The Stadium Consultancy delivers a full range of services for the renovation, planning, (re)development and/or the improvement of the operations of stadiums and arenas.
Our services can be categorised as follows:
Project Management
The Stadium Consultancy offers a range of project management services.
We believe in working in a structured manner, using proven project management principles, techniques and tools, which are commonly used in complex building projects such as stadiums and arenas.
We will lead and manage the project from start to finish on your behalf. We will build the project plan on which we will deliver the project. Importantly, we will coordinate all stakeholders and project members. We are committed to deliver the project on time, within budget and at the quality (performance specs) agreed with our clients at the outset.
Our project managers are unique in the sense that they are specialised in stadium and arena projects. They understand the critical success factors to deliver safe, compelling, profitable and sustainable venues. More importantly, they are experienced in managing the complex stakeholder environment surrounding stadium and arena projects, including (local) government, team owners, financiers, various fan groups, sponsors and sports authorities.
Working closely with our stadium operations subject matter experts, we can assist you in defining the project objectives and performance specifications (business plan, employers’ requirements) in detail. By doing so we establish a strong interface between the construction project and a sustainable operations of the venue.
We believe that it is crucial to warrant that the project is on the right track from the outset. After all projects fail at the beginning rather than at the end, if not properly set up and defined.
As dedicated project managers we will start the project by building the project plan to deliver the project. The project plan describes:
- The ambition level of the project;
- The objectives and desired outcomes of the project;
- The scope of the project, including its key components and any exclusions;
- The outline program of the project and an indicative budget.
The project plan forms the essential foundation for the successful execution of the project.
Sports and entertainment facilities are often part of large-scale mixed developments which require a process management approach. Identifying all stakeholders involved, their common interests and goals, and connecting these parties is a crucial task.
At The Stadium Consultancy, we are experienced in this complex task of overseeing and steering the development process and preparing the plans towards political decision making.
The Stadium Consultancy has acted as client representative for stadium (re)development projects on several occasions.
Combining our project management skills with our specialist stadium operations know-how, we are the preferred consultant to warrant your interest during these complex and dynamic processes, so you can focus on running your organization.
Whether in a traditional procurement strategy or a design & build procurement strategy, we will represent the client’s interests in the project team, attending official project team meetings and reporting back to the client with regard to the project status update (quality, budget and time implications).
We have developed a comprehensive monitoring methodology to assess the delivery of stadiums for major tournaments, intended for external stakeholders such as governing bodies and financiers.
The methodology consists of a toolset with standardized reporting requirements by the project teams, regular review meetings with the project teams, site inspections and dynamic risk assessments. These risks assessments will provide insight into the risks and challenges affecting the overall delivery of the project – and also the ones specifically affecting you.
This methodology was successfully applied for the UEFA EURO 2012 Tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
As stadium and arena experts we are your consultant of choice when it comes to managing your design team. This starts from basis of design through concept, schematic and detailed design to construction documentation and ensuring the final concept delivered fully meets the client’s brief and objectives.
During this process we will:
- Manage the contractual obligations of the design team;
- Review and assess the proposed design solutions in the client’s best interest;
- Verify compliance with requirements and good practice in stadium operations and management.
Based on our stadium expertise and extensive experience, we will warrant an efficient and operable design, that effectively meets the client’s objectives.
The Stadium Consultancy is your specialist for drawing up tender packages and RFPs for both services as well as stadium equipment.
We have assisted our clients in the selection of architects (design contests), the definition of operation and management packages as well as the procurement of stadium specific installations and equipment, among which CCTV systems, LED screens, seating, pitch, track and field installations.
The Stadium Consultancy can support your commissioning team in verifying compliance with the requirements of governing bodies, such as FIFA, UEFA, IOC or IAAF. This includes compliance with international standards regarding safety, comfort and accessibility.
To this end we have developed a proprietary commissioning tool, which specifies the functional, spatial and technical requirements of the venue and which defines the commissioning requirements as early as the design stage.
Planning & Feasibility
The Stadium Consultancy offers a full range of services for the development of new stadiums and arenas, the redevelopment, renovation or upgrading of existing facilities.
Whether operating as a standalone consultant or as part of a multi-disciplinary project team, we typically deliver following services and products.
The Stadium Consultancy offers full services for technical and financial feasibility studies for stadiums and arenas. We provide, amongst others, the following:
- Proprietary financial models for the venue industry, which generate income and cash flow statements, and enable extensive risk and sensitivity analysis.
- Comprehensive financial feasibility studies, combining project-specific research and our extensive database, which includes benchmarks and key financial data for stadiums of various sizes, such as construction costs, maintenance, and operational expenses.
- Realistic operational income and expenditure estimates, ensuring accurate financial forecasting for both new and existing venues.
The Stadium Consultancy can deliver a comprehensive business plan for your stadium of arena project. Based on a thorough market and sociodemographic analysis for the use of the stadium for various event types as well as the non-event use of the stadium, we will define the mission statement, ambition level and strategic positioning for the stadium, including:
- Proposing the various functions to be included in the venue and preparing an event profile, to forecast the various revenue streams of the venue.
