ASM Global has been announced as the new operator of Utilita Arena Sheffield as of January 2025.
Last year, Sheffield City Council announced that it was due to receive £117m of investment in the city’s leisure and entertainment facilities, including the refurbishment of the city’s most popular leisure center and improvements to Sheffield’s Arena and Town Hall. revealed.
As part of these plans, a competitive procurement process was launched in June 2023 to attract the best in leisure and entertainment provision to operate Sheffield venues.
Management companies have been invited to bid for the management of Utilita Arena Sheffield.
Following a robust eight-month tender process, the council has now selected ASM Global as the successful bidder and new operator of the arena.
ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences, venue management and event strategy. The company’s programming team delivers world-class content, from major sporting events to touring internationally acclaimed artists, to venues across the UK and Europe.
Councilor Richard Williams, Chair of Sheffield City Council’s Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee, said:
“We are really pleased to welcome ASM Global as the new operator of Sheffield Arena. This is a major step forward in our ambitious plans for the city and entertainment venue.”
“ASM Global has an unparalleled reputation in the global venue industry and this new investment will ensure we can compete on a global scale.”
Utilita Arena Sheffield joins ASM Global’s network of more than 350 venues around the world, hosting a total of 20,000 events and welcoming 164 million guests each year. With an unparalleled network and best-in-class operations, the company will further strengthen its competitive position in this sector of the market.
Councilor Tom Hunt, leader of Sheffield City Council, said:
“We are thrilled that ASM Global has chosen to work with us to bring global benefits to the operation and investment of Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.
“Sheffield is a city on the rise. With our hosting of the MOBO Awards, our city’s rich music and sporting history and reputation for hosting major events, we are excited about this new and exciting partnership with ASM Global. It’s another example of our ambitions for Sheffield.”
Chris Bray, President of ASM Global Europe, said:
“Sheffield is a city with a rich cultural heritage. It is known and loved for producing some of the UK’s most exciting musical talent, which has made Sheffield famous on a global scale. We are proud to be an industry leading ASM We are very excited to have been appointed to run Utilita Arena, which joins our UK portfolio.
“Our goal is to be the must-have venue for world-class artists and ensure our content is diverse, exciting and world-leading. We also have exciting plans and look forward to getting to know the city better soon.”
Utilita Arena is the home of Sheffield’s famous professional ice hockey team, the Sheffield Steelers. This year alone, the venue has hosted his MOBO Awards, with the likes of Peter Kay, Take That, Matchroom Boxing, Premier League Darts and Liam Gallagher visiting the venue this year..
It also recorded the best performance in the European live entertainment industry venue rankings, ranking 6th.th Britain’s best arena.
Sheffield Steelers Managing Director Tony Smith said:
“The Steelers are pleased to be working with ASM Global and look forward to seeing what they have in store at Utilita Arena.
“Investment is key going forward and we have many ideas about how we can improve our existing facilities to benefit our fans and the many visitors that visit our arena. I look forward to working closely with the new operator.”
Alongside the council’s earmarked investment which will benefit a number of venues and services across the city, ASM Global has committed significant investment to revamp the already popular arena.
The next steps for the project include completing a tender for the town hall and leisure services.