Marvel Stadium acknowledged for venue technology innovation at 2023 TheStadiumBusiness Awards

The Australian-first 5G innovation introduced by the AFL along with Telstra and Field of Vision at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium has been recognised as the winner in the Venue Technology category at the 2023 TheStadiumBusiness Awards.

Presented in the UK city of Manchester this week, the award was for Marvel Stadium’s 5G Touch and Track initiative that provides a new way for vision impaired Australians to experience live sport.

Other presentations at the TheStadiumBusiness Awards saw the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA secure the Venue of the Year accolade and Ron Bension, President and Chier Executive of ASM Global named as Executive of the Year.

Other winners on the night included Concert for Ukraine (Resorts World Arena) - Event of the Year; Kerri Davies of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - Unsung Hero Award; S.M.I.L.E. culture (Atlanta Hawks) - Fan Experience Award; FC Maribor Sport Chatbot (Mastercard/2Mobile) - Product Innovation Award; Children’s Haven & Ukraine refugee support (Tauron Arena Kraków) - Sustainability & Community Award; No Boundaries (Hilton/Lancs Cricket) - Sponsorship, Sales & Marketing Award and FC Copenhagen’s Jacob Lauesen received an Outstanding Achievement Award.

Now in their 14th year, TheStadiumBusiness Awards are the only awards to recognise a whole spectrum of achievements from across the global stadium industry.

Commenting on the program, commented Ian Nuttall, founder of TheStadiumBusiness Awards, noted “congratulations to all of the finalists who reached the podium.

“Winners included our leaders, achievers and stand-out venues from our industry - and they should all be very proud of their achievements.”

The SCG is a past winner of the Venue Technology Award while Marvel Stadium was named Venue of the Year in 2019.

Event of the Year Award
Category Winner: Concert for Ukraine (Resorts World Arena)
Shortlisted nominees:
Rugby League World Cup 2021
UEFA Women’s EURO 2022
Barca in Sydney (VenuesLive)
Women’s Rugby World Cup (Eden Park)
NFL’s Touchdown in Germany (Allianz Arena)

Unsung Hero Award
Category Winner: Kerri Davies, Head of Memberships, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Shortlisted nominees:
Melisa Hooper, VP of Booking, Allegiant Stadium
Chris Reed, Catering Services Director, Newcastle United FC
Angela Roberts, Group Health & Safety Manager, NEC Group
Kate Simkiss, Corporate Legal Manager, Eden Park Trust
Tony Vroman, Senior Director – Stadium Events, SoFi Stadium & Hollywood Park

Fan Experience Award
Category Winner: S.M.I.L.E. culture (Atlanta Hawks)
Shortlisted nominees:
Edmiston House event space (Rangers FC)
Fan satisfaction at Silverstone
F&B overhaul at FC Copenhagen
Blue Jays’ outfield district revamp (Rogers Center)
More Than a Match at St. James’ Park (Sodexo Live!/Newcastle United FC)

Product Innovation Award
Category Winner: FC Maribor Sport Chatbot (Mastercard/2Mobile)
Shortlisted nominees:
Hard Rock Stadium Express Shop (Miami Dolphins/Verizon/AiFi)
Augmented Reality at SoFi Stadium (ARound)
Venue metrics tool (NHL/SAP)
North Bar frictionless experience (Leicester City FC/Levy UK)
WimbleWorld on Roblox (AELTC, The Gang, Roblox)

Sustainability and Community
Category Winner: Children’s Haven & Ukraine refugee support (Tauron Arena Kraków)
Shortlisted nominees:
TRUE Platinum zero waste certification (Mercedes-Benz Stadium/AMBSE)
Go Green Report (Honeycomb Strategies/Philadelphia Eagles)
Unbox Litter app (Indy Eleven/Unbox Sports Tech)
‘You Can Do Anything’ Free Fit Area (RB Leipzig)
Disability Matters Fixture (Leicester City FC)

Sponsorship, Sales and Marketing Award
Category Winner: No Boundaries (Hilton/Lancs Cricket)
Shortlisted nominees:
Women’s Sport & Digital Transformation (WRU/Vodafone/Principality Stadium)
LAFC record-breaking MLS deal (BMO Stadium)
Resilience & Commercial Recovery (Coventry Building Society Arena)
Recognising indigenous peoples at Romssa Arena (Tromsø IL/Troms Kraft)

Venue Technology Award
Category Winner: 5G Touch and Track at Marvel Stadium (AFL/Telstra/Field of Vision)
Shortlisted nominees:
5G private network (Boingo/Petco Park)
Baseball’s biggest scoreboard (NY Mets/Citi Field)
Villa Park’s Holte End self-service (Aston Villa FC/Levy UK)
On-the-go mobile charging (ChargeFuze/ASM Global)
SWAPP workplace optimisation (Principality Stadium/Vindico)

Executive of the Year Award
Category Winner: Ron Bension, President & Chief Executive, ASM Global
Shortlisted nominees:
Mark Ashton, Director/Chief Executive, Ipswich Town FC
Jon Dutton, former Chief Executive, RLWC2021
Raven Jemison, EVP – Business Operations, Milwaukee Bucks
Jacob Lauesen, Managing Director, FC Copenhagen
Kerrie Mather, Chief Executive, Venues NSW & SCG

Venue of the Year Award
Category Winner: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
Shortlisted nominees:
Allianz Stadium (Sydney)
Centre Court, Wimbledon (London)
Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle)
Etihad Arena (Abu Dhabi)
Lusail Stadium (Qatar)

Outstanding Achievement Award
Jacob Lauesen, Managing Director, FC Copenhagen

Images: Winners at the 2023 TheStadiumBusiness Awards (top, credit: TheStadiumBusiness Awards/LinkedIn) and Marvel Stadium’s 5G Touch and Track initiative (below, credit: Marvel Stadium).