Steel City Stadium has launched a new sports café concept, providing players, supporters and visitors with a relaxed, sociable space to enjoy before, during and after matches.
Open daily to the public, the café offers a professional yet informal environment throughout the week, with a performance-focused menu delivered by Sheffield-based Food Fusion. On evenings and weekends, when the pitch is in use for professional fixtures or community bookings, the space adopts a flexible matchday format, with live sport on screen, a focused menu tailored for supporters, and room for fans, families and teams to come together around the action.
Inclusive matchday experience
Whether backing Sheffield Eagles RLFC, cheering on Barnsley FC Ladies, or taking part in grassroots sport, visitors can now enjoy a more welcoming and inclusive matchday experience, one that reflects the Park’s broader focus on community, wellbeing and participation.
The café sits alongside the Stadium’s floodlit, professional-quality 3G pitch and covered grandstand with capacity for 2,044 spectators, seating and standing. These facilities are available for evening and weekend hire by local clubs, leagues, schools and community groups, expanding access to high-quality sport in a managed, professional environment.
The sports café concept forms part of Scarborough Group International’s (SGI) continued investment into Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, where it is the Council’s official development partner. As part of a wider regeneration programme, the Park brings together elite sport, applied research, health innovation and education, supported by over £180 million in public sector investment and home to organisations such as the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Canon Medical Arena and the soon-to-open National Centre for Child Health Technology.
Part of SGI’s ongoing investment
To date, SGI has invested more than £10 million in Steel City Stadium, including a further £500,000 to activate the ground floor by introducing the new café and coworking lounge for founders, SMEs and corporates working across health, sport and technology. Stadium Workspace, which also features serviced office suites on the first floor and traditional office space on the second, is powered by Sheffield Technology Parks which provides sector-specific support, expert guidance and access to a growing network of innovators.
Joseph Udall, Operations Director at Steel City Stadium, said:
“We’ve always seen Steel City Stadium as more than just a venue, it’s a catalyst for participation, innovation and community at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. The sports café concept is a small but important step in realising that vision, helping to activate the Stadium beyond the standard working week and making it a more engaging, accessible place for everyone who uses it, whether they’re playing, supporting or part of the wider business community.
“We trialled the format at a recent Sheffield Eagles fixture against York Knights and were really encouraged by how positively it was received, supporters stayed longer, used the space throughout the game, and gave us some great feedback on the offer. It’s a simple change, but one that adds real value to the matchday experience.”
A welcoming place to meet, work or recharge
During the week, the café plays a central role in the daily life of the Stadium Workspace community, as well as serving students, researchers and neighbouring businesses, offering a welcoming place to meet, work or recharge.
The sports café complements the Park’s wider ambition to create an open, community-focused destination, providing a flexible, family-friendly setting that connects people through sport and shared experiences. It also continues to show a range of live sport throughout the week, helping to keep the Stadium active and connected beyond fixture times.
