GroundWOW win 10th innovation award

GroundWOW win 10th innovation award: North-West autonomous technology innovators, GroundWOW, have been announced as the winners of TheStadiumBusiness Innovation Award 2021 at Emirates Old Trafford stadium in Manchester.

Now in their 12th year, TheStadiumBusiness Awards are the only awards to recognise a whole spectrum of achievements from across the global stadium industry. The awards are nominated by the industry, for the industry recognise leadership, innovation and achievement in the design, delivery and operation of sports and entertainment facilities globally.

GroundWOW win 10th innovation award

GroundWOW win 10th innovation award

“To be nominated by the industry in such an innovation rich environment was already incredible. To actually win is an enormous and hugely valuable recognition of our development of this point” said GroundWOW’s Chief Commercial Officer, David Pritchard.

The judging panel was made up of well-respected worldwide stadium professionals and the award was presented by David Manica of MANICA Architecture; the designers of the incredible Wynn Field Club at the Allegiant Stadium home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.

There is no better tribute to the work of GroundWOW’s talented team than to be featured on such a stellar list of organisations, projects and individuals as this one. Launched in 2019, the Stockport-based company took home their 10th innovation award for the AV/AI-driven ground printer which activates underutilised real estate.

“Congratulations to everyone who reached the podium,” commented Ian Nuttall, founder of TheStadiumBusiness Awards. “Winners included our industry’s leaders, achievers and stand-out venues, who should all be very proud of their achievements.”

JUDGES

Hundreds of nominations were whittled down to create the shortlist, judged by an independent panel of industry figures including:

  • Jacque Holowaty, VP Employee & Guest Experience, Climate Pledge Arena
  • Nick Sautner, Chief Executive Officer, The Eden Park Trust
  • Dionna Widder, Chief Revenue Officer, Houston Dynamo
  • Darren Burden, Executive Director, Kai Tak Sports Park
  • Mel Raines, EVP of Corporate Comms, Community Engagement & Facility Operations, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
  • Paul Fisher, Consultant (Former Chief Executive, Jockey Club Racecourses)
  • Christian Lau, CTO, Los Angeles FC / Banc of California Stadium
  • Andy O’Sullivan, Venue Director, Tottenham Hotspur FC
  • Ian Nuttall, CEO & Co-Founder, TheStadiumBusiness

THE 2021 WINNERS

The Winners and Shortlisted Nominees in each category are as follows:

SUSTAINABILITY & COMMUNITY AWARD

Category Winner: BeAsOne Community Program – Cagliari Calcio

Shortlisted nominees:

  • Aarhus. Ansvar. Fremtid: Strategic sustainability program – AGF Aarhus
  • The Beacon: Community Hub – Foundation of Light, Sunderland FC
  • SMISA Stadium – St Mirren FC
  • Toronto Vaccine Day: Our Winning Shot – Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
  • Wall of Honour: Ajax Fan Columbarium – PC Uitvaart/Ajax FC/Funeral Products

FAN EXPERIENCE AWARD (SPONSORED BY AVIXA)

Category Winner: Allegiant Stadium Tours – Las Vegas Raiders/BRC Imagination Arts

Shortlisted nominees:

  • 5G Test Bed at Cegeka Arena – KRC Genk, Belgium
  • Power Portal – Cleveland Cavaliers, USA
  • AberDNA & Challenger Club strategy – Aberdeen FC, Scotland
  • Warriors’ Dub Hub – Golden State Warriors, USA

INNOVATION AWARD

  • Category Winner: AV/AI-driven Ground Printer– GroundWOW

Shortlisted nominees:

  • Social Distancing Seating Tool – 3D Digital Venue
  • VenueShield™ Programme – ASM Global
  • Venue Twin – OnePlan
  • VfL Connect hospitality app – VfL Wolfsburg
  • Covid Safety Hub – Realife Tech

INTERIOR & FIT-OUT AWARD

Category Winner: Wynn Field Club at Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas Raiders

Shortlisted nominees:

  • Cache Creek Club at Levi’s Stadium – San Francisco 49ers
  • Field Cabanas and Bungalow Suites at SoFi Stadium – LA Rams
  • Interior Preservation and Modernisation – Helsinki Olympic Stadium
  • Westview at Stamford Bridge – Chelsea FC/KSS

VENUE TECHNOLOGY

Category Winner: LED Lighting System in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium – Olympiastadion Berlin GmbH

Shortlisted nominees:

  • Infrastructure and Technology Services at Adams Park – Wycombe Wanderers FC / Landways Management
  • Nationwide EPOS Implementation – ASM Global (UK)
  • PAM Wayfinding & Touchpoints at SoFi Stadium – LA Rams/Hollywood Park
  • Technology Partners Integration at Chase Center – Golden State Warriors

PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Category Winner: Leicester City FC Training Ground – Leicester City FC

Shortlisted nominees:

  • Grand Palais Ephemere – Jean-Michel Wilmotte/GL Events/Paris2024
  • Helsinki Olympic Stadium renovation – Helsinki, Finland
  • Lynn Family Stadium – Soccer Holdings/Louisville City FC/HOK
  • Compton & Edrich Stands at Lord’s – Marylebone Cricket Club/WilkinsonEyre
  • Sahlen Field renovations – Toronto Blue Jays

SPONSORSHIP, SALES & MARKETING AWARD

Category Winner: Avicii Arena – Trygg-Hansa and Bauhaus/ASM Global/Tim Bergling Foundation

Shortlisted nominees:

  • DRV PNK Stadium – Inter Miami CF
  • The Hundred – England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
  • ‘New Lawn’ naming rights – Forest Green Rovers FC
  • Virtual Pink Seat – Sydney Cricket Ground/McGrath Foundation/Cricket Australia

UNSUNG HERO AWARD

Category Winner: Jackie Ventura, Director of Facility Health and Hygiene, Golden State Warriors

Shortlisted nominees:

  • Danielle Snyder, Senior Vice President, Guest Services & Security, STAPLES Center
  • Lesley Spuhler, CEO, Foundation of Light (Sunderland AFC)
  • Gary Storrie, Health and Safety Manager, Formula 1
  • James Tagg, Executive Head Chef, Manchester United
  • Guy Wickett, Development Manager (En Todo), Crystal Palace FC

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Category Winner: Al Guido, President, San Francisco 49ers

Shortlisted nominees:

  • Vince Cicero, SVP of Corporate Partnerships, FC Cincinnati /TQL Stadium
  • Eric Granger, General Manager, KFC Yum! Center
  • Freyja Handy, General Counsel (Europe), ASM Global
  • Joe Lacob, CEO & Co-Executive Chairman, Golden State Warriors
  • Tim Shannahan, CEO, Orangetheory Stadium

VENUE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Category Winner: SoFi Stadium

Shortlisted nominees:

  • Allegiant Stadium
  • Anfield
  • Brentford Community Stadium
  • Chase Center
  • Suncorp Stadium
  • WiZink Center Madrid

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

·       David Keirle, Chair, KSS

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