With more than 25,000 weekly readers now subsribed to TheStadiumBusiness.com, more than 2,500 stories published since our launch in late 2016, and over 240,000 page views, we thought it would be interesting to find out what our audience spent the most time reading.
We’ve run the numbers, and analysed the data to deliver a yearly round up of the 25 most read stadium business news stories of 2017.
Which stories really hit the headlines? Who got the most reads of the whole year? We were surprised by a few, you might be too…
Presenting the 25 most read stories of 2017
25. Everton linked with Chinese investment for new stadium
24th April – 1,335 views
English Premier League football club Everton is said to be in “advanced talks” with a Chinese consortium over a multi-million pound investment to aid the development of its new stadium. According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, Farhad Moshiri, majority shareholder in the club, is seeking financial support from outside parties in order to allow the club to continue to invest in the team…[more]
24. SMG back on the market
14th November – 1,336 views
Venue management company SMG has been placed up for sale once more, according to reports. The SportsBusiness Journal reported that any potential sale could be worth $750m (£572m/€640m). The Journal noted that sports and entertainment company Oak View Group has been banned from submitting a bid for SMG…[more]
23. Leicester to weigh up King Power Stadium expansion
23rd May – 1,338 views
Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has not ruled out the prospect of the English Premier League football club expanding the King Power Stadium. The atmosphere at the 32,000-capacity stadium is considered to be among the best in the Premier League, with Leicester’s home form proving to be a key factor during last season’s title-winning season…[more]
22. New 15,000-capacity venue being eyed for Cardiff
19th June – 1,340 views
The Welsh government says it is “crucially important” for the country to build a new 15,000-capacity venue to attract more major events. Wales’ economy minister Ken Skates said a multi-purpose arena in Cardiff would allow the country to be able to host such events as the BBC’s annual Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, as well as other major sporting and entertainment events…[more]
21. Elland Road undergoing renovation ahead of new season
27th July – 1,344 views
A host of improvements are being made to Elland Road, home of Leeds United, after the English Championship football club recently retook ownership of the stadium. Leeds confirmed last month that it had bought back the ground, which it had been forced to sell in 2004 to help reduce debts following relegation from the top-tier Premier League…[more]
20. Groundsmen dig in after dismissals by Hull stadium operator
19th May – 1,346 views
Two groundsmen have launched a crowd-funding campaign to take the Superstadium Management Company (SMC) that operates the KCOM Stadium (pictured) in Hull to an employment tribunal. Mark Harrison and Darrell Cook, who were sacked in April for gross misconduct, have raised more than £3,500 so far towards a £5,000 target on the Crowdjustice.com website since the campaign’s launch…[more]
19. Gillette Stadium sets out concourse upgrade plans
13th March – 1,346 views
Gillette Stadium, home of NFL American football franchise the New England Patriots, is to undergo an upgrade project that will see a series of improvements made to its concourse facilities. Work has already begun on the upper levels of the Super Bowl LI champion’s facility, which also hosts the home matches of Major League Soccer outfit New England Revolution…[more]
18. Panasonic introduces state-of-the-art Wi-Fi solution for venues
21st April – 1,364 views
Multinational electronics company Panasonic has launched a new Wi-Fi solution designed to boost fan experience at large sports and entertainment venues. The firm said Everest Network Solutions requires only one third the wireless hardware of the more traditional legacy systems, with access points mounted on structures rather than under seats. The system can serve up to…[more]
17. Tottenham’s stadium capacity to surpass 61,000
8th May – 1,371 views
English Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur has received approval from Haringey Council to increase the capacity of its new stadium to 61,559. Tottenham said an improved layout design has enabled the club to add a number of seats around the venue, which is being built next to White Hart Lane, the club’s current ground…[more]
16. Hightex wins contract for Qatar’s roof membrane construction
27th April – 1,372 views
German construction company Hightex has been awarded a contract to work on Qatar’s new ‘giant tent’ Al Bayt Stadium, which will serve as one of the host venues for the country’s staging of the 2022 Fifa World Cup. Hightex will assume responsibility for the membrane construction of the innovative roof and façade of the stadium, which is scheduled for completion in June next year…[more]
15. AEG seals multi-year deal with United Rentals
17th November – 1,402 views
Sports and entertainment company AEG has signed a multi-year partnership with equipment rental company United Rentals covering a selection of venues, festivals and sports franchises. United Rentals will supply equipment for large-scale sports and entertainment events to add further production value and improved operations for AEG properties…[more]
14. Video: Tottenham Hotspur unveil ‘world first’ retractable pitch
8th September – 1,420 Views
English Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur has selected Sheffield-based engineering firm SCX to supply a retractable pitch that will be used at its new stadium, which is due to open next year. SCX took on the detailed design of a scheme developed by BuroHappold Engineering and will supply a grass pitch that will sit directly above an artificial surface at the as-yet-untitled stadium…[more]
13. Arsenal eyes increased Emirates Stadium capacity
4th September – 1,492 views
