Bolton Wanderers is delighted to confirm the club’s plans for the Leasing Options Fan Zone ahead of the upcoming 2024/25 season.
With the planning work now completed with vendors in an open and transparent process, we would like to update supporters on the full outline of plans ahead of its reopening against Wrexham on Sunday 18th August.
Since opening for the first home game of the 2022/23 season against Wycombe Wanderers - working closely with the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Trust in getting the project up and running - the Fan Zone has continued to grow from strength-to-strength.
Whilst the Leasing Options Fan Zone is primarily funded by the club as we head into its third season of operation, the club would like to place on record its thanks to both the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Trust and the Bolton Wanderers Development Association (BWDA) for their financial support and helping to turn the Fan Zone into a success when the project started.
With a new season just around the corner and demand at an all-time high, the club have worked hard over the summer to enhance the offering across a number of areas to make the Leasing Options Fan Zone a place to be on matchdays.
The following will continue in the Leasing Options Fan Zone ahead of the 2024/25 campaign:
+ Dave Higson Bar – A huge variety of food and drinks will be on offer once again for supporters to enjoy. The bar will stock Madri, Staropramen Lager, Atlantic Pale Ale, Aspalls Cider, Stowford Press Berry Cider and Cask Ale - with various wines, spirits, soft drinks and snacks on offer over the counter. Carrs Pasties once again will be available.
+ Fratellis Catering – Fratellis will continue as a vendor in the Fan Zone, having worked with the club for the previous two seasons and successfully applied through the tender process. A popular stall on a matchday providing Italian Street Food from the highest quality ingredients, the caterers will continue as a mainstay in our Fan Zone with further plans to enhance their customer service heading into the new season.
+ The club will continue to provide live entertainment on a matchday, with the Fan Zone remaining committed to showcasing local talent from across the area. The club has reached out to a number of artists and Wanderers’ fans in the off-season to provide more variety of entertainment for supporters.
+ Big Sam’s Grill, Go Gyros and Thai Food Van will also return, with enhancements and upgrades being made to ensure the highest quality standard of food.
The following will be introduced in the Leasing Options Fan Zone ahead of the 2024/25 campaign:
+ ebuyer Gaming Zone – We are delighted to partner up with club partner, ebuyer, and provide added entertainment inside the Fan Zone – catering for Wanderers’ fans of all ages. A number of gaming consoles have been donated and will be installed, with different games on offer for Wanderers fans to choose from.
+ BrewDog and Bank Top Brewery – For supporters wanting that pre-match pint, the Fan Zone is the place to be with BrewDog Black Heart stout introduced ahead of this season. Bank Top Brewery, based locally in Bolton, will also provide the White Horse ale permanently in our Fan Zone – paying homage to our 1923 FA Cup victory over West Ham United – with monthly guest ales also available throughout the season.
+ Spice Valley (Indian Street Food) – The incredibly popular, family-run business with Indian restaurants in both Horwich and Egerton are a new addition to the Fan Zone. A business that are well-known to Wanderers supporters, Spice Valley are winners of both local and regional awards and with highly-trained chefs at their disposal, have committed to a fully bespoke and tailored menu for matchdays. With a 5* food hygiene rating, the ability to cater for various dietary requirements and an incredibly appetising menu, Spice Valley are sure to be a hit within our Fan Zone.
+ Hive Bakehouse (Hot Drinks and Cake) - Another new vendor into the Fan Zone is Hive Bakehouse – a small, independently-owned bakery located in Westhoughton. Starting up in lockdown from a garden pop-up shop by Bolton-born, Sam Oldham, Hive Bakehouse now operate a 6-day working week given the popularity and demand for their products. Offering a range of products that are all made by hand with a variable menu from locally-sourced ingredients reflecting the time of year, Hive Bakehouse will be a much-loved vendor within our Leasing Options Fan Zone.
+ TV Screens – 12 extra TV screens will be installed inside the Fan Zone canopy to further improve fan experience. With the 12:30pm Sky fixture showcased on the Big Screen on a regular basis, supporters can now enjoy food and drink whilst watching the game from almost any location inside the Fan Zone.
+ Fan Zone WiFi – A bespoke WiFi will be available for supporters inside the Fan Zone, allowing Wanderers’ fans to stay connected whilst giving the opportunity to tell friends, family and fellow supporters of the brilliance of the Fan Zone on a matchday!
Further additions to the Fan Zone will be made as the season progresses.
Neil Hart, Chief Executive Officer at Bolton Wanderers, said: “We have seen incredible success with our Leasing Options Fan Zone since opening back in 2022, with the area growing in popularity week-on-week.
“I would firstly like to thank our in-house catering and hospitality staff, who continue to work diligently in the Fan Zone to ensure that what we are offering to supporters is of the highest quality and a place where supporters want to meet up with their friends and family and start their matchday experience with us.
“I am delighted that Leasing Options have decided to renew their support of the Fan Zone and remain as the Official Sponsor for the following two seasons. Their financial support of our club is invaluable, and I would like to place on record the club’s thanks for their continued backing.
“A thank you must also go to Yogi and his team at Nam Ploy, Fratellis Catering and to all those who are continuing with us ahead of the new season. Their outstanding service is crucial to the continued success of our Fan Zone and we look forward to working with you all in a positive manner.
“I would also like to welcome Spice Valley and Hive Bakehouse as our new vendors in the Fan Zone. From a high number of exceptional applicants in the tender process, they both demonstrated excellence across a number of set criteria and we are excited at what they can offer our supporters moving forward.
“The club would also like to wish well and thank all of the unsuccessful applicants for their interest in becoming a vendor in our Fan Zone for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 period.
“During this process, the club was committed to finding vendors that were able to deliver the highest of standards in terms of menu offerings, food quality and hygiene rating, as well as possessing the ability to be present at all home league fixtures across the season. Previous vendors missed up to six or seven games during the 2023/24 season, which lets down both the club and our supporters. We very much look forward to working with all our Fan Zone partners and stakeholders in a positive and engaging manner.
“We will always make positive decisions with the best interests of Bolton Wanderers’ supporters at the heart of it and we hope our fans enjoy the new and improved Leasing Options Fan Zone when we reopen for the mouth-watering tie against Wrexham next month.
"Thank you to every supporter that uses our Fan Zone and we know it will continue to go from strength-to-strength due to your fabulous support of our special football club.”