Coca-Cola Arena upgrades audio with DirectOut PRODIGY.MP
Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, one of the most iconic live entertainment venues in the Middle East, has recently undertaken a significant upgrade of its resident audio infrastructure. The arena is the first multi-purpose, fully air-conditioned indoor arena in the Middle East operating all year round.
Driven by the need to meet the increasingly demanding technical requirements of internationally touring productions—while seamlessly integrating with the venue’s complex, multi-use service ecosystem—the arena invested in a new state-of-the-art audio system. As part of this major upgrade, unveiled in September 2025, the venue introduced a brand-new d&b line-array system alongside the integration of DirectOut PRODIGY.MP platforms. The result is a flexible, future-proof audio environment capable of supporting the highest-level live performances, broadcast workflows, and event production standards.
Julian A Chetty is Head of Technical Services at Coca-Cola Arena and for him, working in one of the most iconic venues in the world is both exciting and demanding. He is responsible for overseeing the venue’s Technical department and ensuring that every event meets the highest possible technical standards. For Chetty, the choice of PRODIGY.MP to upgrade the system with felt like the natural choice and a perfect solution for their needs allowing the audio team to adapt to any workflow required by the show.
“With the integration of our new system, choosing DirectOut was the obvious direction to take,” he explains. “Malcolm Giles, our Senior Director Venue Management and Mark Jan Kar, General Manager of Coca-Cola Arena, have a strong understanding of new technologies and how quickly the industry evolves, so they were instrumental in the choice. The PRODIGY Smart Platform has become an industry standard across major touring, live, and broadcast environments. I had originally specified MAVEN.A, so being able to integrate two of the larger PRODIGY.MP was ideal.”
Both PRODIGY.MP units are fitted with Dante/Milan Dual network cards, plus two AES SRC I/O cards and an AN8 I/O card. Typically, the PRODIGYs act as primary and secondary units, with the secondary providing complete redundancy. Thanks to the flexibility of this setup, the PRODIGY.MPs are able to function as matrix processing, but also fulfil several other uses, depending on the application.
“I believe the PRODIGY platform is a device with virtually no limitations,” he expands. “While we primarily refer to it as a matrix processor, it can just as easily function as a standalone mixer for almost any application. With all the features added over the past two years, the PRODIGY now feels closer to a fully capable audio console rather than just a processor.”
There are many artists visiting the arena and most recently Majid Al Mohandis returned for another sensational performance. Known as the Engineer of Arabic song, the record-breaking, best-selling Middle Eastern artist celebrated Eid at the arena in May 2026, selling out the landmark venue. With artists as huge as Majid Al Mohandis, there could be additional pressures on Chetty and his team but, as he expands, with exceptional solutions like PRODIGY.MP providing the central brains of their system, they can take everything in their stride.
“Pressure is always part of a live show environment, regardless of the artist,” he notes. “The audio department is always thoroughly prepared and take every precaution to ensure each show runs smoothly. The PRODIGY.MPs serve as the master clock for our MILAN setup, while also providing analog outputs as a redundant secondary protocol. They are responsible for system management, clocking, routing, and backup paths, essentially ensuring that every part of the signal chain remains stable and secure. Having the PRODIGY.MPs is a major advantage, a real asset. They provide quick, reliable solutions even in complex and demanding setups, which definitely helps reduce stress on show days.”
Looking ahead, Chetty expresses full confidence in the team's ability to navigate future challenges successfully. Even with the ultra-high expectations set by this unique venue, the overall excellence of the audio system is able to wow the audience every night. When international star Teddy Swims came through on tour, they brought three PRODIGY.MPs with them.
“It’s always exciting when visiting productions arrive with the same level of technology we’ve invested in, but for me, the most important thing is to keep those systems simple, while still retaining the flexibility to handle any request at any level,” he finishes. “The PRODIGY.MP gives us exactly that balance; simplicity in daily operation, but huge capability when we need it. It has definitely made many tasks easier without adding any unnecessary complexity. 7Hertz team – the official DirectOut pro audio distributor in UAE - is always available, both by phone and email, and DirectOut Luca Giaroli’s CEO videos go into impressive depth, especially on more complex topics. With all the excellent documentation and support on hand, I feel more than lucky.”
