GIANTS UNVEIL NEW HOME
Manchester Giants will have a new home from the start of the 2019/20 season.
Preliminary work will shortly begin on a 2,000-capacity arena which will form part of a £35million development at Urmston, in the borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester.
The plans, based around a revamp of the existing George H Carnall Sports Centre, will also include a cluster of health facilities and affordable housing.
The club will also further develop on site its existing community basketball and netball teams, providing opportunities for all ages and abilities, as well as hosting the club’s office, a club shop, community outreach team and a community café.
It is likely to secure the future of the Giants in the BBL which had been the subject of some doubt following a lack of progress since the franchise’s trop flight return.
John Dwan, Manchester Giants chief executive, said: “It has been a priority for us to find a long term venue that can house and develop our club, not just the elite BBL Basketball team, but also our junior basketball and netball teams, as well as our fast growing community programmes. After fruitless discussions with other venues in recent years securing our own sustainable and affordable facility is a major step forward for the club.â€
The centre is based just one junction down the M60 from where the Giants currently play their BBL home games, at the Trafford Powerleague Sportsdome, which will continue to be the club’s home until the end of the 2018/19 season.
Leader of Trafford Council, Sean Anstee, said: “I am really pleased that residents in Urmston, Davyhulme and Flixton are the first to benefit from the Council’s significant investment in sport and leisure with the appointment of Wilmott Dixon to commence construction at the nearby Urmston Leisure Centre.
“In addition, at George H Carnall we have worked really hard with key partners to come up with an innovative and exciting opportunity that will complement the refurbished Urmston Leisure Centre.
“We’re absolutely delighted therefore to be able to announce that the Manchester Giants will be making this site their home, and bringing with them their great track record of engaging with schools and the wider community alongside affordable residential homes and health hub.
“Taken together, these two opportunities represent an investment in excess of £45m in the local M41 community. This is a great example of public sector funding attracting significant private sector investment.
“We believe both developments will provide a great mix of facilities to help improve health and wellbeing among our residents.â€
Manchester Giants have assigned the development works to the Equity Solutions Group, a local developer.
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