The Owls are delighted to welcome Wednesdayites back to Hillsborough on Saturday for our League One curtain-raiser against Portsmouth.
Staff across every level of the club have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure we keep moving forward in all areas.
The stadium and surrounding areas have undergone some significant improvements during the close season, many of which will be evident on matchday.
The pitch
You will immediately notice the pristine pitch due to a full renovation here at Hillsborough. The Middlewood Road playing surfaces have also been similarly renovated - our dedicated ground staff have done a fantastic job throughout the summer.
Many of our supporters will also be pleased to see, by popular demand, the return of blue and white netting!
Floodlights
We are delighted to announce our new state of the art LED floodlight system which will not only save energy and provide a greener solution but also trigger a huge cost saving.
The Lux Levels are significantly in excess of Championship regulations and will allow for the Hillsborough atmosphere to be heightened on night games with a stunning light show.
Fan Zone
Many of you will have sampled our brand new Fan Zone at the recent soft launch event ahead of the Rayo Vallecano friendly, and now, in time for the first game of the season, the fantastic facility located outside the Megastore is officially open for business!
We will deliver live music ahead of every matchday with refreshments before and after the game, so be sure to check out the Fan Zone this weekend!
Megastore
Large scale renovations were also completed over the summer with the Owls Megastore roof. Externally and internally, there is a fresh feel to the Megastore, with an exciting full store refit just around the corner!
Kit launch
We were delighted to launch our new Macron 2022/23 home and away kits in advance of the new season and school holidays.
The response from supporters has been phenomenal with record sales so far. Consequently, certain sizes will sell out in the coming weeks but please be assured more stock will be on the way.
On Saturday, we welcome principal shirt sponsor Host & Stay to Hillsborough for the first time. To mark the occasion, Host & Stay vouchers to the tune of £1,000 will be up for grabs in our half time draw.
Hospitality
We are proud to extend our partnerships with Sheffield businesses for numerous ongoing projects.
Our hospitality areas continue to thrive and once again we have record sales on our seasonal hospitality boxes.
Dooleys Restaurant has been refreshed, with similar plans in place for the Springett and Charlton suites.
Recruitment
Following our recent call to arms and fair play policy on payments for under 23 matchday staff, we are pleased to welcome over 100 new casual staff to Hillsborough!
Please be patient with our staff, particularly on the kiosks as the newcomers become familiar with the state of the art till systems installed at the end of last season.
Season & Member Cards
All season cards have been dispatched and there may be isolated incidences where some supporters are not yet in receipt.
A number of fans have not updated address details which has resulted in reprints. If you are yet to receive your card, please do try and visit the Ticket Office as early as possible as large queues are expected on Saturday.
All cards this season have the addition of QR codes that link to our fixtures in real time whilst providing exclusive offers for Season Ticket holders and Members.
Owls Chief Operating Officer Liam Dooley said: “We are really proud of all the steps we are taking and really cannot wait to welcome our supporters back to Hillsborough.
“We have maintained our commitment to improving every area of the matchday experience where possible and want you all to stay with us on this journey on and off the pitch.”
We look forward to seeing you at Hillsborough on Saturday and thank you all for your support!
WAWAW