Sheffield's Olympic Legacy Park a step closer

Plans to create an Olympic Legacy Park on the site of the former Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield are a step closer after Sheffield Eagles rugby league club secured a £6m funding package towards the project.

A joint venture between Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield City Council and the private sector, the development will include a community stadium – the new home for the Sheffield Eagles – a hotel, restaurant and a 3,000-capacity indoor sports arena. The arena will become the new home for the Sheffield Sharks basketball club.

According to a spokesperson for the Eagles, the club hopes to move into the new stadium in 2016 - if planning is secured on time.

The venue will have a 4G artificial playing surface to allow community use and facilities will be developed in partnership with UTC Sheffield – University Technical College.

Former Sheffield MP and sports minister, Richard Caborn, has been one of the driving forces behind the Olympic Legacy Park project.

Background:

• The Don Valley athletics stadium was demolished last year (2013) as part of council budget clubs.

• Sheffield Hallam University currently manages Sheffield's Woodbourn Road stadium - the replacement athletics site for Don Valley. The Woodbourn Road site was initially closed in 2011 but Sheffield City Council redeveloped it to become the new home for athletics in the city.