Extreme Networks launch Extreme Multi-Beam Wireless™
Extreme Networks today expanded its wireless portfolio with the addition of Extreme Multi-Beam Wireless™, a next-generation stadium connectivity solution engineered to redefine Wi-Fi performance in the world’s most demanding venues. Built for high-density environments, it helps increase capacity while supporting more devices and higher bandwidth demands with less complexity. Its multi-beam architecture extends high-performance coverage into traditionally hard-to-reach areas, creating a seamless fan experience throughout the venue and helping deliver more coverage and capacity with dramatically less infrastructure, driving substantial capital and operational benefits for venue operators. Through a strategic relationship with MatSing, Extreme customers will have access to a differentiated multi-beam wireless architecture not available from any other networking provider.
As fans increasingly depend on mobile apps, streaming video, mobile ticketing, and real-time venue services, stadium operators face growing demands for reliable connectivity in some of the world's most challenging wireless environments. Extreme Multi-Beam Wireless addresses this need with the industry's first 16-sector directional antenna system, combining MatSing's lens antenna technology with sixteen Extreme AP5022FX Wi-Fi 7 access points in a one-to-one AP-to-sector architecture.
Rather than treating a stadium bowl as a single coverage area, each system divides the environment into 16 independently serviced RF sectors, delivering targeted overhead coverage, predictable RF boundaries, and capacity aligned to user density. By deploying multiple systems above the stadium bowl, operators can extend coverage and maintain consistent performance across large seating areas from a centralized deployment model.
As the latest addition to Extreme's venue connectivity portfolio, Extreme Multi-Beam Wireless helps venue operators deliver high-capacity connectivity with less infrastructure. Its centralized overhead architecture helps reduce deployment complexity, minimizes cabling and installation requirements, and simplifies ongoing operations. The result is a more efficient network that lowers capital investment, helps reduce operational overhead, and scales as venue demands grow.
Expert Insights
The Tennessee Titans will be the first to deploy the Extreme Multi-Beam Wireless solution at Nissan Stadium, opening Spring ’27.
“As the first venue to deploy Extreme Multi-Beam Wireless, we're defining the future of stadium connectivity. The integration of MatSing's innovative lens antenna technology into Extreme's wireless platform changes what's possible inside a stadium, and more importantly, gives our fans the best experience.” - Russ Hudson, VP of Information Technology, Tennessee Titans
“Extreme is one of the most trusted names in high-density Wi-Fi, powering connectivity in many of the world’s most demanding sports and entertainment venues. By combining Extreme’s leadership in large-scale wireless networking with MatSing’s breakthrough multi-beam lens antenna technology, we’ve created a first-of-its-kind solution that fundamentally changes how stadiums deliver connectivity. Together, we’re enabling venues to support more fans, more devices, and more data than ever before, while delivering greater efficiency, reliability, and performance for the ultimate fan experience.” - Bo Larsson, CEO of MatSing
“Every stadium and arena presents unique wireless challenges, so venue operators need more than a one-size-fits-all Wi-Fi design. Extreme has a long history of delivering high-density connectivity through purpose-built under-seat and directional wireless solutions. With Extreme Multi-Beam Wireless, we're expanding that portfolio with targeted coverage for challenging environments. Alongside our omni-directional, directional, and under-seat access points, the solution gives venues the flexibility to optimize coverage, maximize capacity, and deliver exceptional fan experiences."- David Coleman, Director of Wireless in the Office of the CTO at Extreme Networks.
Availability
Extreme Multi-Beam Wireless will be available in CYQ4 26. For more information visit: https://www.extremenetworks.com/resources/solution-brief/extreme-multi-beam-wireless.
