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World Snooker Championships

SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

09 Jul 2026 at 12:27

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for hosting the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield has been completed by Sheffield City Council, a public authority operating at the sub-central government level in the United Kingdom. The contract, titled "World Snooker Championships," involves hosting the prestigious event at the Crucible Theatre. Sheffield City Council utilised a direct award procurement method under section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, citing the uniqueness of the services provided by World Snooker Limited, the exclusive event organiser. The procurement falls within the sporting services category and includes a single lot, with a contract period commencing on 29 July 2026 and extending until 28 July 2045. Notably, the option for a five-year extension exists, contingent on mutual agreement between the parties.

This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses involved in sporting events, hospitality, and media rights, as it pertains to the renowned World Snooker Championships. Enterprises specialising in these sectors could benefit from collaborations in hospitality services, licensing agreements, or as official event partners due to the wide-reaching commercial rights associated with the championship. Large-scale companies with capabilities in media exploitation and those equipped with the necessary resources to engage in high-profile sporting events would find particular interest in such a contract, given its lengthy duration and the potential for a mutually agreed extension. This procurement underscores a significant opportunity for growth within the sports event management industry, especially for those already engaged with or willing to partner alongside World Snooker Limited.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

World Snooker Championships

Notice Description

Contract to host the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield at the Crucible Theatre.

Procurement Information

The Authority relies upon section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 (the "Act") and paragraph 5 to Schedule 5 of the Act in respect of a direct award justification. World Snooker Limited ("WSL") is the exclusive commercial owner, organiser, promoter and operator of the World Snooker Tour ("WST"), which includes the World Snooker Championship (the "Championship"). WSL exclusively controls and/or administers the sporting, commercial, operational and media exploitation rights connected with the Championship. WSL maintains these rights either directly or pursuant to rights granted by and/or arrangements with the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association Limited. WSL exclusively controls the following rights and functions relating to the Championship. WSL has the exclusive right to: * organise, stage and promote the official Championship as part of the official WST calendar; * sanction the Championship as an official professional ranking tournament forming part of the WST structure; * determine and administer the sporting format, qualification structure, player participation criteria and competition rules relating to the Championship; * contract with participating professional players and regulate player participation in the Championship; * negotiate, grant and exploit all domestic and international media, broadcast, streaming and related rights connected with the Championship; * negotiate, grant and exploit sponsorship, hospitality, licensing and other commercial rights connected with the Championship; * appoint official partners, suppliers and stakeholders connected with the Event; * determine the venues and host cities at which the Event may be staged; and * grant host city and hosting rights relating to the Event. The Authority has undertaken comprehensive, independent analysis on the extent to which there are / are not reasonable alternatives to the arrangement that WSL can deliver. The Authority has concluded that there are no reasonable alternatives capable of delivering the Championship (or an equivalent rights package to the Authority). The contract value is above threshold. The Council is still in negotiations with WSL and the contract value shall be included in the Contract Award Notice.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c783
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064708-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

92600000 - Sporting services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jul 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
9 Jul 20266 days ago
Contract Period
28 Jul 2026 - 28 Jul 2045 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

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

WORLD SNOOKER

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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