The new £14 million Middleton Arena combined existing leisure facilities under one roof in its first year of operation. Usage increased 114% from the previous facilities, with 619,679 total visits in 2009. The arena featured a variety of sports and fitness facilities, and offered free swimming which accounted for 50.4% of swims. Membership targets were exceeded, with the arena contributing 59.3% of fitness income to the local Link4Life organization. A variety of community health and sports programs engaged over 1,000 new participants in its first year.

1. Middleton Arena - Year One

2. £14 million State of the Art Facility Combined the old Leisure Centre, Swimming Pool & Civic Centre under one roof. 7300m 2 Arena Funded By Tesco as part of Middleton Town Centre Redevelopment All existing staff transferred over with the creation of more than 10 new posts Middleton Arena - Facilities

3. 25m x 13m Competition Swimming Pool 13m x 6m Learning and Family Pool 4 Court Sports Hall 2 Squash Courts SHOKK Youth Gym Large Dance Studio 90 Station Fitness Centre Middleton Arena - Facilities

4. Stage Based Auditorium – Seating 500 Lower Lounge Bar Upper Auditorium Main Foyer Upper Bar Meeting Rooms Spacious Dressing Rooms Middleton Arena - Facilities

5. Arena – Opened 4 th January 2009

6. Usage Figures 2009 Jan - March April - Jun July - Aug Oct - Dec Total 2008 82514 69979 61813 74804 289,110 2009 167,973 161,753 153,255 136,698 619,679 114.34%

7. 114% Increase In Usage

8. 230,000 Fitness Visits 37% Of Usage = Fitness Centre Visits

9. Swimming (76175 visits) – 99.1% increase Swimming Increasing Swimming Comparison with 2008 (Jan – Dec) Age Group 2008 2009 +/- % 0-4 2067 7171 5104 246.9% 4-15 14930 33228 18298 122.6% Adult 16151 25579 9428 58.4% Adult PTL & 60+ 5106 10197 5091 99.7% Total 38254 76175 37921 99.1%

10. Swimming Breakdown 53% Junior Swims 47% Adult Swims

11. 76175 swims in 2009, 38429 (50.4%) Free Swims Impact Of Free Swimming Arena Free Swims - 2009 (Apr 09 – Dec 09) Age Group Usage % 0-4 5249 9.4% 5-11 15728 28.1% 12-15 9009 16.1% 16 years 815 1.5% Over 60’s 7628 13.6% Adult - Paid 16843 30.1% Adult PTL - Paid 735 1.3% Total 56007

12. Fitness Membership Monthly direct debit income has increased by £49000

13. Fitness Membership Levels * not including Commissioned Members Membership Target of 2700 exceeded within 3 months

14. Arena contributes 59.3% of Link4Life’s Fitness Income Fitness Membership Income

15. Commissioned Memberships In Partnership with the NHS. The Arena has accommodated a number of ‘free’ memberships though a Weight Management Scheme and GP Referral Scheme. The scheme targets those with health and weight problems from disadvantaged areas. Over 600 have enrolled on the scheme in 2009. Currently 228 ‘live’ funded members A study in Sept 2009 showed of 484 who had taken part in the scheme 102 were from 3% and 10% Super Output Areas within the Township. This accounts for 21.1% of the funded memberships.

16. Sports Development During the first year of operation, Middleton Arena employed a SPAA funded Sports Development Officer, part of whose work was to Widen Access and Develop a Sporting Infrastructure in Middleton. The work led to a throughput of 2544 visits from 761 New To Sport participants. 314 children attended the Summer Holiday Sports Programme of which the attendance was 803 . Encouragingly 236 of the 314 participants were new to sport.

17. 2009 Events

18. Auditorium Usage Auditorium Usage - 2009 Area Jan - Mar Apr - Jun Jul - Sept Oct - Dec Main Auditorium 13093 17445 7940 19689 Upper Auditorium 1487 824 441 679 Lower Lounge Bar 1033 970 816 541 Upper Bar 851 316 437 252 Dressing Rooms 95 700 240 Total 16559 19555 10334 21401 67849

19. Year One Summary 619,679 Visits In 2009 (289,110 in 2008) Usage Increased by 114% 230,000 Fitness Centre Visits Monthly Fitness Direct Income Increase by £49,000 76,175 Swims In Arena Pools (not including Fitness Member Swims) 38,429 Free Swims as part of Free Swim

20. Year One Summary Swimming Increases By 99.1% 32,345 Fitness Class usage 7,292 Squash Court usage 12,280 visits to the Sports Hall 2,105 SHOKK Gym session use 67,849 Auditorium related visits. Income of £1,492,600 forecast

21. Further Info: Contact Nathan Matley Business, Systems and Performance Manger Link4Life nathan.matley@link4life.org