Radisson Hotel Group has announced the signing of a new-build Radisson-branded hotel, to be located at the new home of Oxford United Football Club within the UK’s first all-electric stadium. Here’s what we know…
The new Radisson hotel will form part of the proposed Triangle development, where the Championship Club aims to create a sustainable sports, entertainment and lifestyle landmark. As part of the Club’s pledge to deliver a state-of-the-art stadium, it will use a low-carbon energy supply to create an ‘all electric’ stadium, with power also generated by solar panels, making it the most environmentally-sustainable mid-sized stadium to be built in the UK.
The site will include a 16,000-capacity stadium, a 1,000-delegate conference and exhibition centre and the 180-room Radisson hotel, as well as bars, restaurants and fitness and entertainment facilities. It will create almost 1,000 jobs to support the local economy.
Image credit: Radisson Hotels
More than half of the hotel’s guest rooms will overlook the pitch and will feature fresh Scandinavian-inspired design, providing a calming environment, with neutral tones and natural materials. The ground floor will include a restaurant, where guests and visitors can unwind and socialize, or enjoy something to eat before or after watching a game.
Adela Cristea, Vice President, Business Development UK, Ireland & Nordics at Radisson Hotel Group said: “We are proud to have been chosen as the hotel partner for this very exciting and forward-thinking development. The Radisson brand is the perfect choice for a project focused on sustainable living, and we look forward to enhancing the guest experience for visitors to the stadium.”
Visitor experience has been placed at the heart of the design of the project with the inclusion of community-focused open public green spaces, which will enhance the biodiversity of the site, as well as being available to deliver increased education, health and wellbeing programmes.
Image credit: Radisson Hotels
Adam Benson, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Oxford United, commented: “Signing an agreement of this nature marks a major milestone for the stadium development. The fact we can attract a partner of the calibre of Radisson Hotel Group is a real endorsement of the world-class complex we are looking to build.
“At every stage of the process the Radisson team demonstrated a real understanding of what we are trying to achieve. Their offering, accommodation and associated facilities will fit perfectly with the overall development ensuring an exceptional experience for all visitors. The hotel is a key part of our plans to create a multi-purpose venue, whilst supporting the Club’s ability to operate an economically sustainable long-term home.”
Jonathon Clarke, Development Director at Oxford United, added: “We conducted a thorough tender process for our hotel partner and Radisson Hotel Group stood out for its strong sustainability credentials, beautiful design and understanding of how to integrate a hotel into a leisure and community facility. The standards it sets are world-class, from interior design and visitor experience through to sustainability. Our visions are perfectly aligned and we look forward to working together.”
The stadium will be well connected to public transport options and will create new connections for the wider community, with a new east to west pedestrian and cycle route. The stadium is next to Oxford Parkway train station, which offers a short five-minute connection to Oxford’s central train station, plus a Park & Ride site for local bus services.
The property joins Radisson Hotel Group’s rapidly growing UK & Ireland portfolio, which includes almost 80 hotels in operation and under development. The Group is seeing growing success within the sports and events stadium segment, with exciting projects at Etihad Stadium, Allianz Stadium Twickenham and Edgbaston Stadium.
Main image credit: Radisson Hotels
