Earlier this month, ambitious plans for the new TraffordCity Arena were finally made public, offering a glimpse into what fans can expect from the state-of-the-art ice hockey venue that could revolutionise the sport in Manchester.
Plans for the futuristic 3,000-seater arena have already been officially submitted to Trafford Council for approval, which if green-lit, could be ready for use by late 2026 or early 2027.
The proposed development, which has been earmarked for a three-acre brownfield site next to the Chill Factore – home of the UK’s longest indoor snow slope – forms part of TraffordCity’s larger overall aspirations for the area.
Landowner Peel Waters, local Elite Ice Hockey League club Manchester Storm, Planet Ice and leisure specialists ICITIES have teamed up for the exciting venture.
A multi-purpose arena for ice and entertainment
Designed by Aew Architects, who have ample big-project expertise, the TraffordCity Arena will aim to host community ice sessions and figure skating, though top-tier ice hockey matches will take centre stage.
As a multi-use event space, the new area will also be able to stage concerts, VR experiences, screenings and other live performances while a complete set of hospitality provisions, including restaurants, bars, eateries and corporate suites will open up numerous other revenue streams.
Managing director of Peel Waters, James Whittaker, described the project as a “fantastic new facility and offering to TraffordCity which is widely recognised as the UK’s leading retail and leisure destination” in an official press release circulated to media.
A new base for Manchester Storm
EIHL side Manchester Storm are expected to become the principal tenants of the TraffordCity Arena, a move that would represent the start of a fresh, exciting era for the club.
Storm are preparing to vacate their current base in Altrincham, affectionately known as “The Storm Shelter” which has a capacity of just 2,000. The club can look forward to a 50% increase in seating at the TraffordCityArena and the jump should do wonders for their profile.
Their old home in Altrincham won’t be left to rot, however. Planet Ice plan to keep it in use for training, youth development and community outreach purposes to strengthen ice hockey’s footprint in the Northwest.
Storm, who missed out on the playoffs for the second time in four seasons following their disappointing 9th place finish during the recent 2023/25 EIHL campaign, will be hoping that their exciting plans can help to usher in a more successful era on the ice.
The wider picture: what should leisure consumers expect?
The thrill of experiencing live ice hockey in cutting-edge surroundings is likely to be the tip of the iceberg and TraffordCity Arena is set to cater to a wide array of leisure seekers.
Both physical and digital customers could be catered for. A larger number of patrons are choosing home-based or online leisure pursuits than ever before with streaming platforms like Netflix and immersive VR experiences from recommended online casinos delivering entertainment directly to living rooms across the UK.
This could be an area that Manchester Storm could eventually tap into. The arena’s advanced technical infrastructure could allow long-distance ice hockey fans to attend games digitally through virtual means.
TraffordCity: infrastructure, timeline and community impact
Sitting just five miles west of Manchester, TraffordCity is working to become the UK’s prime destination for high-end leisure experiences, though some concerns about the development have been raised.
Local residents have voiced worries about the possibility of major inconveniences during the construction phase and the subsequent probability of increased traffic once the project is complete, though improvements to the existing Metrolink access to TraffordCity should help with the latter, at least.
At present, the planned build duration is around 12-15 months once ground is broken, though large projects like this have been known to push well beyond timeframes and deadlines.
However, for the most part, the TraffordCity Arena plans have been welcomed enthusiastically. Now it’s down to Trafford Council to decide whether this bold vision achieves liftoff.
