Hearts beat off competition from Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City to land top prize at football awards

Gustavo Dudamel, conductor, with some of the musicians ahead of the performance

Hearts saw off competition from English Premier League big guns to land a top prize at last night's Football Business Awards.

Shortlisted in the "Best non-match day use of a venue" category, Tynecastle Park was up against Bristol City's Ashton Gate; Carrow Road - home of Norwich City; Arsenal's Emirates Stadium; Manchester City's Etihad Stadium; Chelsea's Stamford Bridge and Villa Park, home of Aston Villa.

Tynecastle played host to the opening event of the 2019 Edinburgh International Festival, with renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel leading the Los Angeles Philharmonic through a selection of music on a specially-constructed Hollywood Bowl stage.

The Football Business Awards said of the nomination: "With support from sponsors, Aberdeen Standard Investments and working with over 35 community organisations, Hearts ensured that over 3,000 people from who would not otherwise been able to attend, could enjoy the spectacle, providing free travel and family picnics.

"The club used its significant outreach to ensure that this was the first ever orchestral concert for over 70 per cent of attendees."

Ann Park, Director of Communities and Partnerships at Hearts, said the club was "thrilled" to have picked up the prize, adding: "“We were honoured to host the hugely successful 2019 Edinburgh International Festival opening event, which showcased Tynecastle Park to a global audience.

"Hosting such a high profile event was a true team effort and the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received is testament to the hard work and dedication of all the staff at Tynecastle.

"We are grateful to the Edinburgh International Festival for their partnership and to Aberdeen Standard Investments whose sponsorship helped make it such an inclusive event.

“To have won this award ahead of world class stadiums such as Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium and Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium speaks volumes for Tynecastle Park as a venue.

"Our non-matchday operation is an essential part of the business and we look forward to hosting more events, both small and large, over the coming months. “