Sector Focus


Sport The Business of Sport Ricoh to host


drive-in panto Coventry’s Ricoh Arena is to host its first ever drive-in Christmas pantomime. The show will take place at


the venue’s car park on 15 December, and is called ‘Horrible Christmas’. The production, by Car Park


Panto and Birmingham Stage Company, is a story of how Christmas came to be what it is today, and features various historical figures, including Charles Dickens and Oliver Cromwell. The story is based on the


‘Horrible Histories’ books by Terry Deary, of which Birmingham Stage Company has turned 18 into live stage shows. The socially distanced Ricoh


event will see families watch the performances from their own vehicles, to abide by Government social distancing guidelines. ‘Horrible Histories’ actor Neal


Foster said: "We can't wait to be back on stage in cities and towns that are crying out for a Christmas show to entertain their families. “As you’d expect from


Horrible Histories, it’s not a traditional pantomime, but a journey through the story of Christmas in the company of the season’s most fabulous characters. It’s the perfect story for families this winter, as one young boy battles to save Christmas for the world, in this hilarious, joyous and moving celebration.” Ricoh commercial director Paul Michael, said: “As a


leading destination for events, we were determined to think how we could generate some festive cheer creatively and safely, and the ‘Horrible Christmas’ pantomime is absolutely ideal.”


New restaurant


open at Sixways A former hospitality suite at Sixways Stadium, home of top tier rugby club Worcester Warriors, has been transformed into a fine-dining brasserie. The restaurant opened its


doors last month. 66 CHAMBERLINK November 2020


Solihull Moors matches to be live streamed


Solihull Moors has finally got its season underway, although no fans are being admitted to any National League games at present. However, the Midlands-based


club is live streaming all its home games, after linking up with broadcast company Group Visual. Fans can watch every game at


the SportNation.bet in high definition broadcast, with a commentary provided by Switch Radio’s Ben McPhillips, the ‘voice of the Moors’. The matches are free to watch for


the club’s 500 season ticket holders, and £7.50 per match for others. The decision to live stream


matches was a key part of the club’s bid to get its season underway, after Covid-19 prematurely ended its last round of fixtures in March. Moors also petitioned the


National League to restart matches last month, after the Government announced that supporters would not be allowed into elite football games until next March at the earliest. Despite the fan ban, other


competitions above and below the National League, including the Premier League and the English Football League, recommenced playing matches behind closed doors on 12 September. A Moors spokesman said: “Clubs


have to look at innovative ways of generating income and engaging supporters in the current climate through live streaming. “The lifting of the UEFA 3pm


broadcast rule and options for live streaming has already been put forward to clubs by the National League.


“This clearly indicated to clubs


that the league was prepared for part of the season to be played behind-closed-doors if required. “Some clubs, including ourselves,


have also operated behind-closed- doors matches under even tighter restrictions due to local lockdowns. “Work on this side of things has


been significant, with the club engaging a dedicated Covid-19 officer to ensure all our operational plans for running a football match are Covid secure.” Restarting the league was vital


to the club, whose last competitive fixture for the 2019/20 season was on 7 March. Since then, the Moors have undertaken preparations for a 46- match season during 2020/21,


which has also seen the club invest in its team. As part of this, the club has


signed Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer on a long-term loan deal. The 19-year-old Walsall born


hotshot has been touted as a star of the future, and was snapped up by Villa at the age of just six. Last year he was a regular in


Villa’s under 23 side, and also made his senior debut, during a second round Carabao Cup tie at Crewe. The new Moors striker said: “I’m


delighted to join the club and be around first team football. “I’d like to think I’m a quick,


sharp striker and I hope the fans see some goals.” Cameron Archer is on loan at Moors until the New Year.


Stadium creates digital partnership


Edgbaston Stadium has announced a new digital media partnership with Ola, a taxi ride-hailing app. Ola as founded in India in 2010 and operates across


the UK, including Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Warwick. Ben Seifas, commercial partnerships at Edgbaston


Stadium and Warwickshire County Cricket Club, said: “Ola provides a safe, secure and easy app for private transport to and from the stadium and thrilled to unveil this new partnership opportunity. “We’re constantly looking at new ways to support commercial partners and having recently launched a


new website and app and our accompanying live stream programme Bears Den TV, we’re very excited to announce this first digital only partnership. It has great potential to grow in the coming months.” Marc Rozendal, UK managing director of Ola, said:


“Ola has always been committed to the communities we operate in and we are delighted to partner with such an iconic venue as Edgbaston to serve new and existing customers across the West Midlands and beyond. “We are invested in the UK for the long-term and


partnerships like this help deliver on our ambition of being the UK’s market-leading ride-hailing service.”


Ready to take aim: Cameron Archer


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72