- Developing the operating vision of the venue, incl. outsourcing strategy, preparing the organisation chart and forecasting operational expenditure.
- Exploring the various funding options of the project capital expenditure (capex), including sponsoring & partnerships, development receipts from mixed use development, crowd funding, bonds, debentures, crowd funding and debt funding.
- Producing the P&L and cash flow statements for the project and, based on a thorough risk analysis of the project, we will carry out a sensitivity analysis taking into account various scenarios.
We will complete our report with a clear set of conclusions and recommendations for the further development of the project.
The preparation of detailed and robust employer’s requirements (or programme of requirements) is the foundation of the project, both for the design and construction of the venue as well as for the setup of the operating company. It describes the way the venue should operate in detail in order to meet the objectives of the business case.
We have developed a comprehensive approach to draft a full set of employer’s requirements:
- Defining the key objectives of the project, the ambition level and the types of use of the venue set by the business plan.
- Identification of user groups per types of use, and their specific requirements as well as applicable external requirements.
- Translation of these requirements into spatial and technical requirements, supported by flow charts, diagrams, and comprehensive schedules of accommodation with data room sheets.
A well-defined employer’s requirements form the backbone of a successful venue development, ensuring that the final design aligns perfectly with the project’s goals, operational needs, and business objectives, guaranteeing that the venue satisfies the needs of its end users.
Based on the Client’s ambition level for the project, the business plan and the employer’s requirements, The Stadium Consultancy can prepare a conceptual design for your stadium or arena project, including the 3D development of the stadium bowl.
In preparing the concept design, we leverage our extensive experience in the development of stadium and arena projects in various sizes to:
- Ensure the highest standards in safety, security, comfort and fan experience are being met.
- Warrant that the design meets best practices in modern and sustainable stadium operations.
With our specialist expertise we warrant that this first crucial design stage meets international good practice, so that the further design development can be undertaken by the client’s architect of choice, even if the architect has limited experience in stadium and arena design.
The selection of the right stadium site is key to the success of the project. The location will determine not only how the various user groups will be able to access the stadium for different events, but also how attractive the venue is on non-event days and its potential to generate income year around.
The Stadium Consultancy can carry out a full commercial site analysis, assessing the potential site(s) on the basis of amongst others:
- Catchment area;
- Space for major event overlay;
- Accessibility by public and private transport;
- Commercial attractiveness;
- Land costs and development potential;
- Environmental impact;
- Traffic and mobility;
- Urban integration;
- Site heritage;
- Proximity to key functions (e.g. the airport, hotels, city centre).
The relationship with and connection between the venue and its surroundings is vital to the long-term success of the overall development. The Stadium Consultancy can prepare a concept masterplan that optimizes the relationship between the venue and its surroundings.
In preparing the masterplan, we leverage our extensive experience in the development of stadium and arena projects to:
- Ensure the integration of the venue within its urban context, maximizing its potential as a catalyst for transformation or regeneration of urban areas.
- Optimize the synergy between various surrounding functions while considering operational limitations, such as crowd dynamics, event overlays, and regulatory constraints from organizations like FIFA, UEFA, and the IOC demanding a clean stadium principle.
- Maximize the sharing of infrastructure, including parking, to enhance overall project viability and sustainability.
The Stadium Consultancy has been contracted on a regular basis to carry out various types of audits, reviews and compliance checks. We offer, amongst others, the following products:
- Design reviews, during the various design stages (CD, SD, DD and IFC), based on international stadium best practices and stadium operational know-how;
- Compliance checks with requirements of governing bodies, such as FIFA, UEFA, IOC or IAAF;
- Safety & security audits, including static calculations and dynamic crowd flow modelling;
Our experts apply the highest standards in stadium design and the best practices in stadium operations. With their stadium operations background, our consultants understand what works in practice or not, and can read between the lines of the formal requirements in order to implement useful optimalisations in stadium design and operations.
At The Stadium Consultancy we firmly believe in a lifecycle management approach when it comes to venue development, offsetting initial investment costs against future operational income and expenditure.
This philosophy is also applied in our value engineering services. Rather than simply seeking to reduce the initial investment costs (capex), we focus on the total costs of ownership as well as increasing the function-costs ratio to deliver added value (greater functionality, more operational income and/or less operational expenditure) for the same investment costs.
On a spatial level we always try to build in as much flexibility as possible so that spaces such as rooms, lounges, suites and corporate entertaining areas can be used multifunctionally on event and non-event days.
The earlier the value engineering process starts, the more potential value (saving of lifecycle costs or better value for money) can be realised.
The Stadium Consultancy can assist you in developing the commercial concept for your venue, including inter alia (non-comprehensive):
- Venue segmentation and yield management plan;
- Sponsoring and partnerships opportunities;
- Matchday concept creation;
- Corporate hospitality and food & beverage concepts;
- Fan engagement strategy;
- Digital media opportunities;
- Supplementary retail and leisure concepts;
Our stadium operations consultants can assist you in a wide range of specialist areas, including amongst others:
- Accessibility and inclusive design;
- Safety & security issues;
- Crowd management and dynamic crowd flow modelling;
- Pitch design and management;
- Hospitality & catering, food & beverage;
- Broadcast & media requirements;
- Facility management and maintenance.
