Manchester venue boost for ice hockey

Article posted by Coliseum, June 19^th, 2025

Image: Peel Waters

Plans have been submitted for a new 3,000 capacity sports and ice arena in TraffordCity, Manchester, UK.

Peel Waters said the purpose-built arena will include a state-of-the-art ice rink, multi-use event space and high-end food and beverage offerings.

The TraffordCity Arena will be partly let to Planet Ice, which will be one of their biggest venues in the UK and their 15^th Ice Arena in the UK.

The arena, which will feature state-of-the-art ice hockey and skating facilities and will also convert into a multi-use event space suitable for on and off ice entertainment, could provide a further boost for top-flight ice hockey team, Manchester Storm.

The club has confirmed they are now in advanced negotiations to play out of the TraffordCity venue, which will be able to accommodate an additional 1,000 fans and spectators in comparison with their current site in Altrincham, known locally to fans as “The Storm Shelter”.

The new ice arena will also include standing sections and encourage interaction and audience participation to add to the electrifying atmosphere the new arena will create for spectators.

The new arena at TraffordCity will mean Trafford will have two ice leisure facilities within the borough. The two ice pads will bring the borough up to the standards of competing cities like Sheffield, Nottingham and London which offer at least two pads.

Both Altrincham and TraffordCity will be available for training, playing, coaching and teaching, supporting aspirations to grow the UK’s interest and talent in ice sports.

Planet Ice will also be working with Trafford Council to upgrade the older facility in Altrincham.

Situated next to the Chill Factore, Fives, iFLY and The Padel Club TraffordCity, the new 3-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 of future leisure developments in mid-2023.

Visitors to the arena will be able to choose from several varied and inclusive onsite food and drink offerings, including grab & 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 innovative technology and infrastructure embedded throughout its design to allow other uses of the arena including virtual reality immersive experiences, small concerts, screenings and live entertainment.

TraffordCity already includes skiing, snowboarding, skydiving, golf, 5 aside football, gym and Padel.

Through Peel Waters’ long-term vision for TraffordCity, 17,500 jobs have been created within the destination to date with plans to increase this to 33,000 over the next 20 years.

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.

“We have always had the aspiration to offer a sport for everyone at TraffordCity, whether it’s golfing, skiing, skydiving, football, gym or Padel there is no other destination in the country that brings together everything that’s available here in one place.

“Through this new arena, we will now be able to offer a wide range of ice-leisure activities for communities to enjoy taking part in or spectating, which in turn will also grow our visitor economy and bring in further investment into the area.”

Heath Rhodes, Chief Operations Manager of Planet Ice added: “This new facility will offer greater advantages to meet the high demand for ice time in the area as well as first rate amenities and service. The demand for ice facilities in the north west is outgrowing supply.

“In ice hockey terms Manchester needs at least two ice pads to offer enough ice time. We are delighted to bring the second pad to TraffordCity providing access to a wider Manchester audience, with plenty of parking and neighbouring sports facilities. Planet Ice will be working with Trafford Council to upgrade the older facility. It’s a really exciting time for Planet Ice and Manchester Ice users.”

If planning permission is granted, the estimated build time of the ice-arena and event space will be approximately 12-15 months once construction starts on site.

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