New Nissan Stadium selects Extreme Networks for connectivity
The Tennessee Titans have announced they have chosen Extreme Networks to deliver advanced wireless connectivity throughout the new Nissan Stadium. The venue will be the first to deploy Extreme Multi-Beam Wireless, a first of its kind breakthrough innovation engineered to redefine Wi-Fi performance in the world's most demanding environments.
Extreme will deliver a state-of-the-art Wi-Fi 7 network to help ensure fans enjoy seamless connectivity while attending Titans games and other world-class events. From entering the stadium and using frictionless markets to sharing content and streaming on mobile devices, the network will provide the speed, reliability, and capacity required to support a modern, highly connected venue experience.
“We've worked closely with Extreme for years to push the boundaries of what's possible in stadium technology, and their expertise in large venue connectivity is unmatched,” said Titans Senior Vice President of Technology, Andrew McIntyre. “As the first venue to deploy Extreme Multi-Beam Wireless, we're defining the future of stadium connectivity, enabling a more immersive fan experience, and building a network that can support the next decade of live events.”
Extreme Multi-Beam Wireless is a brand-new technology that combines MatSing’s advanced antenna technology with Extreme’s access points. It is designed to reach every corner of the building, providing targeted, high-capacity coverage, even with tens of thousands of people connecting at once.
“The Titans had a bold vision for their new home, and we're honored they chose Extreme as a partner in bringing it to life,” said John Brams, Senior Vice President, Americas at Extreme. “The network will be foundational to every fan, employee and operational experience inside the stadium, and we're excited to help power a venue built to host the biggest moments in sports and entertainment.”
Features of Extreme Networks’ connectivity solutions include:
- High-speed Wi-Fi 7, supporting seamless streaming and real-time social sharing for tens of thousands of concurrent users.
- Extreme Network Fabric provides self-healing rerouting, policy-based management, and automated scaling across event spaces, from regular season games to Super Bowl LXIV.
- Extreme Platform ONE™ gives operators unified network management, real-time analytics, and end-to-end visibility and AI capabilities from a single platform.
- Extreme Multi-Beam Wireless is the first hyper-directional antenna solution for Wi-Fi — delivering targeted, high-capacity coverage with precision across every corner of a 60,000-seat venue.
Extreme Powers the NFL
The Tennessee Titans are now the 12th NFL team/stadium to leverage Extreme Wi-Fi to power high-density wireless connectivity, mobile services, and enhanced fan experiences throughout the stadium. Additionally, 30 teams have deployed ExtremeCloud Business Insights, a platform designed to turn stadium Wi-Fi data into insights about fan behavior, application usage, and engagement, helping teams improve the game-day experience, personalize services and optimize operations.
Buffalo Bills open Highmark Stadium
The Buffalo Bills cut the ribbon at Highmark Stadium on Tuesday, marking a landmark moment in franchise history and the dawn of a new era for one of the NFL's most passionate fanbases.
The opening of Highmark Stadium represents one of the most significant infrastructure investments in Western New York history, replacing the beloved predecessor across the street that served the franchise for decades.
Bills owner Terry Pegula, president of business operations Pete Guelli, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, Highmark CEO David L. Holmberg and Mary Wilson took the stage for the historic ceremony, welcoming community leaders, corporate partners and construction workers to witness the occasion.
Pegula spoke for several minutes about the significance of Tuesday's event, signaling a milestone moment for the present and future of the city's franchise.
"Thank you my fellow NFL owners, who voted for this project and put us on our way," Pegula said. "And the leadership teams of Populus who have contributed outstanding design and thought into the stadium."
The state-of-the-art facility features modern amenities, premium seating options, expansive concourses, and cutting-edge technology designed to create an unmatched game day atmosphere, all while honoring the blue-collar spirit that defines Buffalo.
"Our fans, the Bills Mafia, contributed $263 million through PSL purchases, and helped us finance what we're looking at here today. The Bills front office does not take this commitment by our fans lightly," Pegula said.
