Friday, April 27, 2012

News: Lindley Group secure New York Stadium catering contract

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Rotherham United has appointed Lindley Venue Catering, the specialist sports stadia catering division of The Lindley Group, to develop its conference and events business, and manage all aspects of match day and non-match day catering at the League Two club's brand new £20m New York Stadium.

The five year deal is worth £6.1m and the partnership will see Lindley provide catering and events sales and marketing services for the club when it relocates from its temporary home at Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield to the prestigious new 12,000 capacity stadium next season.

Construction on the iconic venue is nearing completion on the site of the former Guest and Chrimes Foundry in an area close to Rotherham town centre that was historically know as New York.

It incorporates flexible, state-of-the art conference and banqueting facilities for private and corporate functions, and will include a 400-cover hospitality suite overlooking the pitch along with a variety of other meeting rooms and suites.

Lindley will be responsible for hospitality on matchdays and also for non-match day events. They will also install their range of retail outlets to supply fans, including Frank's Original New York Streetdogs. The company has also assured Millers' fans that Pukka Pies will be on sale from next season!

The partnership is set to create over 100 jobs with recruitment already underway.

Tony Stewart, chairman of Rotherham United, said: "The New York Stadium is much, much more than just a football stadium. In the past two years we've spent a lot of time during the design process concentrating on making sure the stadium has seven days a week functionality.

"From the outset we wanted the stadium to attract business and visitors from outside the area. And, being located in the centre of Rotherham, we also wanted it to serve and become part of the local community, as well as fulfilling its role as a functioning professional sports stadium.

"We believe the New York Stadium design has achieved these aims, and we were looking for a catering and events operator which has the experience and expertise to work with us in developing and maximising the non match-day revenue potential of these fantastic new facilities, and, at the same time enhance and develop the food offering and catering services on match-days.

"The input, insights and guidance we have received from Lindley Venue Catering during the development phase has been invaluable, and the team has clearly demonstrated that they have the skill set, enthusiasm and commitment to ensuring the New York Stadium becomes one of the country's leading events venues."

Jonathan Davies, head of Sales & Marketing at The Lindley Group, added: "It is a great privilege to be given the opportunity to work with Rotherham United FC at such a pivotal point in the club's history, and to become the first catering and events company to operate at the New York Stadium.

"We are well-versed in operating in multi-function venues and are able to bring an integrated approach to managing all aspects of the catering, sales and marketing functions for the New York Stadium, which we regard as a showcase venue for Yorkshire.

"The facilities provide a great sales opportunity and we'll be launching a new fully search optimized website to attract corporate and private events business locally and nationally - for example, a website we developed for one of our other venues generated a 20% uplift in conference and banqueting sales.

"We'll also be encouraging the local community to make use of the facilities and are planning, for example, to introduce loyalty incentives to encourage fans to hold celebrations for families and friends at the stadium.

"The quality of food and service will also clearly be a priority, and our Creative Director, Gary Bates, will be working with the catering team at the New York Stadium to create bespoke menus inspired by locally sourced produce and regional dishes which will be given a contemporary twist."

Rotherham United website

The Lindley Group website

New York Stadium website

Images: The Lindley Group

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