Sports Direct to take five floors at Manchester Arndale
Set to open this winter, the new store will see the sports retailer double its footprint at the shopping centre.
Sports Direct currently sits on 29,000 sq ft on the lower ground floor of the Manchester Arndale. Under its new 15-year lease, it will move to the 58,500 sq ft BHS space. The vast majority of that space (50,000 sq ft) will be sales floor.
The flagship store will include a variety of brands, including USC, Evans Cycles, and Game. It will also have a Belong esports arena.
Sports Direct is owned by Frasers Group, whose head of property, James France, described the new Manchester store as “one of our most advanced to date”.
France added that the Arndale store would “bring to life the Sports Direct brand in a physical space, enabling consumers to engage in an innovative shopping experience first-hand.”
Metis Real Estate and Time Retail Partners are the retained letting agents for the Manchester Arndale, which is owned by M&G Real Estate. CBRE advised Frasers Group on the deal.
James Keany, CBRE executive director of UK retail, said: “The opening of another flagship store demonstrates the continued confidence in physical retail and the role they play in building and maintaining a strong brand presence.  We look forward to working with our long-standing client, Frasers Group as they look to expand further with more Sports Direct flagship stores in major city centres.”
M&G portfolio director, Scott Linard, shared how the Sports Direct lease reflected the strength of physical retail.
“Despite the challenges faced by the retail industry over the past few years, Manchester Arndale has remained resilient throughout the pandemic, completing 25 new leases throughout 2020 and 2021,” Linard said.
“We are therefore delighted that Sports Direct has not only chosen to commit its long-term future to the centre, but also double the size of its store. This demonstrates the confidence that major retailers have in Manchester Arndale as every year it attracts millions of visitors from across the North West and beyond thanks to its prime city centre location, excellent transport links, and its eclectic mix of leisure operators, F&B providers, and international brands.”
A proper shop
By Tannoy
Will do well in Manchester this. Superdry next?
By Scouse S
Manchester city centre needs a Muji, H&M Home, Arket.
By Meeseeks
Suggests to me that prime retail rents in Manchester may have taken a hit.
By Jeff
The Arndale is such a depressing place inside and out and, in my opinion, is a real blight on the city centre and deterrent of investment, particularly in retail areas outside the shopping centre. I was hoping we’d see it progressively redeveloped and opened out rather than it’s flaws simply being consolidated.
By Arnold Dale
I’d say prime retail rates everywhere have taken a hit . Even before covid retail space was under pressure from online retailers and big department stores were closing. Still, things change and Manchester retail will probably thrive again as it always does.
By Anonymous
Interesting – they’re launching this same grouping of their stores/brands up at The Fort (tech. Cheetham Hill Retail Park side).
By Anon
I one hundred percent agree with @arnold as arndale is such a depressing place to shop around. The vibe I get from there isn’t the same as when I go shopping in perhaps the trafford centre or even places such as Westfield in london.
Arndale needs to step up its game and have a new refurbishment throughout that will make people want to shop there and for investors wanting to open their shops there.
By Anonymous