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Stadium managers who will be hosting future World Cups in South Africa and Brazil were taken on a tour of the multi-purpose Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

Fifteen stadium managers from 12 countries were led on a fact-finding mission as part of a training programme run by Ian Nuttall of the European Venue Management Institute (EVMI).

The group flew to Germany to meet some of the executive management committee that ran the 2006 FIFA World Cup before coming to the United Kingdom.

Representatives from Euro2012 in Poland and Ukraine, the FIFA World Cup in South Africa 2010 and Brazil in 2014, Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Mexican football club Atalante and Brazilian football club Flamengo joined the tour of the £113 million complex.

Daniel Gidney, second row, right, with other Ricoh Arena staff and stadium managers who were taken on a tour of the venue during their visit to the UK

Daniel Gidney, Liz Cooper, Jacky Isaac, Anthony Mundy and Justine Hewitt from the Ricoh Arena passed on their expertise.

Ian said: “EVMI views Ricoh Arena as a leading example of modern stadium management, where football is important to the business but there are other elements which are key to the business’s success.

“Looking at the concerts, conferences, exhibitions and hotel it is a truly multi-purpose stadium and the Ricoh is one of the best examples in the UK, if not the world.

“There is a forward-thinking management team in place that has focussed on customer service and introduced the first cashless payment system in the UK. As such, it’s a great example for other stadiums to follow.
 
“Daniel discussed financial management and strategic business planning, Liz gave us insights into dealing with concert promoters and event organisers and Jacky talked about human resources.”

Wojciech Rokicki, Stadium Coordinator at PL.2012, which is the government agency responsible for delivering the Euro2012 tournament in Poland, added: “The course was a great opportunity to learn so much about professional stadium management from the executive teams at London's Twickenham Stadium and Coventry's Ricoh Arena.

“This has been especially important for Poland where we are building six stadiums to host UEFA's most prestigious tournament in just three years' time.”

Daniel said the stadium managers wanted to look at best management practices in the UK.

“The group only visited two venues in the UK – Twickenham and the Ricoh Arena – and we were delighted to host their visit,” he said.

“We hope our advice will play a part in the management structures put in place to run some of the world’s top sporting tournaments.”