Lifestyle: Man City aims to raise the bar with ‘unique’ Chairman’s Club
MANCHESTER City FC will continue to strive for the “highest standards” for fans at all entry levels after investing £10m in upgrading facilities in and around the Etihad Stadium this year.
While good progress is being made on the club’s biggest infrastructure project – the £150m Academy and first team training centre – and planning permission being sought to extend the capacity of the stadium, significant investment has continued to be made in existing facilities such as the hospitality lounges, bars and suites.
The most unusual – and ground-breaking innovation this year is the launch of The Chairman’s Club – which with prices starting at £300 a head for a five course gourmet meal – is now the club’s most premium hospitality product.
Originally called the Chairman’s Lounge, a high-end dining experience for club officials, guest and opposition executives, it was rebranded as the Connell Club in 2012-13 season.
The space has been expanded and rebranded again into the Chairman’s Club, which allows paying guests the chance to mix with senior officials such as chief executive Ferran Soriano, injured or unavailable players, club ambassadors like Patrick Vieira and visiting directors.
Marketing manager Justice Ellis told TheBusinessDesk.com: “It adds a new dimension to what we offer. The club is constantly innovating the offer in response to what our customers tell us they want.
“I don’t think there is anything like the Chairman’s Club in football – the chance to see, mingle, network and meet our senior team has become an even more compelling offer.
Ellis is keen to stress that it’s not just the corporate facilities that have seen investment, and cites the upgrade to the technological infrastructure around the Etihad, and also the concourse catering improvements too, as part of the deal with TV chef Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts enterprise and his US hospitality partner Legends.
One quirky facet of this has been the introduction of a fruit stall – where punters wishing to eschew the £5 pie, mash and gravy, can buy two pieces of fruit for £1.