Though he was unable to attend, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell voiced his support for the opening of Highmark Stadium. Goodell made trips to Western New York for both the ground-breaking and topping off ceremonies.
"As someone who grew up in Western New York, I could not be more excited for the official opening of Highmark Stadium. This public-private partnership is a win for one of the most passionate fan bases in the NFL and a credit to the Buffalo Bills, New York State and Erie County. This incredible stage will boost the local economy and serve as the new backdrop for a lifetime of football memories. We look forward to kicking off the first game there this September," Goodell said in a statement.
Following the ceremony, attendees were invited inside for a first look at what fans can expect on game days. Guests explored the stadium's sweeping concourses, made their way down to the field level, and got an exclusive peek inside the locker room.
"Every seat in this place is great, the facilities are incredible," Guelli said. "The way it's set up for the team is perfect. As soon as you walk in here, you're immediately able to see the field. It's built perfectly for Buffalo, and I'm impressed by every aspect of it."
Guelli confirmed that the final total cost of the stadium was just over $2.1 billion and praised Pegula for his unwavering support in the process.
"[Terry] said from day one we need to build this vision, and whatever it takes, it's going to take," Guelli shared. "Terry's followed through on every promise that he's made, so it's exciting, and the numbers are close to what we thought it would be. But the most important thing is it's done."
The first official football event at the new venue will be the annual Blue and Red scrimmage in August, giving fans their first taste of game day atmosphere inside the building. Guelli said he is also planning more events for season ticket holders before the regular season kicks off.
Minnesota Wild to power ticketing with SeatGeek
The Minnesota Wild have announced a multi-year partnership with SeatGeek, the high-growth technology platform transforming the live event experience for fans, teams, and venues, making SeatGeek the Official Primary Ticketing Partner of the Minnesota Wild and Grand Casino Arena.
Beginning this summer, SeatGeek will power ticketing for all Wild home games and events at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota — giving fans one place to discover, buy, and manage everything happening at one of the NHL's most celebrated venues.
Built for The State of Hockey — and Every Night at Grand Casino Arena
The partnership positions SeatGeek at the center of ticketing across all Wild home games and the full slate of concerts, entertainment, and third-party events at Grand Casino Arena. For the Wild, it means a single, unified platform and a complete data foundation — unlocking smarter pricing strategies, more personalized fan engagement, and seamless management across every event in the building. The partnership also extends to additional campus venues, including Roy Wilkins Auditorium and Saint Paul RiverCentre.
Powering the partnership is SeatGeek IQ, SeatGeek’s AI event intelligence engine built on data from across its network of teams, venues, and fandoms. For the Wild, that means access to insights that help the organization sell smarter, run smoother, and build deeper fan connections — turning real-time data into a superior game-night experience and maximizing revenue across its entire footprint.
“Our fans deserve a world-class experience from the moment they decide to come to a game, and that starts with how they buy and manage their tickets,” said Matt Majka, Minnesota Wild Chief Executive Officer. “SeatGeek gives us the tools to modernize our ticketing operation, deepen our connection with fans, and make every night at Grand Casino Arena a memorable one. We’re excited about what we’re going to build together.”
“The excitement of attending a game or concert starts long before the puck drops or the lights go down,” said Kelly McGrath, Grand Casino Arena General Manager. “This partnership with SeatGeek makes it easier than ever for fans to find tickets to their favorite events and enjoy a hassle-free experience from purchase to arrival."
A Seamlessly Connected Fan Experience
For fans, the SeatGeek platform delivers a simple, streamlined experience: browse available seats, compare options using Deal Score, preview the view from their seat before buying, and buy, sell, or transfer tickets in just a few taps — all with the confidence of secure mobile ticketing and seamless entry to the event.
The partnership also reflects a shared commitment to building a more connected fan experience across the Wild's entire digital ecosystem. Together, SeatGeek and the Wild will work to launch a passwordless, co-branded sign-on experience that brings fans' ticketing, loyalty, and team app into one seamless journey — moving between the team app, their loyalty program, and SeatGeek's ticketing experience under a unified identity, with less friction and more personalization at every step. Beyond the ticket, SeatGeek's full marketing intelligence engine gives the Wild new tools to grow its audience, deepen engagement, and build lasting fan relationships.
