Rugby
Eden Park, Auckland
Why is it special?
Homeland to the All Blacks, New Zealand has produced some of the most formidable rugby teams in the world. Eden Park boasts a rich history and is also the venue for the 2011 Rugby World Cup final. Aside from the sporting scene, the park’s Function Centre offers a vast array of event venues for a fabulous experience.
What can you do there?
Tailored for cocktail receptions, banquets, luncheons, theatre-style conferences, award dinners and more, Eden Park’s function centre prides itself on its impressive designs and multi-purpose facilities. A total of seven rooms make up the centre.
Hosting a combination of different spaces including the ABS lounge, which can hold up to 1,000 guests for a cocktail reception, guests can also dine in the presence of New Zealand’s sporting greats in the Hall Of Legends, with a seating capacity of 350.
Large-scale events aside, The Chairman’s Lounge caters to those who want a cosy mingling session, with conferences seating up to 12 guests or it can hold a cocktail reception of 20 people. In the run-up to the 2011 World Cup, major renovations will see a new South Stadium finished by December 2010. This will include an additional five modern corporate lounges.
Contact
Eden Park Function Centre
www.edenpark.co.nz/function/
Tennis
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Why is it special?
If you win a tennis grand slam (US, Australian, French and Wimbledon) twice, you deserve to get a stadium named after you. Rod Laver managed this feat in 1962 and 1969 and the arena was built as part of Australia’s National Tennis Centre Complex in 1988.
Now, the multi-purpose venue hosts a variety of sporting and entertainment events such as the Australian Open, motorbike racing, dinners and corporate meetings. As a measure of its versatility, the Rod Laver Arena even installed a 50-metre temporary pool to host the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships.
Entertainment giants such as U2, The Rolling Stones and Pavarotti have lit up the arena with their stunning concerts with Stevie Wonder, John Mellencamp and Billy Joel due to dazzle this year.
What can you do there?
Apart from the glitter, the arena also embraces business events. Compared with the magnitude of the entertainment and sporting element, the business aspect of the centre welcomes conferences, dinners and other corporate functions on a smaller scale.
Reward your staff with a private cocktail or dinner party overlooking a particular entertainment or sporting event in a Superbox which holds an 18-guest capacity. You can also choose to entertain clients when you indulge in a themed dining room that is close to the action. These corporate suites offer tables of ten with a three-course meal and even a coffee or cheese buffet.
Casual yet private meeting sessions can also be held in between and after shows at privately tailored function rooms which also come equipped with a steady flow of cocktails and food.
Contact
email: corporatesales@mopt.vic.gov.au
www.mopt.com.au
Football
Old Trafford, Manchester
Why is it special?
Deemed the “Theatre of Dreams”, football fan or not, anyone would be humbled standing outside this awe-inspiring structure. Having seen it all, tears of joy, near-misses and exciting displays of football skill, Old Trafford is home to the current English Premier League and European Champions. A world-renowned brand, Manchester United Football Club carries a rich history. If standing outside can take one’s breath away, imagine holding a professional function, corporate meeting or cocktail party inside this football fortress.
What can you do there?
Right at the forefront of football hospitality, the Super Suites offer the best view of home matches, coupled with a la carte dining and the complimentary bar, your 16 guests are sure to soak up the atmosphere. For a more private affair, the executive boxes give you a venue to meet and dine with select clients of up to eight, also with displays of quality football on the pitch below.
Fancy impressing guests with a gala reception for over 300 people? Trafford Suite gives you the platform as well as space to make presentations and hold boardroom meetings for up to 40 delegates. Hold a private Christmas party for clients at the end of the year to leave that lingering festive occasion in Manchester. Finally, be enveloped in history when you take a group tour of the stadium and museum, visiting places like the trophy room and players’ lockers.
Contact
email: conference@manutd.co.uk
www.manutd.com
Basketball
Araneta Coliseum, “the Big Dome”, Manila
Why is it special?
Constructed in 1957, the Araneta Coliseum has won many accolades. Deemed the “biggest covered coliseum in the world”, the Araneta Coliseum, was also the first multi-level mall and the biggest theatre in Philippines in the 1960s. After that, it thrived as a premier sports and entertainment arena having hosted over 400 basketball games and even the 15-round “Thrilla in Manila”, the legendary boxing match between heavyweight titans Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975.
What can you do there?
Hold business events at the Coliseum’s 1,430 sqm of area space. Its 16,000 seats enable a convention or conference on a mega scale. A swimming pool equipped with a gazebo can also enable a more intimate feel for an event with a small number of guests.
Contact
www.aranetacoliseum.com
Swimming
Water Cube, Beijing
Why is it special?
Having captivated the world at the Beijing Olympics, the Water Cube was the stage for tears of joy and regret, a hefty 25 record-breaking events not to mention the venue for Michael Phelps’ historic gold haul.
Already a part of 21st century history, this futuristic structure’s design is a product of engineers and architects from China and Australia. Formally known as the National Aquatics Centre bubble-like cushions on the exterior provide insulation and give the arena a modern touch. Adorned with blue lights and a burst of colour, the cube stands out like a blue crystal palace at nighttime.
What can you do there?
Having hosted events including diving and synchronised swimming, it seated 17,000 at full capacity during the Games but will have 11,000 seats removed for post-Olympic activities. Costing nearly US$150 million, plans are already in place to develop a “business corridor” comprising shops, eateries and gyms.
Contact
http://en.beijing2008.cn/venues
Sumo
Day in the Life of a sumo, Japan
Why is it special?