Operations & Management
The development of a new stadium or arena project quite often solely focusses on the realisation of the building (the hardware), with little attention for the set up of the operator organisation (the software), the definition of operational processes (e.g. administrative, procurement, etc.), the preparation of operational plans & procedures and the selection and training of staff.
At The Stadium Consultancy we firmly believe that the development of hardware and software is equally important and should go hand in hand. For instance the way the catering in the stadium is being organised, the products and service concepts which are offered to the various seating segments, will impact on the design of the venue. Equally the design of the venue will impact on the emergency evacuation procedures.
Early involvement of our stadium operations consultants to coordinate and align hardware and software development, will minimise (expensive) changes to the building at a later stage or even after commissioning.
The Stadium Consultancy offers a range of services for operations and management of stadiums and arenas.
Our pre-opening services focus on supporting your operator team towards the opening of the venue and the organisation of the first event. The Stadium Consultancy can provide the specialist know-how and resources, required to build and strengthen your team towards these first important events, among which the inaugural event. This includes:
- The organisation of a series of test events to test the venue and the venue team.
- Comprehensive evaluations of the event operations after each test event.
- Detailed proposals for further optimisations of the venue and operator organisation.
- On-the-job training of venue operator staff.
The Stadium Consultancy can develop a comprehensive set of operations plans for your venue. Our stadium operations consultants will apply best practices gained with the operations and management with some of Europe’s leading venues, and tailor them to the specifics of your venues design and masterplan, local legislation and cultural aspects.
Our consultants will draft inter alia the following plans and manuals:
- Facility management plan;
- Event management plan;
- Safety management policy and plan;
- Security plan;
- Contingency & emergency plans, including validation through dynamic crowd modelling software;
- Stewarding training manual;
- Capacity building plan for your venue team.
Our operational audits are focused on various aspects of the operations and management of venues. We leveraged our operational expertise and experience gained in operating Europe’s leading venues and developed this into a compelling set of services to audit your venue:
- Operations audits, in order to identify areas to further improve the operations of your venue and enhance its efficiency. These audits cover all aspects of stadium management and operation, from facility management to food & beverage operations;
- Safety management audits. Our comprehensive safety management audits assess both the physical safety infrastructure of your venue (P-factor) and safety management capabilities of your organisation (S-factor).
- Accessibility audits to verify whether your venue and your organisation meet the latest good practice for a fully inclusive event experience;
- Sustainability audits, covering the entire triple bottom line of your operations: social, environmental & economic sustainability. Our audits focus on the building and organisation alike and cover such diverse areas as: waste management (recycling), energy (re-)use, community engagement, transport management, accessibility, lifestyle & health promotion.
- Functional & technical due diligence studies, as part of an integral due diligence study to assess the value of your asset.
The Stadium Consultancy has a pool of associated consultants with experience in the venue management of stadiums and arenas ranging from 10,000 to 60,000 capacity.
Upon request our experienced stadium operations consultants and managers, can provide interim management services for your venue, ensuring that your venue continues to operate accordingly / as intended / effectively.
We have the know-how and expertise to develop a comprehensive training plan for your venue’s organisation or provide them with tailored workshops.
The training plan focuses on middle and senior management and covers all aspects of modern stadium management. Our workshops are developed to the specific needs of our clients, and our longstanding experience allows us to cover various topics in stadium management. We have successfully delivered various workshops to federations, clubs and educational institutions.
In addition to that, we offer on-the-job training programs, shadowing programs, peer reviews and study tours in cooperation with our partners and a selected pool of leading stadiums in Europe. For more information, please get in touch.
Event Overlay & Bid Books
At The Stadium Consultancy we have developed longstanding experience in the development of event overlay planning and bid books for major events.
We are fully up-to-date with regards to the latest requirements for and developments in the organisation of single- or multiday events, such as FIFA World Cup, UEFA EURO, UEFA Champions League Final, the UEFA Europa League Final, and the UEFA Conference League Final.
The Stadium Consultancy has been involved in the preparation of the EURO 2012 Tournament in Poland & Ukraine, on behalf of UEFA, and successfully prepared the event overlays for various stadiums, for both FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO tournaments.
The Stadium Consultancy has been involved on behalf of UEFA in the development and/or updating of various stadium requirements, including:
- UEFA Infrastructure Regulations;
- Access for All good practice guide;
- UEFA EURO Tournament Requirements.
This has allowed us to successfully assist several National Associations in the preparation of their bids to host a major tournament or final. Our tasks have included the turn-key preparation of all stadium requirements and templates, including all overlay plans, stadium maps and diagrams, evacuation plans, program of works, operational costs and proposed rental levels, among other tasks that require stadium specific expertise.
