In association with
THE JOHN SMITH’S STADIUM
NEWSLETTER THE JOHN SMITH’S STADIUM
@JOHNSMITHSTADIA
@JOHNSMITHSTADIA
VOLUME 12
PLANNING FOR THE HD ONE LEISURE DEVELOPMENT AT THE JOHN SMITH’S STADIUM IS NOW AT AN ADVANCED STAGE. THE HD ONE IS A 240,000 SQ. FT. MIXED LEISURE DEVELOPMENT AT THE JOHN SMITH’S STADIUM. IT INCLUDES BOWLING, TRAMPOLINING, KIDS LEISURE, FAMILY RESTAURANTS, A BAR, SPORTS RETAIL, A HOTEL AND ADDITIONAL PARKING All of these elements are important. However, one of the most exciting elements is the Snow Sports Centre. Historically there are two types of ski slope in this country: old style plastic slopes and more recently indoor snow domes. The first of these two are hard and often uncomfortable to ski on and the latter can be quite limiting beyond the beginner stage. Our slope will be neither of these. As anyone who is local knows, there is a bedrock of important industry in Kirklees, much of it globally category leading. We are therefore very excited to have formed a partnership
STADIUM PARTNERS
with one such company. You might well expect a category leading artificial ski surface developer to be based in the Alps, or the Rockies, however, world leading Briton Engineering Developments Ltd. is based in Kirklees! Their Snowflex technology is much softer than traditional plastic slopes. Briton’s sophisticated matting technology with integrated lubrication and water recycling system combine to make it gentle to learn on, but at the same time, using their unique design and build capabilities, it is challenging for more advanced skiers and boarders. Briton has successfully built slopes across America and Europe, including the world’s biggest artificial slope currently in Ankara, Turkey. We now have our investor line up confirmed and also have the official endorsement of the British Ski and Snowboard Federation, (BSS), for our project. Snow Sports are becoming ever more popular in the U.K. Team GB has had its most successful medal hauls at
each of the last two Winter Olympics, some of it down to Team GB’s elite freestyle athletes learning and training on Snowflex! BSS want world leading facilities like ours to allow young talent to train in world class conditions in this country. The fact that we will also have trampolining and a hotel on site, as well as the pre existing gym and pool, means that we have a real chance of gaining an official centre of excellence accreditation from the sport’s governing body. However, part of the vision for the Snow Sports Centre has also always been to provide access to the local community and in particular, discounted access for disadvantaged groups. As with the rest of The HD One, we now expect to start construction of the Snow Sports Centre within the year; exciting times for us all!