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Sodexo Live! appoints Steven Cova to lead Sports & Stadia operations

Sodexo Live! has appointed Steven Cova as Divisional Operations Director for Sports & Stadia, strengthening its senior leadership capability across one of the UK’s fastest-evolving hospitality environments: major venues.

Cova brings more than 20 years’ operational and commercial experience across high-profile sporting and entertainment locations. His career track record includes delivering growth through new venue mobilisation, digital transformation programmes designed to improve the customer journey, and sustainability initiatives that can be implemented consistently across multi-site estates.

Sodexo Live! says Cova has overseen multi-site operations with revenues exceeding £135 million, delivering successive years of sales and profit margin growth, and building high-performing teams recognised for service excellence.

A venue market shifting from “matchday” to “365-day destination”

Across the sports and stadia landscape, operators are under pressure to deliver:

• Faster, more frictionless service and shorter queues

• A more premium, differentiated food and beverage proposition

• Better use of data and digital tools to drive spend and satisfaction

• Clear, measurable sustainability outcomes

• More non-matchday revenue via conferencing, events and hospitality formats
  
  

The appointment underlines the direction of travel: large venue caterers are prioritising leaders who can scale consistent delivery while modernising operations and unlocking new commercial opportunities.

UK footprint across major venues

Sodexo Live! operates across sports, cultural destinations, conference centres and airport lounges, delivering hospitality and food services for large-scale public audiences and premium guests. In the UK, its sports and stadia partnerships include Brighton & Hove Albion FC, Ascot Racecourse, Newcastle United FC, Emirates Old Trafford, and Nottingham Forest FC among others.

What to watch next

For stadium operators and their suppliers, the key question in 2026 will be how quickly major venues can balance:

• Operational excellence at peak volume

• Premiumisation(and the margin opportunity it creates)

• Sustainable delivery that stands up to scrutiny

• Digital enablement that improves experience without adding friction for teams
  

UK Food Council

#SodexoLive #SportsAndStadia #VenueHospitality #Foodservice #FanExperience #DigitalTransformation #Sustainability #UKHospitality

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