As the SGP 2.0 project takes starts to take shape, four members of the FA’s team made a recent trip to the Netherlands for a visit to the KNVB’s facilities.
With a radical refurbishment planned for St. George’s Park to ensure our national football centre continues to evolve as a world class facility, SGP’s general manager Andy Savery, FA commercial director James Gray, senior account manager Becky Bullock and financial business partner Todd Howley were given a tour of the Dutch campus at Zeist.
The KNVB’s focus on innovation and football development made them a logical choice when considering options for upgrading St. George’s Park, first built back in 2012.
Opened in 2016, the Dutch also took inspiration for their facility from St. George’s Park which they visited shortly after opening as they were planning their new facility and were happy to reciprocate as we look towards the next phase of development for SGP.
Among the topics discussed were how the KNVB use their site to keep players engaged and entertained outside of training time, innovation around resource, space and technology and how they keep their campus current and cutting edge.
Whilst in the Netherlands, the group also paid a visit to the Dutch Olympic training centre, Papendal, which is the country’s largest elite sports training centre.
With a similar operating model to St. George’s Park, that uses conference and events business for driving revenue to fund elite sport facilities and provision as well as how they manage the coexistence of athletes and commercial guests on site, the various challenges this arrangement offers were discussed, as well as a tour of the venue.
Cooperation with other national football associations is a key element of our International Relations strategy, as opportunities to learn from each other are always welcome and we have a strong friendship with our Dutch counterparts.
