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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Tender for the Operation of the Utilita Arena, Sheffield

Sheffield City Council · compiled

Tender information last checkedLast checked 29 Sept 2026, 18:54.

Opportunity overview

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 c£5.7m of capital funding to invest into the Arena.

Awarded to

Amounts belong to published awards or contracts. Where several suppliers share one value, it is labelled as shared and is not a supplier-specific allocation.

Contract value
£257m
Awarded
Not supplied
Contract signed
2 Jan 2025
Award ID
008868-2025-1-1
Status
active
Identifier
844280722
Location
Manchester, UK, M3 1AR, United Kingdom

Classification

  • CPV79993100 — Facilities management services
  • CPV39222000 — Catering supplies
  • CPV50000000 — Repair and maintenance services
  • CPV55120000 — Hotel meeting and conference services
  • CPV55410000 — Bar management services
  • CPV55520000 — Catering services
  • CPV70332000 — Non-residential property services
  • CPV70332200 — Commercial property management services
  • CPV79951000 — Seminar organisation services
  • CPV79952000 — Event services
  • CPV79952100 — Cultural event organisation services
  • CPV79953000 — Festival organisation services
  • CPV79956000 — Fair and exhibition organisation services
  • CPV79993000 — Building and facilities management services
  • CPV92000000 — Recreational, cultural and sporting services
  • CPV92300000 — Entertainment services
  • CPV92312000 — Artistic services
  • CPV92312100 — Theatrical producers', singer groups', bands' and orchestras' entertainment services
  • CPV92312110 — Theatrical producer entertainment services
  • CPV92312120 — Singer group entertainment services
  • CPV92312130 — Band entertainment services
  • CPV92312140 — Orchestral entertainment services
  • CPV92312240 — Services provided by entertainers
  • CPV92312250 — Services provided by individual artists
  • CPV92320000 — Arts-facility operation services
  • CPV92340000 — Dance and performance entertainment services
  • CPV92622000 — Sports-event organisation services

Lots

  • 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 c£5.7m 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.£310m

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
75879
Status
complete
Has Recurrence
No
Procurement Method
selective
Main Procurement Category
services
Procurement Method Details
Competitive procedure with negotiation

Covered By

GPA

Amendments

Entry 1
Id
1
Description
Time for submission on the 31st July 2023 has been amended from 5:00pm to 12:00 noon.

Unstructured Changes

Entry 1

Where

Label
IV.2.2
Section
IV.2

New Value

Date
31 Jul 2023, 12:00

Old Value

Date
31 Jul 2023, 17:00

Legal basis

Id
32014L0024
Scheme
CELEX

Second Stage

Invitation Date
21 Aug 2023, 00:00

Tender Period

Ends
31 Jul 2023, 17:00

Contract terms

Has Electronic Payment
Yes
Has Electronic Ordering
Yes
Electronic Invoicing Policy
allowed

Classification

Id
79993100
Scheme
CPV
Description
Facilities management services

Submission terms

Languages

en

Bid Validity Period

Ends
14 Dec 2024, 23:59

Submission Method

electronicSubmission
written

Selection criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Type
suitability
Description
Minimum standards and qualification details contained with Selection Questionnaire documentation.

Applies To

supplier
Criterion 2
Type
economic
Description
Minimum standards and qualification details contained with Selection Questionnaire documentation.

Applies To

supplier
Criterion 3
Type
technical
Description
Minimum standards and qualification details contained with Selection Questionnaire documentation.

Applies To

supplier

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
cancelled
Has Options
No
Has Renewal
Yes
Description
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 c£5.7m 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.

Value

Amount
310,000,000
Currency
GBP

Renewal

Description
Before expiry of this contract.

Second Stage

Maximum Candidates
4
Minimum Candidates
4

Award criteria

Criteria

Criterion 1
Name
Quality
Type
quality
Description
30
Criterion 2
Name
Social Value
Type
quality
Description
5
Criterion 3
Type
price
Description
65

Contract period

Ends
1 Apr 2050, 00:59
Starts
1 Jan 2025, 00:00

Submission terms

Variant Policy
allowed

Selection criteria

Description
Detailed in the Selection Questionnaire.