“The Minnesota Wild are one of the great franchises in professional hockey, and Grand Casino Arena is a venue that hosts so much more than just hockey,” said Russ D’Souza, Co-Founder and President of SeatGeek. “This partnership is about connecting the entire fan journey — from how someone discovers a game to what they experience inside the arena. Every season, every event, every data point makes the platform smarter and more valuable for the Wild and their fans. We’re proud to be in Saint Paul.”
Fans with tickets to upcoming events at Grand Casino Arena will receive detailed instructions before their tickets are transferred to SeatGeek. Existing tickets will remain valid, and fans will be guided through a simple account setup process to access and manage tickets in the SeatGeek platform. Additional information, FAQs, and support resources will be available at wild.com/seatgeek.
Tickets for select previously announced events, including Alex Warren, Monster Jam, Lionel Richie and Josh Groban will continue to be accessible through the Minnesota Wild app during the transition period.
SeatGeek’s Growing NHL and Live Events Portfolio
The Minnesota Wild partnership deepens SeatGeek's presence in the NHL, where SeatGeek powers primary ticketing for the Florida Panthers, Utah Mammoth, and a growing roster of major franchises. Across sports and entertainment more broadly, SeatGeek's platform drives primary ticketing, marketplace, and data intelligence for prominent teams, venues, and third-party events spanning the NFL, NBA, MLS, NWSL, USL, and internationally across the Premier League, as well as premier events in professional golf and tennis.
Design for Georgia Tech stadium renovations complete
The design for Georgia Tech’s upcoming $70 million renovation to Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field is complete.
The first major renovation to the 113-year-old home of Georgia Tech football since 2003 will begin immediately following the conclusion of the 2026 season and will be completed ahead of the 2027 campaign.
The renovation is part of Georgia Tech athletics’ Full Steam Ahead initiative, which was officially launched in 2024. At launch, the preliminary concept included upgrades to the facility’s videoboard and sound system, elevated premium spaces and the addition of chairback seating to replace current bleacher seating across the stadium.
As the project has evolved and analysis completed through the course of the design process, the architect and construction manager identified that some originally proposed elements are either functionally unfeasible within the existing structure of the stadium, or could only be accomplished through a substantial increase to the project budget (likely more than doubling the originally approved financial investment).
Specifically, extensive studies identified that implementing a modern flip-up chairback system throughout Bobby Dodd Stadium is unfeasible due to tread depths (the horizontal measurement from the front edge of one row of seating to the front edge of the row directly behind it). Like many stadiums of its vintage, Bobby Dodd Stadium has tread depths that are much narrower than the modern industry standard. Modern stadiums are built with a 33-inch tread depth to accommodate chairs, and 30 inches is the minimum for installation of a flip-up chairback system. The tread depths at Bobby Dodd Stadium are 26.5-27 inches in the lower west, 27 inches in the lower east and lower north and 25.75 inches in the upper east.
Therefore, the only options to install a flip-up chairback system would be to either eliminate every other row of seating throughout the stadium, which would have drastically reduced capacity, or demolish and reconstruct significant portions of the stadium. In addition to being extremely costly, it was also unlikely that those options could be completed within a single offseason construction timeline.
Based on the analysis, the best and most responsible solution for adding permanent chairbacks to Bobby Dodd Stadium is attached chairback seats, which allows seats to be affixed directly to the stadium’s existing bleachers.
Many industry-leading bleacher-attached chairback seats were tested. Several proved to be too tight for spectator seating within the stadium’s constraints, as they would lead to insufficient legroom for taller individuals.
