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PEOPLE


The hotel is our chance to give back and create something special for the fans Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes


P


erhaps the most talented group of players to have simultaneously emerged from an English football academy is now spreading its


wings in the field of business. Former Manchester United stars Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville – who, alongside David Beckham, are often referred to as ‘Fergie’s Fledglings’ – are the main backers behind the £23m (US$38.7m, €28.3m) Hotel Football venture near the club’s Old Trafford stadium. The quintet have December as the


launch month for the 8,000sq m (86,111sq ft) building – designed by AEW Architects – which will incorporate a 133-bedroom hotel with space for supporters’ club members and spectators, a new Café Football and a club shop. Giggs, who is now MUFC assistant


manager after hanging up his boots last season, has said that the new hotel aims to offer something for United’s loyal fans and the local community, but will also try to appeal to a wider market through a range of offerings. Giggs, who along with Gary Neville has been the main driver of the project through the pair’s company GG Hospitality, said: “Gary and I have spent so much of our lives playing at Old Trafford and appreciate everyone who supported us there over the years. “To make sure the hotel appeals to


everyone, not just football fans, we are working with some of the most talented people in the industry to create something unique and inviting – with a focus on excellent customer service and nurturing young talent.”


8 Scholes describes the project as a


chance to give something back to the fans who cheered him throughout his glittering 20-year career. “When Gary and Ryan mentioned the idea of Hotel Football and Old Trafford Supporters Club I was really keen to get involved,” Scholes said. “The hotel is our chance to create something special for the fans.” While Gary Neville and Giggs have


been involved in every aspect of the project since its inception – their company GG Hospitality is behind it – the others are set to take on a more ambassadorial role, with at least one of them always on hand to meet and greet supporters on matchdays. “We want The Old Trafford Supporters Club to become a place United fans can


Gery Neville (left), managing director Stuart Procter (middle) and Ryan Giggs are driving the project


think of as their own,” says Phil Neville. The 11-storey Hotel Football, located on Sir Matt Busby Way, will be managed by Stewart Davies, who has previously headed up Manchester venues the Mint Hotel and Hilton DoubleTree. GG Hospitality has already launched


a 120-seat themed restaurant – Café Football in Westfield Stratford, east London. Like Café Football, Hotel Football is expected to be the first in what will become a worldwide brand. Details: www.hotelfootball.com


sportsmanagement.co.uk issue 4 2014 © Cybertrek 2014


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