Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park warehouse to return to sports retail use
The 100,000 sq ft Technology Building on Terry Street has been acquired by Steel City Property Holdings, a joint venture between Puck Stop and Steelers Ice Arena, for a seven-figure sum.
The acquisition will enable Puck Stop to consolidate its ice hockey equipment business, currently based on Attercliffe Common, into a larger store with additional warehousing space.
It will also allow Sheffield Steelers to expand its merchandise manufacturing and retail operation, with the expansion expected to create a number of new jobs.
A further local sports organisation is also expected to move into the site once fit-out works are completed next year.
The 101,337 sq ft building is next to Sheffield Arena and close to Ice Sheffield and the English Institute of Sport, strengthening the site’s existing sporting offer.
MD Law and SMH Group acted for Steel City Property Holdings on the acquisition, while CBRE acted for the vendor. Lloyds Bank also advised on the deal.
Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park was developed through a partnership involving Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Hallam University, NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
The partners collaborated in 2015 to drive the development of the park and deliver an Olympic legacy focused on sport, community, environment, and the economy.
Richard Day, director at Puck Stop, and Steelers director Tony Smith said they were determined to bring another sports-related business to the facilities at the Olympic Legacy Park. Day said: “We are incredibly proud to have secured Technology House and to be investing in the future of sport within Sheffield.
“This move represents a major milestone for Puck Stop, giving us the space we need to expand our retail and warehousing operations, improve efficiency and create an even better experience for our customers.
“The Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park is a unique destination built around sport, health and innovation, so it is the perfect home for our next phase of growth. Alongside the Sheffield Steelers, we are committed to bringing this building back into productive use and creating opportunities for other sports organisations to be part of the site.
“We are particularly excited that the development will enable us to create one of Europe’s largest Bauer mono-brand hockey stores, strengthening Sheffield’s position as a leading centre for ice hockey and sport in the UK. This investment demonstrates our confidence in the city and our ambition to continue growing for many years to come.”
Mark Bardwell, Director at SMH Group, said: “Having worked with Tony and Richard individually over a number of years, it was fantastic to have the opportunity to be involved in such an exciting new venture for both businesses.
“They have both played significant roles within the ice hockey community for many years, so to see them come together on a project of this scale, which will help support the continued growth of the sport in Sheffield, is something we were delighted to be part of.
“It is a significant investment for both businesses and a great example of ambitious local business owners continuing to invest in Sheffield and the wider region.”
James Furniss, head of commercial finance at SMH Group, added: “Deals like this do not come around very often and, when it involves a sport I have followed since I was young, it makes it particularly exciting to be involved…
“It is a major investment in two successful Sheffield businesses, but also in the future of the city’s sporting infrastructure.”