However, a bleacher-mounted, non-flip-up mesh chairback seat was identified as a product that could be installed at Bobby Dodd Stadium without sacrificing fans’ safety, comfort or experience. Fans were invited to test the seats during Georgia Tech football’s spring game in April, and they received positive reviews, leading to the final decision that the bleacher-mounted, fixed mesh seats would be the permanent chairback solution for Bobby Dodd Stadium.
When considering the extent of the chairback installation throughout the stadium, several factors were examined. First, the 25.75-inch tread depths in the upper east remain too narrow for the bleacher-mounted chairbacks. Second, comfortable spacing for the non-flip mesh chairbacks is 20 inches per seat, as compared to 18 inches per seat, which results in a loss of seating capacity. Further, as part of the fan experience improvements included in the design, aisles will be widened and handrails added in most sections where new seats are installed, resulting in a further decrease in capacity.
When considering all of the factors, and in the interest of not reducing stadium capacity to levels that would greatly affect Georgia Tech fans’ opportunities to see the Yellow Jackets in action at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the decision was made to install 12,500 chairback seats. Following three-straight crowds of 50,000-plus to close the 2025 football season (Georgia Tech’s most crowds of 50,000-plus since 2014), as well as three sold-out concerts in 2025-26, post-renovation stadium capacity will be approximately 50,000, significantly higher than originally projected capacity of approximately 42,000.
“We remain committed to delivering a renovation that positively impacts all fans, preserves capacity at a level to meet demand and maintains the tradition of our historic home,” Georgia Tech vice president and director of athletics Ryan Alpert said. “This project is designed to modernize the gameday experience, while preserving the character and atmosphere that make Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field so special. We’re looking forward to delivering on those promises and welcoming fans to a newly renovated Bobby Dodd Stadium in 2027.”
In all, the stadium’s significant upgrades include:
- the addition of 12,500 chairback seats;
- new handrails and wider aisles in designated sections;
- a new, state-of-the-art videoboard;
- a new, state-of-the-art sound system.
Additionally, the stadium’s premium areas will receive substantial renovations, including:
- remodeled suites;
- construction of a new Founders Club on the west side of the stadium;
- an overhaul of East Club seating and indoor spaces, including the addition of a new VIP Members Club.
Due to the overall change in the facility’s seating manifest caused by the installation of the 12,500 chairback seats, Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field will undergo a full reseating process ahead of the 2027 season. However, the number of season ticket members that are significantly impacted by the reseating is anticipated to be lower than originally expected due to stadium post-renovation capacity of approximately 50,000 being considerably higher than the preliminary concept of an approximate 42,000-seat capacity. Details on the reseating process will be finalized and announced in the coming months.
This summer, Georgia Tech athletics will announce a list of 100 improvements to the gameday experience at Bobby Dodd Stadium that will be implemented prior to the 2026 season, ahead of the renovation project that will be completed in 2027.
NEXO sound knocks it out of the park for Enlightened at Gloucestershire T20 cricket
At first glance, it might have appeared to be a fairly straightforward job, particularly for a team as experienced as the staff at Bristol-based event production services specialists Enlightened.
After all, they were already familiar with the Seat Unique Stadium, home of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, following the design and deployment of a sound system for a spectacular drone show at the UK venue six months earlier.
Same brief, right? Powerful, full-range sound, and consistent coverage of the crowd without obscuring their view of the action. But T20 Cricket takes place on the ground, not in the air. And as Enlightened Hire and Production Account Manager Ryan Stromski was soon to find out, an uninterrupted sightline from every seat was just the first challenge in what would prove to be a surprisingly complex project.
“The speakers couldn’t be much higher than the advertising hoardings around the pitch, but this didn’t present too much of a problem” says Ryan. “We knew immediately that stacks of 3 each of our NEXO super-compact GEO M6 line array boxes on a single NEXO MSUB15 around the perimeter would give us the low profile and coverage required and, just as importantly, the combination of detailed speech intelligibility and high-impact, crowd-energising sound required for T20 cricket.
“What we learnt quickly was that the planning and deployment of the system infrastructure would present the greatest challenge, particularly given the sometimes - competing requirements of the system performance criteria and the conditions stipulated by venue managers, players and even grounds staff.”
