QA Venue Solutions Rwanda has signalled a possible shift in its venue pricing strategy, saying it is open to revisiting rental fees for both BK Arena and Amahoro Stadium following growing concerns from artists, sports stakeholders and event organisers over affordability. Speaking during an episode of The Context by The New Times, the company’s Managing Director, Guy Hedderwick, acknowledged that while operating world-class venues comes with significant costs, the firm is prepared to negotiate flexible arrangements, including waiving venue hire fees where mutually beneficial commercial opportunities exist. “There was always going to be a transition when it comes to pricing and standards,” Hedderwick said. “Our mandate from the government is to operate these venues at international standards, and that comes at a cost. However, I also understand that local Rwandans have the right to access and use these venues, and it is our responsibility to create a model that makes that possible.” ALSO READ: Amahoro Stadium managing firm, stakeholders in talks to fix rental fees His remarks come months after public debate over rental fees at Amahoro Stadium, with some stakeholders arguing that the costs associated with using the refurbished facility could make it difficult for local football clubs and event organisers to host activities there. Open to negotiations In comments likely to ease concerns among organisers, Hedderwick said the company is willing to adopt a more flexible, case-by-case approach rather than relying on rigid venue hire charges. “I am happy to charge no venue hire if there is another benefit that can be commercialised from the event,” he said. He added that although BK Arena may charge around Rwf10 million for some international events, the company’s broader goal is to ensure the venues remain active and accessible rather than sitting idle. “We are a commercial entity and our business is to run events. Let us sit down with people and find ways to make events happen,” he said. Hedderwick compared venue management to industries such as aviation and hospitality, noting that unused event days represent lost opportunities that cannot be recovered. “If there is no event in the venue today, I cannot sell that day again. I would rather find a way to make the event happen,” he explained. QA Venue Solutions currently manages more than 180 event days annually across its venues and is targeting 225 event days per year. Operational costs remain unavoidable Despite signalling flexibility, Hedderwick stressed that certain operational costs cannot be avoided. These include security, cleaning services, crowd management and technical production requirements needed to maintain international safety standards. “We cannot compromise on safety,” he said. “I cannot have 10,000 people in a venue that is unsafe. That requires a certain number of security personnel, ushers and technical staff.” He explained that while venue hire charges can be negotiated, organisers should still expect to cover the essential operational costs associated with staging events. The company also says it is exploring sponsorship deals and other commercial partnerships that could help offset some of these expenses for local organisers. Hedderwick further addressed concerns raised by some creatives who questioned whether venue-linked service arrangements limit organisers’ freedom to work with independent audiovisual providers. “There is no monopoly,” he said. “I will work with any AV provider, provided they have the certification required to rig safely from the ceiling.” ALSO READ: Inside Migina’s transformation into a modern sports, entertainment hub According to him, the issue has largely been about technical capability rather than exclusivity. “There has never been a monopoly. The challenge has simply been finding providers who can meet the required standards,” he added. Stakeholder engagement ongoing Hedderwick said discussions with stakeholders are progressing positively and encouraged organisers, artists and sports bodies to engage directly with the company to find workable solutions. “It has to be a win-win situation for everyone,” he said. “The facilities are there to be used. People should come, enjoy themselves and make the most of these venues.”
