Business roadshow visits Solihull

Solihull’s business community rubbed shoulders with Wasps Rugby Club’s players at a networking event in the town centre.

Around 60 business people were joined by Wasps first-team players Marcus Garrett and Ross Neal and ex-England international and former Wasps player Paul Sackey at Revolution Bar on Station Road for the Wasps Business Roadshow, which was supported by Solihull BID.

Nick Eastwood, Chief Executive of the Wasps Group, shared details about Ricoh Arena’s future plans, which has recently held a record year by welcoming 1.6 million visitors across 857 different events.

Eastwood said: “An increasing number of businesses from the Solihull area are utilising our venue for meetings, conferences and exhibitions, or turning to Wasps matchday hospitality as a way of hosting clients and treating staff, which was reinforced by the great turnout we had for this event from businesses across the town.

“We’ve had a record number of people visiting the venue over the past year, and while a lot of the sporting seasons are coming to the end, the evening was a great chance to remind people that the venue’s stadium bowl is beginning a busy summer of activity.

“We have one of the world’s biggest girl groups – the Spice Girls – performing on June 3 and 4 before the stadium bowl is transformed for a global live motorsport event on Saturday 8 June called Monster Jam.

“Bon Jovi will also be returning to the venue for a third time on Sunday 23 June to wrap up a big month of live entertainment.

“Once we have people through the turnstiles it is about providing them with an experience to remember, which is why significant investment has been made to the venue with superfast Wi-Fi and strategic partnerships with industry-leading companies to lay the foundations for what is to come.”