Queens Park Rangers sign four-year stadium management agreement with Stadium Support Services

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QPR and Stadium Support Services

English Championship side Queens Park Rangers (QPR) has signed a long-term contract with facilities management firm Stadium Support Services.

Stadium Support Services is a London based support firm that has been operating for over 15 years, they have an experienced leadership team and specialise in servicing commercial properties, arenas, and mass spectator venues.

Regarding services the firm boasts a broad portfolio including cleaning, rope access, facilities management, and civil works.

Alongside the stadium management agreement Stadium Support Service’s has now also been announced as an ongoing QPR sponsor.

This sponsorship deal will grant the company a lounge at the club’s home ground as well as high visibility branding such as pitch side and digital exposure.

Speaking on the sponsorship Stadium Support Services Commercial Director, Joseph Noble, had this to say:

“The new lounge will provide a fantastic opportunity to bring together our family, friends, colleagues and prospective clients in one of the most atmospheric stadiums in the country.”

In the joint announcement of the stadium management contract QPR’s Head of Operations, Joshua Scott, expressed the importance for the club in having such an experienced outfit managing their facilities.

“We have reached a very important and exciting time at the club with access to our new training and squad facilities and is therefore critical we are supported by the best suppliers as we transition into the 23/24 season and beyond,” he added via press release.

“Stadium Support Services is a trusted partner of the club having time and again demonstrated to us their commitment and quality of work when delivering complex projects and we look forward to the continued provision of high-quality service to our team, supporters, staff, and fans.”

Under the new contract Stadium Support Services will be responsible for delivering a new CAFM system. Meaning that the firm will be responsible for ensuring that QPRs sites remain compliant with regulatory standards.

“We are thrilled to have been awarded this new and exciting contract with QPR and to be given the opportunity to work as a trusted partner with such a historic football club. QPR is a forward-thinking club committed to driving high standards on and off the pitch” Scott Hudson said, Operations Director of Stadium Support Services.

“Our collaborative efforts over the past four years in developing a roadmap, demonstrate the promising future that lies ahead for QPR. We look forward to the continuation of our partnership with the club, as we work together to support their journey towards achieving new heights of success.”

Through developing this partnership, it is clear that QPR is endeavouring to reengage with its local community, and this is something to be applauded.

As QPR continues to struggle this season it is also a positive sign that the club maintains its commercial viability and striking deals such as this are a clear sign of that viability.

Stadium Support Services and QPR clearly have a strong relationship and having strong partners keen to deliver the best outcomes for the club both on and off the pitch will be crucial in this tumultuous phase, giving club management and fans alike a little bit more breathing room.

Serie A to stay on DAZN and Sky screens to 2029

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Image via Getty images

DAZN and Sky will retain the rights to broadcast live Serie A matches in Italy for the next five seasons after Italian clubs accepted bids worth at least 4.5 billion euros ($4.8 billion).

After four months of discussions, the Serie A teams convened to examine final bids from streaming services DAZN and Sky, which totalled around 900 million euros each year until the conclusion of the 2028/2029 season, barely below the existing agreement’s yearly worth.

Seventeen of the 20 clubs backed the offer but the decision drew sharp criticism from Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis.

“It’s a total defeat for Italian football, these deals will be the death of Italian football. The problem is being a borrower or an entrepreneur. The entrepreneur must know how to measure the risk area, it is more convenient but this will never implement the value of Italian football”, he stated via press release.

Serie A earns around 930 million euros every season from the sale of its TV rights in Italy under a three-year contract that expires next June, with DAZN once again taking the lion’s share. DAZN will exclusively carry seven Serie A games each week (266 out of 380 matches per season). The remaining three will be carried by DAZN and Sky (114 matches per season).

In recent months, Serie A explored the creation of a media platform to distribute matches to other TV outlets as well as the launch of a home-run live video subscription service.

Torino chairman Urbano Cairo was all for the deal claiming the league was correct to continue the partnership.

“Figures were below our initial expectations and below our current contracts, but I think we were right to continue our relationship with Sky and DAZN. Creating a Serie A TV channel now, would had meant adding further risk to a risky business he stated via press release,” he told reporters.

When some variable components tied to revenue sharing are included, the new contracts may match or even exceed the value of the present contracts and reach 1 billion euros.

Strategic Plan 2023-2026 launched by Football West

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Football West Strategic Plan
Image via Football West

Football West recently announced the launch of their 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, a documentation affiliated with Football Australia’s One Football Strategy that will set the direction for football in Western Australia for the coming years.

The plan will see Football West improve the game under five essential departments:

  • Participants and Clubs
  • Elite Teams and Pathways
  • Fans
  • Unifying Football
  • Asia and the Sam Kerr Football Centre

Participants and Clubs

The first pillar has the aim to make Football the most accessible sport in Western Australia where everyone can play anytime, anywhere.

There are key targets set such as: Increase registrations by 5% per annum, increase participation by 3% per annum and have 95% of clubs and associations with a completed affiliation agreement (presently 82%).

Another key focus is the development of women and girls football which isn’t surprising after the recent Women’s World Cup success. Football West set a goal of 42,500 additional women & girls playing football across the three year plan.

Elite Teams and Pathways

This pillar focuses simply on the development of talent at all ages in a bid to improve the quality of the game in Western Australia.

The focus areas are Delivery of a state-wide Football West Academy program, Frequent and consistent talent identification opportunities and High quality coach development pathway

Fans

Football West is focusing on optimising the fan experience and grassroots to improve attendance numbers and social media engagement.

Unifying Football

They will develop a resourcing model that allows for the servicing of responsibilities between Football Australia and Football West, formalised in a Service Agreement

Asia and the Sam Kerr Football Centre

Football West will look to improve international exchanges with Asian countries and use the Sam Kerr Football Centre to secure sponsorships and play big matches there by 2026.

Football West Chairman Sherif Andrawes mentioned the vision that the federation has for the future of football across all levels.

“We are excited to present the Strategic Plan to the WA football community. This is a vision that will see football move forward in tandem with Football Australia but with a strong WA focus,” Andrawes said in a statement.

“Football is in a great position across the state. We saw during the FIFA Women’s World Cup and, more recently, when the CommBank Matildas played in Perth, that our sport is unique in its widespread appeal. This passion can be felt across all areas of the game.

“We want to be bold and ambitious, and the Strategic Plan gives us a strong base from which to deliver on that.”

Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell was excited to announce how the Strategic Plan would be implemented successfully.

“This Strategic Plan is a real statement of intent and one we are proud to deliver. Harnwell mentioned in a Football West statement.

“Football is more popular than it has ever been in Western Australia, in terms of participation, inclusivity and popularity, and we should all be proud of this. However, we cannot rest on our laurels.

“As a governing body, we want to make our game even more accessible, so we can inspire a new generation to love football. That comes through hard work, consultation and direction, all of which are key to the Strategic Plan.”

The Strategic Plan is well set out and focuses on the current struggles the federation is having at grassroots level. Partnering closely with Football Australia will help them achieve the ambitious goals set out to improve both the state and national foundation.

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