03 Jun 2019
England Hockey and Glasgow 2018 among winners of Sports Business Awards
BY Tom Walker
Minority sports featured heavily among the winners of this year's Sports Business Awards.
The Professional Darts Corporation won the Best Match (or Game) Day Experience award for its World Darts Championships, while England Hockey was handed the Best Operations Team award for the work of its events team.
Meanwhile, Glasgow City Council was given the award for the UK's Best Sports Event of the Year award, for its part in hosting the multi-sports 2018 European Championships.
The Best Sports Governing Body Initiative award was won by the British Martial Arts & Boxing Association (BMABA), for its Fighting Chance Scholarship Programme.
In all, there were winners across 18 categories.
According to Simon Burton, co-founder of the Sports Business Awards, the success of minority sports as category winners is a "testament to the growing diversity within the sports business industry" and the rise in popularity of hockey, MMA and boxing – which at times have been overshadowed by more mainstream sports.
"This year’s winners demonstrate the power of sport to do social good, in a world where normal businesses are seeking meaning and purpose, they show the power of sport to transcend the typical constraints of business to effect positive impacts on our lives, health, community and sense of identity," Burton said.
The full list of winners:
Best Operations Team
England Hockey Event’s Team
Best Brand Activation Involving Sport
Channel 5 – Little & Large campaign – Wildfire Social
Best Club CSR or Community Scheme
Home Is Where The Heart Is – Everton Football Club & Everton in the Community
Best in Sports Media
ABB FIA Formula E Championship – Formula E TV (FETV)
Best Sports Charity (or best use of sport by a charity)
Lord’s Taverners
Best Fan Engagement Programme
#UnitedByHCL – Manchester United and HCL Technologies
Best Non-Match (or Game) Day use of Venue
Emirates Old Trafford – Lancashire Cricket Club
Best Professional Services Firm in Sport
KSS
Best Match (or Game) Day Experience
World Darts Championship – Professional Darts Corporation
Agency of the Year
MATTA
Sports Tech of the Year – for Sport and in Sport
CloudMatrix – StreamAMG
Best Sports Club / Sports Event Hospitality
England Rugby Hospitality – Twickenham Experience Limited
Best Small Business or Association Serving Sport – under £3m turnover
Jockey Club Services
Best Business Serving Sport – over £3m turnover
St. George’s Park
Sports Innovation Award
Born Barikor – Our Parks
Best Sports Governing Body Initiative
Fighting Chance Scholarship Programme – British Martial Arts & Boxing Association (BMABA)
Best Sports Event of the Year – Overseas
The Ryder Cup – PGA European Tour
Best Sports Event of the Year – UK
Glasgow 2018 European Championships – Glasgow City Council
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