G4S Events set to secure Leeds Rugby

15 Feb 10

Leading security and stewarding provider G4S Events has signed a three-year contract to provide solutions for Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Carnegie.

By Brian Sims

The contract, which will ential the deployment of anything up to 200 G4S staff on match days, will see the company provide a range of services at the 20,500-capacity Headingley Carnegie Stadium.

Those services will include site security, pedestrian and vehicle search, ticket checking, hospitality stewarding and the provision of a safety officer on match days.

G4S Events will also be providing bespoke technologies to aid reporting and site management.

As part of the contract, G4S Events will be responsible for the Health and Safety and security of over 300,000 rugby fans every year. That's quite a task, but managing director Mark Hamilton is in no doubt his charges can meet that challenge.

Security solutions for Leeds Rugby and its patrons

“We’re delighted to have signed this contract, and very much look forward to working with Leeds Rugby over the coming years," he explained to SMT Online.

"G4S Events has a very strong background in providing security and stewarding at major sporting events, and we’re confident of being able to provide an excellent service for both Leeds Carnegie and Leeds Rhinos and, ultimately, those attending their fixtures.”

At the start of 2006, plans were announced for a historic redevelopment of the newly-named Headingley Carnegie Stadium (encompassing both the rugby and cricket stadiums) that would usher-in a new and exciting future for one of the most famous stadiums in world sport.

The all-new Headingley Carnegie Stadium is the result of a significant financial investment by Leeds Metropolitan University, with development plans having come to fruition following the successful purchase of the freehold of the cricket stadium and business by Yorkshire CCC from Leeds CF&A Co Ltd (the owners since 1890).

New elements of Headingly Carnegie Stadium

A new North/South Stand has replaced the existing structure which was built after fire destroyed the original stand in March 1932, and there's also a new Pavilion and Media Centre for cricket at the stadium.

The £7 million redevelopment project began on 11 October 2005, with the new ground officially opened by the Minister for Sport Richard Caborn MP on 1 September 2006 when the Leeds Rhinos took on (and beat) Warrington.

Speaking about the new security contract, Leeds Rugby's chief executive Gary Hetherington said: “G4S was able to offer us an integrated, all-round solution that included risk management and environmental consultancy. Its management team has extensive experience of providing event security at major sporting venues. Along with its commitment to employing from the local community, this rendered G4S Events far and away the best choice for us.”