As fervent sports fans, designing the interiors of sports stadiums and sports hospitality spaces is pure joy, and we count ourselves incredibly lucky to have already created interiors for some of Yorkshires’ best Sports Clubs.
One of our most prestigious clients is Leeds United, and it’s been our absolute delight to supplement the support we give them from the terraces with some of our trademark transformational interior design.
From the first team changing facilities to South Stand corporate boxes; LUTV to the Heineken Bar, the DesignTonic touch is becoming increasingly easy to spot, whether you’re at Elland Road or the Training Ground in Wetherby!
Obviously for any sport, the most important talking is done on the pitch.
But, with press interviews broadcast to global audiences of many millions, it’s also crucial to make sure the club’s media facilities look the part, especially when you’re competing with the Premier League big boys.
So here, we’re going to look at how we designed Leeds United’s perfect pair of Media Suites.
A Press Space fit for the Premier League
When the Club gained promotion to the Premier League in 2020, they asked us to work our magic on the Elland Road Media Suite.
With a potential audience of 4.7 billion, the Premier League is the most-watched League in the world - so it’s crucial for any ambitious top flight Club to look the part, on and off the field.
Club owner Andrea Radrizzani is also the chairman of a global sports broadcasting group, so he and his forward-thinking team are well versed in the importance of offering a great experience for visiting press.
In fact, they didn’t just want a great experience - they wanted it to be the best.
We were tasked with delivering a state-of-the-art Media Lounge that combines stunning looks, strong branding and superior comfort.
And fast - we had only 12 weeks to get it camera-ready for the start of pre-season!
Game on…
Delivered on time and on budget, the resulting space oozes high end style, tech and comfort.
Next to the all-important interview tunnels, the Press conference space has plug-and-play tech built in throughout, immediately delivering the lightning fast comms capabilities that journalists need to get their jobs done smoothly.
Plush seating in LUFC colours ensure the ultimate in physical comfort, while perfect acoustics are achieved thanks to the incredible bespoke, Club-badged acoustic baffle roof we commissioned from our friends at Agile Acoustics.
So no-one ever need miss anything important, multiple desks offer extra power and connectivity in the Lounge space.
And of course, the whole Suite is unmistakably Leeds United - bold Club branding and colours combining with prominent sponsor logos for instant visual impact and recognition.
Second Half
It’s safe to say that the Elland Road Suite has been a hit with Club and Press alike.
So, when LUFC decided to develop a second Suite at the Training Ground, they knew they were in safe hands with the DesignTonic team!
How a Club interacts with the media at the Stadium is different to when press interviews are conducted at the Training Ground, meaning this design needed a different approach.
So, instead of creating a replica, our expert designers worked to build consistency across the two spaces, creating a visual link but playing more to the idiosyncrasies of Thorp Arch’s auditorium-style layout.
In both spaces, heavy branding is essential. Here, the club is as easily identifiable at Thorp Arch as it is at Elland Road, with the badge featuring prominently throughout - stitched into seats, backlit on walls and with a vast ceiling artwork flying above.
For the sake of both continuity and stylish sophistication, dark greys and soft furnishings create a subtle luxe, while timber cladding and feature lighting soften the scheme and draw the eye towards the front of the room…
… which of course is where all the action is!
We’re delighted to have delivered two truly stunning, dynamic and stylish spaces to represent Leeds United in front of their global audience - and we’re looking forward to working on more high-end sports hospitality interiors in the New Year!
