SUNDERLAND AFC’s Stadium of Light may already be well known for high standards on the pitch, but it has now received national recognition for excellence as a business and events facility.
The stadium, which reached the national finals after securing a Business Tourism award in the North- East Tourism awards in November, was recognised with a silver award behind London’s Excel Arena at the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, held in Brighton.
It is now also in the running for a separate international award at the Stadium Business Awards, to be held in Dublin, in June.
The arena’s 2009 events calendar will be up against entries from Arsenal, Coventry City, Argentinean club River Plate and NFL giants the Dallas Cowboys.
SAFC chief executive Steve Walton said: “The club has had a very rewarding period both on and off the pitch recently and to continue challenging some big, big names as a business tourism venue is a real achievement.
“As a business, we have continued to offer some of the highest quality hospitality space and event management in the UK and we have done so very imaginatively.”
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