ASM Global steps up Sheffield presence
Along with taking over the Utilita Arena, the venue operator will run Sheffield City Hall from January 2025, as a £117m investment programme is rolled out across the city’s leisure estate.
Last year, Sheffield City Council announced that the city’s leisure and entertainment venues will receive a major funding boost including leisure centre rebuilds, and improvements to both the arena and City Hall.
As part of these plans, in June 2023, a competitive procurement process was launched in a bid to attract a specialist operator to take over from Sheffield City Trust.
The arena deal, which was announced in February, will also take effect from January.
US-headquartered ASM is the long-term operator of Manchester’s AO Arena, itself recently revamped as competition in that city heats up with the new Co-op Live. ASM also runs Wembley Arena, Utilita Arena Newcastle, Olympia London and York Barbican among others.
In all, ASM Global’s network comprises 350+ venues, which collectively host 20,000 events and welcome 164m guests every year.
Cllr Kurtis Crossland, chair of the communities, parks and leisure committee at Sheffield City Council, said:
“ASM Global have a world-class reputation within the venue and entertainment industry, and I am delighted that they have been announced as the new operator for the Sheffield City Hall, which is central to Sheffield’s cultural and civic life.
“I am confident that both Sheffield City Hall and the Utilita Arena Sheffield are in great hands with ASM Global and that this new investment will help our fantastic Sheffield venues compete on the global stage.”
Grade two-listed, the hall has played host to Elton John, the Beatles and Kylie Minogue since it opened in 1932.
Currently, it hosts 750 events each year, including Sheffield’s International Concert Season and the Last Laugh Comedy Club.
Chris Bray, president of ASM Global Europe, described the hall as a “truly beautiful and unique venue steeped in heritage”.
Bray added: “Sheffield’s rich culture and phenomenal music talent are recognised far and wide, and working with Sheffield City Council we have exciting plans to evolve and transform the city’s live entertainment experience for both residents and visitors, delivering content that is nothing short of world leading.
“Having announced just a few months ago that ASM Global has also been appointed to manage the city’s Utilita Arena, we are thrilled to be able to support the local community and the city’s economy, ensuring these venues are must-plays across a broad spectrum of acts and artists, from grassroots to world-renowned.”
