GroundWOW win 10th innovation award

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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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E-Series coming to BTME

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E-Series coming to BTME: Dennis and SISIS will be introducing their new and exciting range of environmentally friendly turf maintenance machinery to the golf market at BTME 2022.

Working alongside carefully selected partners Dennis and SISIS have developed a portfolio of machines that have great battery life and range, with ultra-low noise and vibration, that are a NO COMPROMISE alternative to the petrol range they have been renowned for producing.

E-Series coming to BTME

E-Series coming to BTME

The investment and research have paid off and the E-Series boasts a range of superior battery-powered products that are befitting of the Dennis and SISIS badges.

Located in the Red Zone on Stand 244, visitors can expect to see the following products on display.

ES-26

Easy to use, superb balance, control, and easy pull back for accurate alignment of next run are just some of the features of the ES-26. With a 26” cutting width, this mower is available with a standard front roller for maintaining fine turf sports surfaces such as golf greens and tees.

ES–22 Ultra

Quiet in operation with ultra-low hand arm vibration, the ES-22 Ultra can help professionals enhance a playing surface. Very simple to control, variable speeds and clip rates, forward speeds controlled by the operator and easy pull back for accurate alignment of next run.

Using a 7 or 11 bladed cutting cylinder and groomer reel, this 560mm (22”) battery mower provides an ultra-fine finish on golf greens and tees. The tungsten tipped groomer can be in or out dependent on conditions.

ES–MK5

The ES-MK5 offers the industry a dedicated battery scarifier that has great battery life and range with ultra-low noise and vibration. It boasts a power output that allows the tough tasks of scarification to be completed without range anxiety.

It is a well-built, reliable machine that is operator friendly, and easy to control which ensures many years of service that helps end users dramatically reduce carbon emissions, maximise output and save money on fuel.

SISIS Flexibrush 

The SISIS Flexibrush is a tractor mounted brush which is equally effective dispersing top dressing and removing excess material on natural turf surfaces. It has a 5.35 metre working width, its brush sections ‘float’ to follow ground contours and the outer sections fold for transport and storage. Over the years, many greenkeepers have relied on the Flexibrush for a wide range of tasks including presenting and striping fairways when it is too wet to cut; standing grasses up before cutting to provide a better finish; dispersing worm casts and knocking dew off the surface.

Dennis & SISIS have been regular exhibitors at BTME for a number of years and as always, the company’s experienced staff will be available to answer any queries and offer valuable advice about the machinery on show.

Further information about the range of maintenance products available can be found by visiting www.dennisuk.com / www.sisis.com.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter and Instagram @DennisMowers and SISIS @SISISMachinery. You can like the Facebook page –www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK and www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers and www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery

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Sand solutions at BTME

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Sand solutions at BTME: Mansfield Sand is delighted to be exhibiting again at BTME and visitors can find the company in the Green Zone on Stand 326. 

Pioneers in the development and production of premium quality silica sand-based products for over 170 years, Mansfield Sand is a name that greenkeepers, course managers and sports turf managers put their trust in.

Sand solutions at BTME

Sand solutions at BTME

Whether for construction or on-going maintenance, the company has long been providing a wide range of products which are vital to the overall health and performance of a sports pitch.

Here is a snapshot of some of the innovative products:

Mansil Silica Sand Sports Range

Sourced from the company’s Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield where the Mansil range of Silica Sands is produced. These products are predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of a wide range of sports surfaces – from winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas.

Top Dressing

Produced for the fine turf market, Mansfield Sand’s Soil Top Dressing is a manufactured homogenous product made from their own premium silica sands combined with top quality soils. All passed through a sterilising unit, over a 3mm screen to produce an easy to spread, stone and pebble free dressing. Mansfield Sand can also produce bespoke dressing blends and combine soil amendments into any product.

