---
title: "Tender for the Operation of the Utilita Arena, Sheffield"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-e766589c-dd17-4447-aa97-9f5d20a49bbb"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e766589c-dd17-4447-aa97-9f5d20a49bbb"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e766589c-dd17-4447-aa97-9f5d20a49bbb.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e766589c-dd17-4447-aa97-9f5d20a49bbb.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL"
published: "2025-03-12"
---

# Tender for the Operation of the Utilita Arena, Sheffield

Buyer: SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-e766589c-dd17-4447-aa97-9f5d20a49bbb

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e766589c-dd17-4447-aa97-9f5d20a49bbb)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e766589c-dd17-4447-aa97-9f5d20a49bbb.json)

## Summary

Sheffield City Council has concluded a procurement process to find an experienced and qualified operator to manage the Utilita Arena in Sheffield. This tender, categorized under facilities management services, with additional relevances to event and cultural event organisation, was in the procurement stage of 'Award' as of 12th March 2025. The competitive dialogue procurement method was used, and the tender had key dates including an end date for the tender period on 31st July 2023, and contract period from 2nd January 2025 to 1st January 2050. The long-term operating partner will manage a venue with a capacity of around 13,600, aiming to enhance Sheffield’s profile as an entertainment city.

This tender offers substantial business growth opportunities for companies specializing in venue management, event services, catering, and commercial property management. It provides a potential partnership with Sheffield City Council and the management of a prominent UK entertainment venue. The successful bidder, SMG UK Ltd trading as ASM Global, is tasked with running a commercially successful programme, leveraging the £5.7m capital funding secured for facility enhancement. Businesses experienced in large-scale event management and venue operations, and capable of executing long-term strategic plans, would be well-suited to compete for such tenders in future procurement opportunities.

## Notice

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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d8734fb8-0173-42bc-b3ee-52ce83f153a2 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive dialog |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 12 Mar 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 31 Jul 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 15 Feb 2024 |
| Contract period | 2 Jan 2025 - 1 Jan 2050 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £310,000,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL |
| Locality | SHEFFIELD |
| Post town | Sheffield |
| Postcode | S1 2HH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE3 South Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE32 Sheffield |
| Local authority | Sheffield |
| Electoral ward | City |
| Westminster constituency | Sheffield Central |
| Delivery location | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SMG UK LTD T/A ASM GLOBAL |

## CPV Codes

### 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

### 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

## Release History

- 12 Mar 2025 at 08:40 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d8734fb8-0173-42bc-b3ee-52ce83f153a2

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d8734fb8-0173-42bc-b3ee-52ce83f153a2
  12th March 2025 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=69938&B=UK
  Additional data
- https://uk.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/104130
  User / Company

## Notice URLs

- https://www.sheffield.gov.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e766589c-dd17-4447-aa97-9f5d20a49bbb. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e766589c-dd17-4447-aa97-9f5d20a49bbb.json.