Award

Tender for the Operation of the Utilita Arena, Sheffield

SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

12 Mar 2025 at 08:10

TenderUpdate

29 Jun 2023 at 08:24

Tender

28 Jun 2023 at 14:09

Summary of the contracting process

Sheffield City Council is actively pursuing the procurement of an experienced and qualified operator to manage the Utilita Arena, Sheffield. This tender falls under the category of Facilities Management Services and spans a range of services including catering, repair and maintenance, event services, and recreational, cultural, and sporting services. The procurement process, at the award stage, commenced on 2 January 2025. Interested businesses had until 31 July 2023 to submit their proposals. The venue, situated in Sheffield, has a 13,600 capacity and holds significant importance in the UK entertainment landscape.

This tender represents a substantial opportunity for businesses within the facilities management and entertainment industries to expand their operations and gain a strong foothold in a high-profile venue. The sought-after operator will benefit from a potential long-term contract lasting up to 25 years, with a focus on maximizing commercial returns and enhancing the venue's profile as a premier events destination. This opportunity is particularly suited to large enterprises proficient in venue management, event organization, and delivering high-quality, commercially successful programmes. The competitive procedure with negotiation ensures that capable firms can present their best offerings and benefit from collaboration with Sheffield City Council and access to £5.7 million of capital funding for venue enhancements.

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Notice Title

Tender for the Operation of the Utilita Arena, Sheffield

Notice Description

The Council is seeking to procure an experienced and qualified operator to manage the Utilita Arena in Sheffield. This is an exciting opportunity for an organisation to partner with the Council to manage a key venue in the UK entertainment landscape. Since the c13,600 capacity Arena opened in 1991 it has hosted over 2,700 events that have been watched by over 14.5 million customers averaging 122 event days & 650,000 customers every year. The Council is seeking to secure a long-term operating partner: to run a commercially successful venue for up to 15 - 25 years in order to maximise the commercial return to the Council; on a lease basis if possible, but the Council will consider alternative structures; and to provide a commercially successful programme that will enhance the profile of Sheffield as an events city, attracting the maximum number of events and attendees. The Council has provisionally secured cPS5.7m of capital funding to invest into the Arena.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Council is seeking to procure an experienced and qualified operator to manage the Utilita Arena in Sheffield. The Council's preferred deal structure is a long-term lease arrangement. This is an exciting opportunity for an organisation to partner with the Council to manage a key venue in the UK entertainment landscape, and the home of world class entertainment. Since the c13,600 capacity Arena opened in 1991 it has hosted over 2,700 events that have been watched by over 14.5 million customers averaging 122 event days & 650,000 customers every year. The Council is seeking to secure a long-term operating partner: to run a commercially successful venue for up to 15 - 25 years in order to maximise the commercial return to the Council; on a lease basis if possible, but the Council will consider alternative structures; and to provide a commercially successful programme that will enhance the profile of Sheffield as an events city, attracting the maximum number of events and attendees. The Council has provisionally secured cPS5.7m of capital funding to invest into the Arena. This provisionally funding has been earmarked to invest in the facilities to enhance the customer experience, operational profitability, and maximise the Council's operating objectives. Please note that the estimated contract value is based on the estimated venue turnover (excluding VAT) across the maximum contract term.

Renewal: Before expiry of this contract.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-03dd3d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008868-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive procedure with negotiation
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products

50 - Repair and maintenance services

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

70 - Real estate services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services


CPV Codes

39222000 - Catering supplies

50000000 - Repair and maintenance services

55120000 - Hotel meeting and conference services

55410000 - Bar management services

55520000 - Catering services

70332000 - Non-residential property services

70332200 - Commercial property management services

79951000 - Seminar organisation services

79952000 - Event services

79952100 - Cultural event organisation services

79953000 - Festival organisation services

79956000 - Fair and exhibition organisation services

79993000 - Building and facilities management services

79993100 - Facilities management services

92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

92300000 - Entertainment services

92312000 - Artistic services

92312100 - Theatrical producers', singer groups', bands' and orchestras' entertainment services

92312110 - Theatrical producer entertainment services

92312120 - Singer group entertainment services

92312130 - Band entertainment services

92312140 - Orchestral entertainment services

92312240 - Services provided by entertainers

92312250 - Services provided by individual artists

92320000 - Arts-facility operation services

92340000 - Dance and performance entertainment services

92622000 - Sports-event organisation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£310,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£310,000,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£257,000,000 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Mar 202511 months ago
Submission Deadline
31 Jul 2023Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
2 Jan 20251 years ago
Contract Period
1 Jan 2025 - 31 Mar 2050 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Paula Martin
Contact Email
paula.martin@sheffield.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 01142734567

Buyer Location

Locality
SHEFFIELD
Postcode
S1 2HH
Post Town
Sheffield
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE3 South Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE32 Sheffield
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Sheffield
Electoral Ward
City
Westminster Constituency
Sheffield Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SMG UK LIMITED, TRADING AS ASM GLOBAL

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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