Ever wonder what runs through the mind of a sumo wrestler before a fight? Or what they feed themselves? The H.I.S Experience Japan Company offers “A Day in the Life of a Sumo Wrestler” tour, guaranteeing a memorable first-hand experience.
What can you do there?
Take your team on a visit to Japan and create a unique experience with a tour itinerary that involves watching Sumo wrestlers, talking to them and even coming up face to face with them in a friendly confrontation.
Explore this unique avenue and share this experience with clients. Participants get to chat with these friendly giants and even learn some exercise and stretching techniques.
As for food, you can dine in a typical Japanese setting, eating “Chanko” with a sumo. This traditional meal, comprising high-protein food like chicken, tofu, beef and vegetables in a chicken broth, seemingly healthy enough, is the source of their massive figures. The key is to take huge quantities and sleep immediately afterward.
Guest shouldn’t be worried about the impending bulge in the belly. Sumos have to do this for years.
Contact
H.I.S Experience Japan
http://hisexperience.jp
Cricket
Lords Cricket Ground, Marylebone
Cricket Club, London
Why is it special?
Cricketing enthusiasts; simply imagine the deep rooted heritage that Lords has to offer. Owned by Marleybone Cricket Club (the MCC), and founded in the late 1700s, it has been dubbed the “world’s most famous cricket club”.
Needless to say, after the hundreds of cricket matches that have taken place here throughout the centuries, this famous structure also houses the world’s oldest sporting museum and the world’s largest collection of cricket books – in the form of the MCC Museum and the MCC Library. Bursting at the seams with history, corporate meetings and events rarely mix such sporting prowess with history.
What can you do there?
Graced by the footsteps of cricketing legends, the Long Room and Bar, with its high ceilings and elegant chandeliers, will impress your invited guests as a venue for a cocktail reception of the highest quality. Corporate luncheons held at the Nursery Pavilion overlook the legendary pristine pitch. Casual summer drinks at the roof terrace, which can hold around 250 guests, are also offered at Lords. Cap off a brilliant outing with a guided tour of the Museum – great for inspiring your team to greater glories.
Contact
Lords Events Team
email: events@lords.org
Horse-Racing
Turf Club, Singapore
Why is it special?
Formed in 1842 and known as the Singapore Sporting Club, its current home is in the Kranji district of the island state. Today, the club comes alive with a flurry of activity ranging from the parade ring where horses strut their stuff to legalised betting. Ranking among “the premier racecourses in the world”, this facility also presents a flexible platform for corporate functions and activities of various kinds.
What can you do there?
Step into the Owner’s Lounge and Restaurant, and the feel screams “chic”. The high ceilings and mammoth lights give the lounge a cosy feeling for your group as they gaze out at the panoramic view of the race track. Dining privacy is ensured with the restaurant’s glass canopies, when you meet for a mix of western and local food.
A business event of any kind can easily fit 50 people into the Orchid Box, which has a view of the winning post, and fashioned with plasma TVs. Wine can be served as you entertain or be entertained in a corporate or casual setting, witnessing the racing spectacle in clear view.
Casuarina room is ideal for a seminar or a corporate gathering with a seating capacity of 100 to120 people. Furnished with a bar, a betting booth and monitors, guests get pampered in style.
Contact
www.turfclub.com.sg
Muay Thai
Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training Camp
Why is it special?
Located along the shores of sunny Phuket, the Tiger Muay Thai training camp for beginners incorporates a physical work out that, given a few weeks, would transform your body – if rock-solid abs, a toned physique and a crisp tan is what you desire. If you can’t afford to take time out from your schedule to achieve that, you can simply build up your muscles and competitive edge when you take employees on a team-building experience through Muay Thai (Thai kick-boxing) activity. Warning: only the fittest survive.
What can you do there?
Organise a training programme for your group, where instructors will take you for an out-of-body yoga experience in the morning. This is promptly followed by a variety of runs along the beach or mountain for two to three kilometres. If that doesn’t work your muscles, learn Muay Thai techniques when you work on various elements of the sport like attack, defence, balance and speed work. Next, participants are shown how to stretch their muscles properly, shadow fight, jump rope and how to vent frustration on punching bags and drill pads. Finally, after adequate training, those brave enough will engage in one-on-one combat with a proper opponent, putting mind and body to the ultimate test.
Contact
email: info@tigermuaythai.com
www.tigermuaythai.com
Baseball
The Yankee Stadium
Why is it special?
Great arenas come equipped with memorable titles. “The Cathedral of Baseball” is enshrouded in a history stretching far beyond anything that its nickname suggests.
Not only is it home to the sports’ legendary Babe Ruth, deemed the greatest ever baseball player, the Yankee Stadium has also witnessed three Papal visits and the occassional rock concert.
Undergoing a transformation after 85 years, the New Yankee Stadium will open its doors in 2009 at a new US$800 million facility. So there’s little time left to enjoy the original site and venue.
What can you do there?
As with most great sporting venues, Yankee Stadium caters to a wide range of corporate events, such business meetings, conferences and even luncheons. Look to the Sony Stadium Club to cater to that professional lunch event for important guests with a seated capacity of 250 and a guest reception of 400.
For an altogether more casual get-together, the Johnny Walker Pinstripe Pub allows guests to mingle with one another in a much more informal atmosphere.
Bask in the presence of the Yankee’s greats as you dine in typical American fashion at the Monument Park as hot dogs and burgers fill the menu catering to over 175 guests.
If you’re looking for that creative factor, hit a home run by having an alumni player appear at the event to complement your occasion.
Contact
email: events@yankees.com
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com
