Plans have been submitted to Trafford Council for a huge 3,000-capacity, purpose-built sports and ice arena in TraffordCity, Manchester, which would see the TraffordCity Arena partly let to Planet Ice and Manchester Storm ice hockey team moving in.
TraffordCity Arena will be one of Planet Ice’s biggest UK venues, and their 15th Ice Arena in the UK, featuring state-of-the-art ice hockey and skating facilities which will also convert into a multi-use event space suitable for both on and off-ice entertainment.
Situated next to the Chill Factore, the three-acre development will be located on the former Soccer Dome site. The land will be acquired from regeneration specialists Peel Waters, who are the master planners of TraffordCity and cleared the site in preparation for future leisure developments in mid-2023.
“Exceptional user experience and hospitality will be at the forefront of the TraffordCity Arena operation,” say the developers. Visitors to the arena will be able to choose from several inclusive onsite food and drink offerings, including grab and go options, a stylish family dining restaurant and high-end sports bar – VIP and corporate areas have been included in the plans as well as private party rooms.
The TraffordCity Arena will have the latest technology and infrastructure embedded throughout its design to allow other uses of the arena being able to host virtual reality immersive experiences, small concerts, screenings and live entertainment.
James Whittaker, managing director of Peel Waters said: “Bringing in the right partners to work with is fundamental to all of our Peel Waters projects and we are very excited to be working in partnership with ICITIES, Planet Ice and Manchester Storm to bring this fantastic new facility and offering to TraffordCity which is widely recognised as the UK’s leading retail and leisure destination.”
The purpose-built facility could provide a further boost for top-flight ice hockey team, Manchester Storm. The club has confirmed it is in advanced negotiations to play at the new state-of-the-art facility, which will be able to accommodate an additional 50% more fans than their current site in Altrincham, known as The Storm Shelter, or simply Altrincham Ice Rink, and the Altrincham site will also remain open and be available for training, playing, coaching and teaching, supporting aspirations to grow the UK’s interest and talent in ice sports.
The new ice arena will also include standing sections and encourage interaction and audience participation to add to the atmosphere the new arena will create for spectators. Planet Ice will also be working with Trafford Council to upgrade the older facility in Altrincham.
Ryan Finnerty, general manager of Manchester Storm said: “Manchester Storm are delighted to be in advanced negotiations to be a partner alongside Peel Waters, Planet Ice and ICITIES for the development of TraffordCity Ice Arena.”
The latest announcement follows on from Tartan Leisure being brought in by Peel Waters to deliver the first inland surf destination in the North of England at TraffordCity and will further enhance the area’s expanding portfolio of sport-based leisure and experience offerings, which already includes skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing and skydiving, as well as being the home of Trafford Golf, which is one of Europe’s premiere golf practice facilities.
Meanwhile, Therme Manchester, the UK’s first city-based wellbeing resort, also set to start on site imminently.
If planning permission is granted, the estimated build time of the TraffordCity ice-arena and event space will be approximately 12-15 months once construction starts on site.
Image: Peel Waters