Sand Soil Rootzones

Mansfield Sand understands exactly what is needed to achieve the surface that turf managers require week-in-week-out and that is why their rootzones contain only the best quality materials to meet that demand. For renovation or construction, the company’s superior rootzone blend Mansil 40 Silica Sand with a quality screened topsoil, guarantees the perfect start.

Sand Compost Rootzones

A range of premium quality sand organic material blends which are perfect for creating a rootzone where an organic rich material is required within the profile, aiding in the retention of nutrients whilst providing increased drought resistance.

Reinforced Rootzone

A range of reinforced rootzones developed to obtain greater use from natural turf surfaces whilst maintaining the high standards demanded by today’s sports industry and meeting the expectations of ground staff at all levels. Mansfield Sand’s reinforcement technology provides stability and durability to all sand dominated rootzones allowing the pitch to remain free draining and consistent over the whole surface.

Products include Fibre Reinforced Rootzone – reinforced with polypropylene fibres; Fibrelastic Rootzone – reinforced with polypropylene fibres and flexible elastane fibres and Fibresand – particularly advantageous when grass cover has been reduced due to heavy usage and wear during the winter period.

Head to the Mansfield Sand stand at BTME where the experienced team will be able to explain how the products could make a significant improvement to your turf.

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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Heroic greenkeeper saves man’s life

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Heroic greenkeeper saves man’s life: A greenkeeper at Gullane Golf Club in Scotland saved the life of a golfer who was having a heart attack on the course.

Read the full article from Golf Magic here

Groundsman to play on his 'sacred' pitch

Groundsman to play on his ‘sacred’ pitch

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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From Tee to Green with KAR UK

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From Tee to Green with KAR UK: KAR UK will be in the Red South Zone on Stand 228 at BTME showcasing a leading range of irrigation equipment that could make a significant improvement to your golf course.

KAR UK is an integral distributor of Hunter Industries irrigation equipment, which has, for over 30 years, developed the technology and infrastructure to create a new class of golf irrigation solutions.

From Tee to Green with KAR UK

From Tee to Green with KAR UK

Here is a snapshot of what to expect on the stand:

Hunter TTS rotors

The Hunter TTS-800 rotors provide maximum uniformity and longevity. The high-torque gear drives are the strongest in the industry, so the challenges of reclaimed water use or poor water quality are mitigated. An extra-large, fast-access flange compartment comfortably accommodates wire connections and other components.

The new 800 series feature Hunter’s patented TTS (Total-Top-Service) technology which allows for every serviceable element of the rotor to be accessed through the top. Mechanical and electrical, big and small, you can get to every component without disturbing the playing surface. That means there’s no more digging, no more unsightly scars, and more importantly, one less item on a busy turf manager’s schedule.

I-80 rotor

Engineered for sports turf, the I-80 is built with a robust, dirt-tolerant gear drive that offers the highest torque output of any rotor in the commercial sphere, and extends a radius range from 11.3 to 29.6 meters. The I-80 features a wide range of highly efficient, dual-trajectory, wind-fighting nozzles for highly efficient performance in a range of applications. It also provides TTS via its integrated, surface-mounted snap-ring for no-dig easy maintenance.

ACC2 and ICC2 controllers

Hunter’s line-up of controllers offer an array of user-friendly features and smart controller water-saving options built to fit any sports and landscape irrigation system. The modular design of the ICC2 and the ACC2 controllers set yet another industry standard for easy-to-use and expandable automatic irrigation controllers.  KAR UK will also demonstrate the new Centralus Software which is available to the ICC2 and ACC2.

Pilot PC-based central control system

A PC-based software package that makes central control of large-scale irrigation systems affordable, usable, and comprehensible.

Kasco fountains

In addition to the Hunter irrigation equipment, why not also ask the KAR UK team about the innovative Kasco decorative fountains? These unique fountains are renowned for improving the health of water as well as bringing a certain elegance to a picturesque pond.

Experienced members of staff from KAR UK will be on hand throughout BTME to provide advice and support for any of your irrigation projects.

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views

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