---
title: "Tender for the Operation of the Utilita Arena, Sheffield"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03dd3d"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03dd3d"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03dd3d.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03dd3d.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
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-h6vhtk-03dd3d

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03dd3d.json)

## Summary

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.

## Notice

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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008868-2025 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

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

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £310,000,000 |
| Lots value | £310,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £257,000,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SMG UK LIMITED, TRADING AS 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 08:10 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008868-2025
- 29 Jun 2023 at 08:24 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018478-2023
- 28 Jun 2023 at 14:09 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018423-2023

## Notice URLs

- https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=69938&B=UK
- https://uk.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/104130
- https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/courts/royal-courts-of-justice
- 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-h6vhtk-03dd3d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03dd3d.json.