Park Community Arena, known for sponsorship reasons as Canon Medical Arena, is a sports arena located within the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield, England. The arena's main tenants are the Sheffield Sharks and Sheffield Hatters basketball teams, who relocated from their previous homes at Ponds Forge and All Saints Sports Centre for the start of the 2023–24 season.[1] The arena has a capacity of 2,500 seats for basketball matches.
Canon Medical Arena | |
 | |
| Location | Sheffield, England |
|---|---|
| Owner | Sheffield City Council Canon Medical Systems |
| Operator | PCA Ltd |
| Capacity | Overall: 3,000 Basketball: 2,500 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2022 |
| Opened | 5 October 2023 |
| Construction cost | £14 million |
| Tenants | |
| Sheffield Sharks Sheffield Hatters | |
| Website | |
| parkcommunityarena | |
History
edit
Plans were in place for a 2,500 capacity basketball arena within the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park on the site of the former Don Valley Stadium as far back as 2016.[2][3] After subsequent delays and changes to the plans, the £14 million Park Community Arena, developed by Canon Medical Systems, broke ground in 2022.[4][5]
A 10-year naming rights deal was confirmed in August 2023, with the facility officially branded as Canon Medical Arena until 2033.[6] The arena officially opened on 5 October,[7] with the first basketball match held on 8 October where a sell-out crowd saw Sheffield Sharks defeat Newcastle Eagles, 86–56.[8] Two weeks later, Sheffield Hatters made their debut at the new venue with a match against Nottingham Wildcats on 22 October.[9]
References
edit- ^ Westby, Nick (23 May 2023). "Sheffield Sharks on schedule to play out of new Park Community Arena home for 2023-24 BBL season". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "New basketball arena planned for the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield". BBC News. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "New Sheffield community basketball arena 'could be built by September 2019'". The Star. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Park Community Arena developed by Canon Medical Systems announced at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park". British Basketball League. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ Wilkinson, Alex (9 June 2022). "Park Community Arena: 'New and unique Sheffield Sharks home will be incredible for team and community'". The Star. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "B. Braun Sheffield Sharks' new arena name officially revealed". British Basketball League. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Harrison, Harry (5 October 2023). "Sheffield Sharks basketball: Brand new 2,500 capacity Park Community Arena opens at Olympic Legacy Park". The Star. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Westby, Nick (8 October 2023). "Sheffield Sharks bring the house down with thumping of Newcastle Eagles in thrilling Canon Medical Arena debut". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ "Join us for the WBBL season opener". Sheffield Hatters. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.