This year's "summer of sport" has shown how the UK's sports infrastructure is capable of producing a plethora of events that attract fans from around the world, according to Nuno Guerreiro, principal architect at HOK Sport and Entertainment.
In an interview with
Sports Management magazine, Guerreiro said that – with more than 2.6 million people attending seven major events – the UK sports sector can take "a lot of pride in what it has achieved".
"There's no doubt that 2019 has been a memorable summer for sport in the UK," Guerreiro said.
"Arguably, since 2012, never has the UK been such a focal point for summertime sports with the country hosting two World Cups (netball and cricket), the Major League Baseball London fixtures and the Ashes – alongside the all-time British classics of The Open, the tennis at Wimbledon, the Royal Ascot and the Silverstone F1 Grand Prix.
"Fundamental to the success of this year has been the locations.
"While M&S Bank Arena (the venue for the Netball World Cup), Royal Portrush (The Open) and the London Stadium (MLB Series) aren’t exactly new, they have yet to acquire the international renown enjoyed by the iconic venues of Wimbledon, Lords, Ascot and Silverstone. But maybe they should, as they all delivered unequivocally."
Guerreiro also pointed out that meeting the challenges in using "older" venues has been crucial in the success of the events.
"The expectations inherent amongst stakeholders using a venue are not to be underestimated," Guerreiro added.
"The organisers, sponsors, the media, athletes and fans have widely varying and exacting needs. These can vary from state-of-the-art media centres and broadcast facilities, a selection of corporate hospitality options, a range of fan food and beverage concessions, fan entertainment areas (to meet the ever-growing demands of social media) and impressive player facilities – spanning discrete warm-up areas, treatment rooms, changing facilities and lounges.
"With established grounds, there is often the need to retrofit technology – hence the historic issues with services such as WiFi - but even modern venues face unexpected challenges, as anyone who has hosted VVIP guests or completely new sports can attest."
The UK's Summer of Sport 2019ICC Cricket World CupVenues used: Bristol County Ground, Cardiff Wales Stadium, The Riverside Durham, Edgbaston, Hampshire Bowl, Headingley, Lord's, Old Trafford, County Ground Taunton, The Oval, Trent Bridge
Total audience: 800,000
MLB London SeriesVenue: The London Stadium
Total audience: 118,718
Netball World CupVenue: M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Total audience: 125,000
Royal AscotVenue: Ascot Racecourse
Total audience: 292,719
The AshesVenues used: Edgbaston, Lord's, Headingley, Old Trafford, The Oval
Total audience: 483,800
The OpenVenue: Royal Portrush
Total audience: 237,750
Wimbledon Tennis ChampionshipsVenue: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Total audience: 500,397
