Official UK procurement notice
Tender for the Operation of the Utilita Arena, Sheffield
Authority: Sheffield City Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe 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.
CPV: Artistic services · Arts-facility operation services · Band entertainment services · Bar management services · Building and facilities management services · Catering services · Catering supplies · Commercial property management services · Cultural event organisation services · Dance and performance entertainment services · Entertainment services · Event services · +15 more
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1The Council is seeking to procure an experienced and qualified operator to manage the…AwardedRenewalPublished value£310,000,000
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.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published award criteria (3)
- Quality: 30
- Social Value: 5
- Price: 65
- Suitability
Minimum standards and qualification details contained with Selection Questionnaire documentation.
- Economic & financial standing
Minimum standards and qualification details contained with Selection Questionnaire documentation.
- Technical & professional ability
Minimum standards and qualification details contained with Selection Questionnaire documentation.
- Price carries 65 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 6.5 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive procedure with negotiation
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 28 Jun 2023, 15:09 BST
- Last source update
- 12 Mar 2025, 08:10 GMT
- Authority reference
75879- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-008868- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-03dd3dFind a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 31 Jul 2023, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission","written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
31 Jul 2023 → 12 Mar 2025 · 5 dates- Submission deadline31 Jul 2023, 17:00 BST
- Invitations to tender expected21 Aug 2023, 00:00 BST
- Bids must remain valid until14 Dec 2024, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts1 Jan 2025
- Notice published12 Mar 2025, 08:10 GMT
Notice history
1 event · 3 releases on Find a Tender- Status changed to complete12 Mar 2025, 08:10 GMT
Published amendments (1 · 0 deadline changes)
| When | What | Before | After | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | DateIV.2.2 · IV.2 | 31 Jul 2023 | 31 Jul 2023 | +0 d |
Time for submission on the 31st July 2023 has been amended from 5:00pm to 12:00 noon.
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMG UK Limited, trading as ASM GlobalUtilita Arena Sheffield, Operator Procurement | £257,000,000 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Utilita Arena Sheffield, Operator Procurement · SMG UK Limited, trading as ASM Global
- Signed
- 2 Jan 2025
- Value
- £257,000,000
- Period
- … – 1 Apr 2050
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3bids · 3 electronic | — | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- The Royal Courts of JusticeReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- SMG UK Limited, trading as ASM GlobalAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.