£32m redevelopment programme sees Birmingham’s cricket ground increasing its event offering

Edgbaston Stadium has officially opened its meetings and events spaces after completion of an exciting 18 month redevelopment programme. The Midlands stadium is set to assert itself as one of the UK’s leading business and leisure destinations.

A special showcase for corporate event managers and agencies was held to introduce the venue’s facilities, event offering and corporate hospitality for 2011-12.  Held on 26th July, tours were available to showcase the new Edgbaston and highlight the versatility of room set-ups and the provision for audio visual equipment. The main banqueting suite was set to showcase its adaptability as a venue for corporate dinners, Christmas parties and personal milestone events including weddings.  The day was rounded off with a sample of the venue’s new corporate hospitality offering at the Clydesdale Bank 40 over match between Warwickshire and Hampshire.

The venue now offers an additional ten meeting spaces, each with a distinct personality, for events from 20 – 700 guests.  Edgbaston features: a new conference and banqueting suite for 700 guests, 1050m² of exhibition space, 4 meeting rooms and 4 new executive boxes which can host up to 24 people.

Rekha Lyons, sales office manager, said: “Our meeting spaces have been refurbished and offer sleek spaces designed with today’s high specifications in mind: Wifi capability up to 100 MB and plasma screens. We have confirmed 24 events to date with a clientele list now ranging from blue chip companies and professional services such as Pinsent Masons, Skin Clinics and Blackstar.  We are also seeing big demands from the charity sector with events already confirmed from The Lord Taverners and Cure Leukaemia”.

Jo Austin, head of sales Lime Venue Portfolio, said: “With £32 million spent, this is the largest venue investments in the Midlands this year and is testament to the demand for upscale banqueting, conference and event facilities in this area. The venue’s central location, coupled with an enhanced service and product offering means that our current clients will relish the changes and potential clients will be keen to try us out.  We look forward to welcoming them all at Edgbaston”.

Jamie Nevin, general manager, Edgbaston Experience Limited, said: “Edgbaston is rightly renowned as a world famous cricket venue. Now is the time for us to become known within the region and the UK as a major provider of premier conference and banqueting facilities”.

Keith Prowse will provide world class hospitality to the new Jaguar Club, The 1882 Club, Superboxes and The Edgbaston Suite for the 3rd npower Test match between England and India (10th to 14th August). These will join the existing areas of the Aylesford Private Boxes, Marston’s Suite, Executive Club and Lower Wyatt Suite across the ground in the Raglan / Priory Stand and RES Wyatt.