SAPCA Annual Conference & Awards Dinner 2025

Bookings are now ‘open’ for the SAPCA Annual Conference and Awards Dinner 2025 will take place on Thursday 27 February 2025 at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester.

This is a new venue for our annual event and offers a fantastic panoramic view of the world-famous cricket pitch from the conference room. The venue also offers excellent four-star accommodation at the Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford Hotel, plus complementary parking and convenient transport links.

This one-day Conference, for SAPCA members only, will feature an exciting range of high-profile speakers and a highly topical educational programme, as well as plenty of networking opportunities.

The conference keynote speaker will be cricket commentator and former England cricket captain, David Gower OBE. Olympic silver medallist and former Badminton World Champion, Gail Emms MBE, will be returning as our event host. The specific topics covered in the conference programme session will be announced shortly. These will cover subject matters that are important to SAPCA members and to the sports facility sector as a whole.

SAPCA Awards Dinner 2025
The Conference will be followed by Pre-Dinner-Drinks and the SAPCA Awards Dinner later in the evening – both of which will take place at the same venue. The dinner provides a great opportunity for networking and for celebrating the quality and excellence of SAPCA members and their work while enjoying an evening of great food and wine.

Pre-event Networking Dinner
We will be hosting an informal, pre-event networking Dinner at a nearby restaurant on the evening of 26 February. This confirmed venue will be announced shortly.

Delegate Registration

There are flexible options for those who aren’t able to attend the full day. The options and costs of attendance are as follows.
(All prices shown are excluding VAT)

~~B&B accommodation (Wednesday 26 February): £134~~ Hotel Allocation Sold Out
Conference Day Delegate (Thursday 27 February): £260
~~Awards Dinner (Thursday 27 February) : £150~~ Sold Out
~~B&B accommodation (Thursday 27 February): £110~~ Hotel Allocation Sold Out

There is a discounted rate of £370 for a “Full Delegate” when booking the Conference, Dinner and Hotel on the Thursday, a saving of £150 per person.

Hotel Bookings
We have secured hotel accommodation at the four-star, on-site Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, which allows delegates an easy access to the day and evening activities. There is also plenty of ‘free’ car parking at the combined venue.

Please note: Members wishing to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel on the night of 26th/27th February are advised that our allocation of rooms have sold out. Members may be able to book directly with hotel directly here albeit at significantly higher prices.

Thank you to our event Sponsors
We would like to thank our ‘Headline’ sponsor Passport365, our ‘Lunch’ sponsor O’Brien Contractors, our ‘Pre-Dinner-Drinks’ sponsor Hirebase and our ‘Awards Dinner’ sponsor IAE for their invaluable support at this event.

Please use this online booking link to secure your place.

All bookings should be made by Friday 21 February 2025.

FAQ's

What time does registration open?

Registration is from 08.30 hrs, and the first session will start at 09.30 hrs, to give you time to arrive.

For delegates travelling by car, the traffic is likely to be heavy at this time of day, so please factor this in when making your travel plans.

On arrival, all attendees should enter The Point (located on the right hand side of the stadium) through the main entrance. The SAPCA reception desk is immediately inside on the Ground Floor.

Please make sure you collect your name badge for use during the day.

A cloakroom is available for coats and jackets.

What is the dress code?

The dress code for the day is smart casual.

Following member feedback the he dress code for the evening Awards Dinner has changed to lounge suit.

How do I get there by car?

Emirates Old Trafford
Lancashire Cricket Club
Talbot Road
Manchester
M16 0PX

Main reception: 0161 282 4000

What are the car parking arrangements?

Emirates Old Trafford offers extensive onsite parking with approximately 500 spaces across four car-park areas.

Delegates should enter via Gate 1 on Talbot Road postcode M16 0PX.

Parking is offered on a complimentary, first-come-first-served basis to SAPCA delegates. Please take a ticket from the ticket machine upon entering the carpark.

Day delegates will be issued an a complimentary exit ticket at the SAPCA reception upon registration which will be valid for exit on the 27 February.

Delegates staying at the Hilton Garden Inn will be issued with a complimentary exit ticket upon hotel check-out for exit on the 28 February.

Can I use Public Transport to get to the venue?

Members are encouraged to use Public Transport whenever possible.

Greater Manchester’s rail connections mean it’s easy to get here from anywhere in the country.

Manchester Piccadilly, Deansgate Castlefield and Victoria all have access to tram stops, which will take you directly to the ground.

Metrolink trams provide connections across Greater Manchester with 93 stops right across the region. Metrolink runs every few minutes so you don’t need a timetable, you can just turn up and travel anytime from early morning til late in the evening.

For those visiting the region from further afield there is free parking for Metrolink customers at Park and Ride sites across the network.

Remember to buy your tickets before you board. You can pay as you go by touching in and touching out at a smart reader on-stop, using your contactless payment card or device. You can also purchase adult, child, concession and family travelcards at the machines on-stop using cash or card.

Nearest Tram stop: Old Trafford which is directly outside the ground.

What time is hotel check-in/check-out

For those staying at the Hilton Garden Inn bedrooms will be available from 16.00 hrs on the day of arrival. You can pick up your room keys from the SAPCA reception desk on the day of the Conference.

You are required to check out by 12.00 hrs on the day of departure, unless otherwise requested. Hotel guests may leave bags in the hotel’s luggage room.

I am staying at the Hilton Garden Inn, is breakfast included?

Your room rate at both hotels includes breakfast, which is available from 06.00 till 10.00 hrs each morning.

I have special dietary requirements who should I inform?

If you have specific dietary requirements, please let us know immediately, if you have not already done so. You can do this by emailing Paul Johnson:

Is there WiFi access at Emirates Old Trafford stadium?

There is free WiFi for all delegates.

Network: EOT-EVENTS
Password: century100#

Is lunch provided?

Tea, coffee and other refreshments will be provided on arrival and throughout the day. A buffet lunch, kindly sponsored by O’Brien Contractors, will be served in the networking and exhibition area.

Please take time to visit the exhibitor stands during your networking breaks throughout the day.

What are the arrangements for the Awards Dinner

The Awards Dinner takes on the evening of 27 February, in the same room as the day-time conference, on the second floor of The Point (the building on the right of the Emirate Old Trafford main entrance).

A Pre-Dinner Drinks reception, will take place from 18.30 to 19.15 hrs in the Foyer area next to The Point dining room.

The Dinner will take place in the dining room, and will start promptly at 19.30 hrs.

Where can I relax between the Conference and the Awards Dinner?

For dinner guests who are not staying over at the Hilton Garden Inn, you can relax in the hotel bar area in between events.

Please arrive for Pre-Dinner Drinks in the Foyer area on the second floor of The Point building by 18.30 hrs.

What time will the Awards Dinner finish?

The Awards Dinner is due to finish no later than 23.00 hrs.

The bar in the will close at 23:00 hrs. For additional networking please make your way to the Garden Inn Hotel bar, which will be open until 03.00 hrs.