The Enlightened team is contracted to deploy the system at a number of matches throughout the 2026 season, with a minimal set-up time and a requirement for dependable and repeatable performance for operators including the match commentators and a pre- and post-match DJ. So, the decision was taken to leave the system infrastructure permanently in place and bring in the amp racks and speakers on a match-by-match basis.
“The ring of ten speaker stacks is located immediately outside the pitch boundary, with a Dante™ network of NEXO NXAMP Powered TD Controllers in five locations around the ground” reports Ryan, returning to the story.
“Obviously we had to run the network cabling around the field of play, and this extended the cable run beyond Audinate’s recommended 100-metre limit. Ordinarily we would add switches but that wasn’t possible in this case, as the players from the fielding team often slide over the boundary when trying to stop the ball, and could easily trip over or break any additional network hardware.
“In the event, it was a pleasant surprise to learn that the network operated faultlessly with no dropouts over a maximum cable run of approximately 140 metres.”
In all, the NL4 cabling for the project extends to some 2.5 km and, with only a short time available to re-rig the system on the day before a match, once again, preparation is everything.
“Every speaker including the 18 NEXO ID24s and 6 NEXO P12s used to in fill other areas of the stadium have a unique ID, which is also colour coded by zone. We can usually re-deploy in a about 2 hours, taking care to follow the grounds staff’s instruction never to step on the pitch.”
The team at Enlightened are highly experienced in using NS-1 to configure systems and predict their performance but, for this project, NEXO’s intuitive drag-and-drop software app took a back seat.
“This job is all about what’s practical, not necessarily what’s optimal” says Ryan in conclusion. “That said, our NEXO systems performed brilliantly as ever on this job, really helping to enhance the match day experience for cricket fans.”
For further information on Enlightened, visit: enlx.co.uk
Stoke City partner with Oak View Group
Stoke City Football Club has partnered with Oak View Group (OVG), a global leader in live entertainment infrastructure and services, to announce a new long-term plan to reinvent the food and beverage experience at the bet365 Stadium.
OVG will lead the design and delivery of an elevated, fan-first offering, bringing locally inspired menus, premium hospitality offerings and streamlined concessions for visitors and fans.
Under the agreement, OVG Hospitality will assume responsibility for all hospitality operations at the bet365 Stadium and work with the Club on the planning and delivery of revitalised catering, both on matchdays and at stadium events.
“OVG has a proven track record of transforming hospitality, food‑and‑drink and service at major football venues over the long-term,” said Simon King, Chief Operating Officer at Stoke City.
“We are excited to bring that expertise to our club and venue, helping us develop our offering as we seek to create increasingly memorable, modern experiences that reflect the Club and its community.
“For us, OVG provide the perfect balance between combining their global scale with a deep understanding of the sense of local pride that is required to provide a thriving and successful food & drink operation.
“They come on board at an exciting time during which we are actively planning for significant investment into our catering areas over the coming years.
“Although this can’t happen overnight, we are also confident that more incremental changes can be made to start to improve fan and customer experiences right from the start of the 26/27 season.”
Katie Harel, Managing Director of OVG Hospitality, said: “We are incredibly proud to be a true partner to Stoke City Football Club. This is an important collaboration for OVG and we are committed to delivering consistently world‑class experiences at the bet365 Stadium, on matchdays and beyond.”
The agreement expands OVG Hospitality’s growing UK and European footprint. OVG currently manages food and drink at Co‑op Live in Manchester, operates a joint venture with City Football Group at the Etihad Stadium, and manages all hospitality at Leicester City and Southampton. The UK expansion follows the success of OVG’s hospitality model across major U.S. sports and entertainment venues, such as Mortgage Matchup Center, Benchmark International Arena and Penn State University’s Beaver Stadium.
Peterborough United partner with Levy UK
Peterborough United Football Club has announced a new multi-season partnership with Levy, the UK’s leading sports and entertainment catering provider, commencing on 1st July 2026.
