STOKE CITY have launched a new commercial website to help raise the profile of the Britannia Stadium as a venue for a wide range of events.

The creation of a website dedicated to showcasing the extensive choice of facilities at the home of Stoke City Football Club is designed to maximise work that has been undertaken to rebrand the stadium and upgrade the function rooms and executive suites.

It also follows the hosting of a number of prestigious off-the-field events, most notably a visit by the greatest sportsman of the 20th century Muhammad Ali for a tribute luncheon and then the staging of two major cycling events which included the Tour of Britain.

"The launch of the commercial website is another important stage of the Club's drive to raise the profile of the Britannia Stadium brand as a venue that can accommodate an extensive range of functions," declared City's Head of Commercial Andy Billingham.

"The stadium has become known as much for its events as it has for its football in recent times with visitors such as Muhammad Ali, Pele, Sugar Ray Leonard and Desmond Tutu, while we are now working with Carlsberg to host live music events in the future.

"We have invested a substantial amount of money in upgrading the facilities over the past 18 months and have been delighted with the results, both in terms of the feedback from visitors and the prestigious events which we have attracted to the stadium.

"The rebranding of the stadium and now the launch of this website are important developments which will help us promote the venue and generate more business.

He added: "Although this is a stand-alone website, it is also linked directly to the Club's official website and therefore gives us the best of both worlds. The commercial site is an in-depth focus on the facilities and offers a 360 degree virtual tour of each of the rooms."

The Britannia Stadium has been rebranded under the Football, Conferences, Events banner and this has been used to create the theme of the commercial website.

As well as focussing on such facilities as the Tony Waddington Suite and the Sir Stanley Matthews Lounge, the website will promote forthcoming events such as the Carlsberg Live Music Nights and a Wedding Fayre which is being planned for Sunday October 25th.

"We feel most privileged to be billed as a number one entertainment venue alongside other prestigious, high-profile venues like Glastonbury, the Download Festival and both the Leeds and Reading Festivals," commented Billingham.

"Carlsberg are massive supporters of live music and we are delighted to be working with such a key brand to establish the Britannia Stadium as a great venue for both live music concerts and comedy nights."

The new website also features City Business Networking, which offers local companies to network and promote their business alongside the Football Club.

And, of course, it highlights the opportunities to entertain in style at one of the Club's Premier League fixtures or a cup match by either hiring one of the private Sky Boxes or booking corporate hospitality places in one of the larger function suites.

The address of the new commercial website is www.britannia-stadium.co.uk