Good food and good company: the success of Club KubeNet
“It’s been a flying start and a great season so far.”
It’s a mark
of how successful an addition to the Glasgow Warriors matchday experience it’s
been that you’d be forgiven for forgetting that Club KubeNet is still in its
debut season at Scotstoun. The key to its success? According to it’s matchday
host, that’s simple.
“The accent
has always been placed on informality and relaxation pre-match, setting the
scene for the roller-coaster events that follow on the pitch,” outlines Hugh
Dan MacLennan.
“Good food,
relaxed company and a very special atmosphere have been the hallmarks with the
aim of sending everyone into the stadium in the best of form to support Glasgow
Warriors.
“One of the
great attractions of the scene in Club KubeNet is the variety of guests, from
die-hard rugby fans to corporate guests and parties marking special events.
Pre-match entertainment always includes interviews with key players, and
post-match there has always been a string of the club’s biggest names to come
and offer their views on proceedings.”
For Julie
Inglis, Director of KubeNet, the positive reception with which the newest
addition to the Scotstoun hospitality offering has been met brings a smile to
the face.
“We were a
sponsor last season, and we’ve been long-standing fans of everything the club
stands for,” she said.
“We
were looking at different ways to increase our engagement with the Club, fans
and the Business Club. As sport is now consumed across multiple social media
and TV platforms, we felt that – as a business communications provider across telecoms
and internet services – increasing our sponsorship and becoming more involved
made perfect sense on a number of levels.
“The way the
club looks after its players and gives back to the local community was
something that struck a chord with us – as well as the fantastic rugby and
atmosphere at every home game. We looked at what was going on with the Platinum
Club [now Club KubeNet] and thought there was an opportunity for us to work
together and improve the hospitality offering, and it’s been absolutely
fantastic.
“We’ve got
some great members and their guests that attend and it’s a fantastic
environment, both socially and for networking pre and post-match. We work really
well with the Warriors and events team. It gives us a great platform to raise
the profile of our business, too, and allow people to find out more about what
we do in a fun, relaxing environment.”
Murray Sharp
is one such member. The Warriors fan and Managing Director of Glasgow-based
firm Kooltech has enjoyed the hospitality of Club KubeNet on a host of
occasions over the 2019/20 season, highlighting the matchday ambience as a key
factor behind its popularity.
“Club
KubeNet has definitely been a step above this season,” said Sharp.
“It’s an
atmosphere that makes you want to come back time and time again – not only is
it a great way to meet fellow business community members, but it’s really
relaxed and enjoyable event alongside supporting Glasgow Warriors.
“The
matchday interviews with players are always both informative and entertaining,
and it’s clear that they feel relaxed enough to engage with those in
attendance. The food, too, has been excellent this year, and served by staff
that always have a smile on their face.”
From
post-match analysis from Ryan Wilson in the wake of December’s victory over
Edinburgh at Scotstoun to the ever-smiling pre-match presence of Ratu Tagive,
there have been a host of memorable moments in Club KubeNet during the 2019/20
season. It’s an element of matchday that the players themselves enjoy when not
called upon for their service on the pitch, allowing them to relax a little
whilst still on club duty.
“The players
really enjoy dropping into Club KubeNet on a matchday,” explained Zander
Fagerson.
“It’s a
really informal atmosphere, and to be able to mix with not just sponsors and
partners but their families is a relaxed way of connecting with those
associated with the club.
“It’s an
experience that we’ve really enjoyed having at Scotstoun this season, and look
forward to getting back there as soon as it’s possible to do so.”
Indeed the
enjoyment of the Club KubeNet experience is a feeling that extends beyond
current players, as November’s triumph over the Southern Kings illustrated.
“We welcomed
a number of former players to Club KubeNet that night, and that ended up in a
bit of a sing-song!” laughed Julie.
“That went
down really well with everyone there that night. The atmosphere’s been building
over the whole season; Hugh Dan’s been doing an excellent job, and it’s a lot
more interactive with the chance to submit your own questions, which people
appreciate.”
“That game
[against the Southern Kings] was one of the highlights of the season for me,”
added MacLennan.
“The best of
an outstanding bunch was Graeme Morrison’s rendition of Lady in Red!”
In addition
to the regular matchday offering at Scotstoun, Club KubeNet members have also
been treated to a pair of spectacular off-site events at Hilton Glasgow over
the course of the season. The William Street venue proved to be a show-stopping
host for the occasion, with feedback universally positive – including from
Julie herself.
“Both
off-site events have been outstanding,” she said.
“The whole
event is superb – the fact that you’ve got the transportation, the pre-match
atmosphere, it creates a real sense of occasion.
“The one
just before Christmas [ahead of the home clash with Edinburgh], in particular,
really added that extra bit of atmosphere and occasion. We’re really proud to
be associated with the club and be able to put our name to Club KubeNet.”
Phil
Gallagher, Managing Director of Engineering 365, added: “The three ’special’
off site events during the season elevated the experience and were flawlessly
organised.”
“Kubenet’s
sponsorship of the Platinum Club has seen a huge improvement in the match day
experience for the 2019/20 season.From
the brilliant hosting by Hugh Dan to the small finishing touches on the tables
and the quality of the food, my guests and I have always had an excellent time.”
Whilst the Guinness PRO14 remains under suspension, it’s
been an impressive debut for Club KubeNet at Scotstoun in 2019/20. So in the
words of Hugh Dan?
“Here’s to more of the same!”