New Future for Key City Events
22nd August 2013
Modern facilities, bigger attendances and greater business opportunities will make up the long-term future of three key Sheffield events.
Sheffield International Venues (SIV) has secured deals which will keep the national events in the city for the next two years. With Don Valley Stadium set to close in September, SIV has worked with organisers to identify alternative venues in its portfolio to ensure the events remain in Sheffield so that the city and the company retains the benefits of hosting them From September, the annual Windsor Foodservice exhibition will take place at SIV's iceSheffield in move that will see visitor numbers almost double to 1,000 people. The event, which previously attracted 600 people to Don Valley Stadium, will see more than 120 exhibitors featuring new suppliers and innovative food products and menus for customers to sample. Kevin Clark, managing director of Windsor Foodservice, said: -It was important for us to stay in the lower Don Valley area and continue our long-standing relationship of seven years with SIV. We have chosen iceSheffield because it works in terms of power, electrics and, with an extra 300 square metres of space, the move is an opportunity for us to grow the event. SIV's English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EIS Sheffield) will also host the University of Sheffield's Medical Examinations in December 2013. The university, which has used Don Valley in the past, has chosen EIS Sheffield because of its previous experience hosting events of this nature at SIV's facilities. Dr Fran Oldale, Phase 2 Administrative Officer at the University of Sheffield, said: -Every year hundreds of students take our exams and we've always had a great experience with SIV. -We chose EIS Sheffield because of the flow of the rooms. We'll have a dedicated examination room and areas for the examiners and patients to register as well as catering options, two holding areas - one pre and one post exam for the students, which is crucial for this sort of event. The UK's biggest computer fair, Redrat, which has been held at Don Valley Stadium for the last 12 years, has moved to Concord Sports Centre and will take place on the first Sunday of the month until 2015. Rob Fawcett, operations manager, Redrat, said: -We have an excellent relationship with SIV which we were very keen to continue and it's fantastic we're able to keep what is our biggest and most popular computer fair in Sheffield. Concord provides us with a bigger footfall of our target market. SIV operates one of the largest concentrations of diverse elite and community sports and entertainment venues in Europe. Dominic Stokes, general manager of SIV Events, said: -Securing the long-term future of these events is part of our objectives to generate economic impact for Sheffield and profile the city, as well as, of course retaining the commercial benefits for SIV. Importantly however, for the events, it will mean they can benefit from modern flexible event facilities and have the opportunity to attract greater numbers of people. For more information about holding your next event with SIV visit www.sivltd.com.