Twickenham upgrading Grand Slam space

Article posted by Coliseum, July 5^th, 2024

Image: Twickenham Stadium

Twickenham Stadium is set to undertake a significant renovation of its Grand Slam events space.

Conference News said The Grand Slam room, known for hosting product launches, mini expos and meetings, will be completed in October. It will include a newly launched hospitality offer for England Rugby matches and other major events.

Twickenham Stadium in Twickenham, South-West London, England (UK), is a rugby union stadium owned by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the English rugby union governing body, which has its headquarters there. The England national rugby union team plays their home matches at the stadium.

The design-led space in the revamped Grand Slam room will feature an open and airy environment with exposed ceilings, adding an industrial touch to the inviting warm and earthy colour palette.

Assorted furniture will include built-in booths, soft communal seating, and poseur tables, to foster a contemporary and comfortable atmosphere.

The modern setting will also feature innovative lighting with lightboxes that create the illusion of natural daylight, which can be dimmed for evening events. A dedicated reception desk will provide a brandable reception area to welcome attendees with a personalised touch.

There will also be a capacity for over 100 delegates theatre-style, with ample networking and lounge areas, plus advanced technology, including multiple TVs, and a state-of-the-art TEAM’s unit and screen for seamless conference presentations. Built-in amenities include an integrated bar and buffet station to cater to all event needs.

This major investment will strengthen Twickenham Stadium’s meeting, events, hospitality, and catering offering, which includes 34 flexible, dedicated spaces and rooms, including the stunning East Stand development, which opened in Autumn 2018, offering six floors of creative event space.

The sporting venue has also recently announced the return of its pitchside stretch tent to the west stand for summer 2024, creating a memorable events space in the famous surroundings of the Twickenham Stadium Bowl for up 1,500 guests.

Alternatively, a larger space for a conference or presentation is the pitch-side stage and screen, which is suitable for up to 2,000 delegates who will be seated in the lower tier of the stadium bowl.

Nils Braude, Managing Director at Twickenham Experience said, “As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the experience at Twickenham, our new Grand Slam room represents a major investment in our already robust events offering.

“Events at Twickenham are truly unique, combining the iconic atmosphere of our historic venue with stunning views of the playing field that has inspired countless memorable moments for the national rugby team. We are excited to offer this exceptional backdrop for a wide range of events and look forward to welcoming guests to create their own unforgettable experiences.”

The RFU has in-depth plans for revamping Twickenham, with a window between the end of the 2027 Six Nations and the start of the following year’s championship identified as the preferred time to carry out a large section of the work with minimal disruption.

It would, however, mean that the ‘Red Roses’ matches and the men’s team’s World Cup warm-up matches would have to be played elsewhere in that time.

The work includes renovations of each of the four stands – which would see the minimum capacity for rugby events reduced to 80,000 – as well as the stadium roof, the car parks and the RFU’s offices relocated. The intention is that the stadium would be fully operational again by 2031.

The RFU is also seeking to improve transport links due to overreliance on the Twickenham Rail Station and countless reports of overcrowding chaos on matchdays. Among the initiatives being assessed to improve transport to and from matches, the RFU is exploring the use of riverboat services.

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