ricoh Arena is the home of Coventry City FC, and has hosted concerts by Take That and Oasis. The Jaguar Hall attracted more than 100 major events over the last 12 months including conferences, exhibitions, banquets, product launches and Christmas parties. It can host concerts for 8,000 as an indoor arena, and also includes an integrated hotel and health club and casino.
“This is the first time any support services company has entered into such a wide-ranging multiservices deal in the leisure industry in the UK,” said Daniel Gidney, chief executive of the Ricoh Arena.
“We have major joint ventures at other sporting venues which take in catering and facilities, but this is the first time we have entered into such a deep integrated facilities management deal for multiple services with an operating company,” said Matthew Thompson, managing director, sport, leisure & hospitality for Compass.