bet365 Stadium has been announced as a finalist for the Hospitality, Leisure & Tourism Award at the 2026 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, sponsored by Wilkinson Collective.

Since opening in 2001, the bet365 Stadium has grown well beyond its matchday roots into one of North Staffordshire’s most significant year-round venues. With over 40 executive boxes, suites hosting up to 1,500 delegates and more than 55,000 non-matchday visitors annually, it operates as a genuine 365-day destination for business, leisure and tourism.

Recent investment has sharpened that offer considerably. The launch of Ricardo’s, the region’s largest sports bar, and the Boothen Quarter Fan Zone, with its 70 square metre screens and integrated staging, has created an events capability that few regional venues can match. Landmark bookings such as the UK Thrombectomy Surgeons’ Conference demonstrate the stadium’s ability to compete with high-end national conference centres, while a local-first procurement policy and sustainability partnership with Veolia point to where the next phase of growth is headed.

Stuart Elford, Chief Executive of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “The bet365 Stadium has transformed itself into one of the most versatile event venues in the region, and the investment it continues to make in its non-matchday offer is impressive. Over 55,000 non-matchday visitors a year and the ability to host major national conferences alongside concerts and community events puts it in a category of its own in North Staffordshire. A very deserving finalist.”

The winners will be revealed at a gala awards ceremony at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Thursday 9 July 2026, followed by The After Party, a late-night celebration for finalists, winners and partners.

To find out more about the 2026 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, visit staffordshirechambers.co.uk/awards.