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery Location

Description
Sheffield, UK

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UK
Entry 2
Region
UK

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
39222000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Catering supplies
Entry 2
Id
50000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Repair and maintenance services
Entry 3
Id
55120000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Hotel meeting and conference services
Entry 4
Id
55410000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Bar management services
Entry 5
Id
55520000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Catering services
Entry 6
Id
70332000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Non-residential property services
Entry 7
Id
70332200
Scheme
CPV
Description
Commercial property management services
Entry 8
Id
79951000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Seminar organisation services
Entry 9
Id
79952000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Event services
Entry 10
Id
79952100
Scheme
CPV
Description
Cultural event organisation services
Entry 11
Id
79953000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Festival organisation services
Entry 12
Id
79956000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Fair and exhibition organisation services
Entry 13
Id
79993000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Building and facilities management services
Entry 14
Id
92000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Recreational, cultural and sporting services
Entry 15
Id
92300000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Entertainment services
Entry 16
Id
92312000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Artistic services
Entry 17
Id
92312100
Scheme
CPV
Description
Theatrical producers', singer groups', bands' and orchestras' entertainment services
Entry 18
Id
92312110
Scheme
CPV
Description
Theatrical producer entertainment services
Entry 19
Id
92312120
Scheme
CPV
Description
Singer group entertainment services
Entry 20
Id
92312130
Scheme
CPV
Description
Band entertainment services
Entry 21
Id
92312140
Scheme
CPV
Description
Orchestral entertainment services
Entry 22
Id
92312240
Scheme
CPV
Description
Services provided by entertainers
Entry 23
Id
92312250
Scheme
CPV
Description
Services provided by individual artists
Entry 24
Id
92320000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Arts-facility operation services
Entry 25
Id
92340000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Dance and performance entertainment services
Entry 26
Id
92622000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Sports-event organisation services

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-FTS-35099
Name
Sheffield City Council

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UK
Locality
Sheffield
Postal Code
S1 2HH
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Town Hall, Pinstone Street,

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
REGIONAL_AUTHORITY
Scheme
TED_CA_TYPE
Description
Regional or local authority
Entry 2
Id
01
Scheme
COFOG
Description
General public services

Identifier

Id
(GB) 173 5488 38
Legal Name
Sheffield City Council

Contact

Name
Paula Martin
Telephone
+44 01142734567
Organisation 2
Id
GB-FTS-4330
Name
The Royal Courts of Justice

Roles

reviewBody

Address

Locality
London
Postal Code
WC2A 2LL
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
The Strand

Details

Identifier

Legal Name
The Royal Courts of Justice
Organisation 3
Id
GB-FTS-35101
Name
Sheffield City Council

Roles

mediationBody
reviewContactPoint

Address

Locality
Sheffield
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Sheffield Town Hall, Pinstone Street,

Details

Identifier

Legal Name
Sheffield City Council
Organisation 4
Id
GB-FTS-140412
Name
SMG UK Limited, trading as ASM Global

Roles

supplier

Address

Region
UK
Locality
Manchester
Postal Code
M3 1AR
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Manchester Arena

Details

Scale
large

Identifier

Id
844280722
Legal Name
SMG UK Limited, trading as ASM Global

Contact

Telephone
+44 07877546497

Award information

Award 1
Id
008868-2025-1-1
Title
Utilita Arena Sheffield, Operator Procurement
Status
active

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-FTS-140412
Name
SMG UK Limited, trading as ASM Global

Related lots

1

Contracts and changes

Entry 1
Id
008868-2025-1-1
Title
Utilita Arena Sheffield, Operator Procurement
Status
active
Award ID
008868-2025-1-1
Date Signed
2 Jan 2025, 00:00

Value

Amount
257,000,000
Currency
GBP

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Sheffield · UK · S1 2HH · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UK

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-03dd3d-2025-03-12T08:10:30Zcompiled ·