Ex-TTF MD Stuart Cain heads to Ricoh Arena

Stuart Cain has left The Ticket Factory (TTF) to take up a commercial director role at Ricoh Arena in Coventry, the venue’s owner, rugby union team Wasps, has announced.

Cain, who spent seven years at NEC Group-owned TTF, will be responsible for increasing usage of the event facilities at Ricoh Arena, a complex which includes a 40,000-cap. stadium, as Wasps’ managing director, commercial marketing.

Cain has a strong sports background, having formerly played club-level rugby union and worked at football clubs Glasgow Rangers and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

“I’m looking forward to drawing on my commercial, marketing and media experience within sport and live events to help develop Wasps’ and the Ricoh Arena’s talented, driven commercial team,” he comments.

“We are excited by the expertise and extra leadership Stuart will bring to the business”

“Wasps have laid down very strong foundations in the community since they moved to the Midlands [from London] two and a half years ago and can only continue to go from strength to strength.”

Nick Eastwood, chief executive of the Wasps Group, adds: “We look forward to welcoming Stuart to our established, thriving team as we build upon a successful 2016/17 season. We are excited by the expertise and extra leadership Stuart will bring to the business as we approach our third year in the West Midlands and our 150th anniversary season as a club.”

Following Cain’s departure, The Ticket Factory staff report in to Phil Mead, managing director of NEC Group Arenas, while NEC’s commercial media team report directly to Paul Thandi, NEC Group CEO.

“Stuart Cain has had a successful seven-year career with the NEC Group, joining as group marketing services director before being promoted to MD, commercial marketing,” comments an NEC Group spokesperson.

“While we are sad to see Stuart go, we understand why he wanted to move back in to sport and we wish him well”

“Under his tenure, the commercial media team has grown, delivering in excess of £3m sales in 2017 for the first time ever. It has also agreed major commercial partnerships with a range of internationally renowned organisations, ranging from Barclaycard and Genting through to Avis, Firestone and Heineken.

“Stuart has also helped transform The Ticket Factory into a national ticketing agent that now sells 2.5m tickets per year for a range of events and visitor attractions.

“While we are sad to see him go, we understand why he wanted to move back in to sport and we wish him well.”

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.