The landmark agreement will see Levy become the Club’s official catering and hospitality partner, bringing their unrivalled expertise, innovation and investment to the Weston Homes Stadium.
Levy is widely recognised as the market leader in sports stadia catering across the United Kingdom, delivering exceptional food, beverage and hospitality experiences at some of the country’s most iconic sporting venues. Their extensive experience and commitment to excellence will play a key role in elevating the stadium environment for both football fixtures and non-matchday events.
Central to this long-term strategic partnership is a shared commitment to develop a range of enhancements designed to improve service levels and boost operational efficiency. Alongside faster service, supporters can look forward to a revitalised and broader range of refreshments, featuring high-quality food and drink options tailored to diverse tastes and modern preferences.
As part of the initial phase of this long-term strategy, Levy will make a significant investment in the Club’s hospitality and catering infrastructure. This includes major improvements to the Alan Boswell Executive Suite and upgrades across a number of food and beverage kiosks throughout the stadium.
Alex Harris, Commercial Director at Peterborough United, said: “We are delighted to welcome Levy to Peterborough United. They are recognised as the leading operator in sports stadium catering in the UK and their track record speaks for itself.
“This partnership represents a significant step forward for the Club. The investment being made into the Alan Boswell Executive Suite and our stadium kiosks will deliver tangible improvements for supporters and hospitality guests from day one. We are excited to work closely with the Levy team to elevate the overall experience at the Weston Homes Stadium over the coming years.”
Phil Bennett, Operations Director for London and the South at Levy, added: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Peterborough United and becoming part of the Club’s exciting future.
Our vision for the Weston Homes Stadium is built on a long-term strategic plan to evolve the venue, and the transformation of the Alan Boswell Executive Suite is just the beginning. We want to revolutionise the matchday experience. By introducing cutting-edge technology, we will improve the speed of service to keep queues moving, while simultaneously rolling out a broader, high-quality range of refreshments that caters to all supporters. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with the Club on this multi-year journey to deliver a truly modern stadium experience.”
Further details on the new catering and hospitality enhancements will be announced ahead of the start of the 2026/27 season.
Manchester United secure land for New Stadium
Manchester United has secured the majority of the land required to build a new 100,000-seat stadium, marking a major milestone in the long-term vision to transform the Old Trafford area.
The new stadium, which will become the biggest sporting arena in the UK, will serve as a catalyst for the regeneration of the surrounding district, helping to create one of the most dynamic and globally significant sporting and entertainment destinations in the world.
The club acquired the 25-acre site, located approximately 350m north-west of the current stadium, from Indurent, a leading provider of industrial space and a Blackstone portfolio company. United will engage directly with businesses impacted by the plans to support them through the transition period.
The club has also worked in close collaboration with Trafford Council and the Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation (OTRMDC) to ensure the location of the new stadium works cohesively with the wider Old Trafford regeneration strategy, ensuring optimum connectivity and the best possible experience for fans.
The 370‑acre regeneration project is expected to deliver around 15,000 new homes, including affordable housing, create 48,000 new jobs locally and over 90,000 nationally, and add more than £7 billion a year to the UK economy.
Collette Roche, CEO, Manchester United’s New Stadium Development, said: “Today’s news highlights the progress we’re making towards a world-class new home for Manchester United and represents a significant milestone as we move into the next phase of development.
“Being able to build so close to Old Trafford allows us to preserve the heritage, traditions and rituals that are so important to our fans. We are committed to building a world-class stadium with our supporters, not just for them, with atmosphere, affordability and accessibility at the heart of our thinking.
“This is a generational opportunity that is fully aligned with both local and national growth ambitions. Securing the right land for our new home has been absolutely critical, and the land we’ve acquired gives us the stage to deliver a truly world-class stadium that honours our past and is ready for our future.”
The OTRMDC will publish its vision for the Old Trafford Regeneration on Thursday 9 July, when further detail of the stadium site and formal consultation period will also be revealed.