English Premier League football club Arsenal is considering increasing the capacity of its Emirates Stadium home ground by around 800 to accommodate new seating in the club-level tier of the venue. The Football.London website reports that the project, which has been dubbed Operation Saturn, is currently being discussed with Islington Council…[more]
12. EXCLUSIVE: Take a tour of the new Las Vegas NFL stadium
29th March – 1,556 views
As reported by TheStadiumBusiness.com, NFL owners voted overwhelmingly to allow the Raiders American football franchise to relocate from Oakland to Las Vegas. It is hoped that the Raiders will be able to move into the 65,000-seat Vegas stadium in 2019 or 2020. The project will cost $1.9bn (£1.5bn/€1.8bn)….[more]
11. London Mayor speaks of ‘anger’ over London Stadium costs
17th March – 2,000 views
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has spoken out over his “unhappiness, frustration and anger” at the increasing costs of turning the London Stadium into a multi-use venue. Built for the English capital’s hosting of the summer Olympic Games in 2012, the stadium is now home to English Premier League football club West Ham United, while also staging athletics and music events…[more]
10. Dimension Data and SAP form tech-focused alliance
16th May – 1,578 views
An industry-leading technology solution is set to be introduced through a new venture between software company SAP and Dimension Data, a South Africa-based IT solutions services provider. The initiative will see Dimension Data’s Sports Practice division partner with SAP’s sports and entertainment division. The initial focus of the partnership will be on delivering live stadium solutions to clients…[more]
9. Trump puts focus on empty seats at NFL stadiums
25th September – 1,701 views
Poor attendance figures at NFL stadiums have been the focus of further discussion following a spat involving President Trump. Several American football stars have caused controversy for kneeling during the US national anthem, which is played at the start of NFL games. The actions are a protest about perceived discrimination against people of colour in the US, particularly by police…[more]
8. Cagliari to play at temporary arena while new stadium is built
4th May – 1,768 views
Italian Serie A football club Cagliari has said that it will play its home matches at a temporary facility while work continues on its new stadium. The club began work on the Sardegna Arena, a 16,000-capacity venue that will be erected in the car parks of the under-construction 21,000-seat Sant’Elia, the team’s new home that is due to…[more]
7. Manchester United faces setbacks for disabled access work at Old Trafford
13th July – 1,826 views
Work on improving accessibility at Manchester United’s Old Trafford home ground is facing a setback as further safety assessments need to be made across the three stands that require work. Despite this, changes at the Premier League club’s Old Trafford stadium began at the end of last season, with more than 300 new positions in place for disabled supporters. In addition, several new wheelchair user platforms have been installed, along with new amenity seats and the widening of exits….[more]
6. VIDEO: Celtic stadium manager on the political issues blocking ‘safe standing’
30th June – 2,127 views
Celtic’s stadium general manager Robin Buchanan believes football fans are safer in rail seating areas than at most all-seater stadia. In a TheStadiumBusiness Insights video interview, Buchanan suggested that fans who stand throughout a game with a barrier in front and behind them are less likely to be hurt than those who jump to their feet in seated areas, as is often seen at football grounds….[more]
5. Inter losing patience with AC Milan over San Siro renovation plans
26th July – 2,656 views
Italian Serie A football club Inter Milan is believed to be growing increasingly impatient with arch rival AC Milan over plans to renovate the shared San Siro Stadium. Inter is keen to push ahead with the project that will see major work carried out at the 80,018-capacity venue, which the two teams have shared since 1947…[more]
4. Naples mayor opposes new stadium plans for Napoli
7th July – 2,768 views
The president of Italian Serie A football club Napoli has been criticised by the Mayor of Naples with regard to plans for a new 20,000-capacity stadium. The club’s current home, Stadio San Paolo, was built in 1959 and is still owned by the city council. However, it is in dire need of refurbishment…[more]
3. Leaked plans suggest 60,000-capacity for new Everton stadium
10th July – 2,793 views
English Premier League football club Everton could play in front of crowds of up to 60,000 at its new stadium, according to design plans seen by the Daily Mail newspaper. Initial reports suggested that the new facility will have a capacity of 50,000 and cost approximately £300m (€339.4m/$386.8m), but an official document from stadium designer Buro Happold Engineering that appeared on…[more]
2. KSS to lead renovation work at Amex Stadium
24th May – 3,016 views
Design firm KSS is to carry out a range of improvements at Amex Stadium, home of newly-promoted English Premier League football club Brighton and Hove Albion, over the summer. Brighton announced earlier this month that the stadium would undergo a £5m (€5.8m/$6.5m) renovation project in the coming months to prepare the club for top-flight football…[more]
1. The Stadium Business Design & Development Awards: Voting is Open!
18th October – 3,771 views!
Back in October TheStadiumBusiness launched the inaugural Design & Development Awards, and we were astounded to report that more than 45,000 votes were cast to support the industry’s leading architects, designers, developers, and suppliers. With the enormous uptake on public voting, it comes as no surprise that – despite being published just a month ago – the Awards voting story was in fact the most read article of 2017… Voting is of course now closed, but you can find out about our winners here [more]
That’s it from us for 2017, thank you to all of our subscribers, the news team will be back on 2nd January 2018.
