Trafford Palazzo, one of the North West’s leading shopping and leisure destinations owned by Peel Retail & Leisure, has secured Sports Direct as its latest occupier on a long-term agreement.
The leading sport retailer, part of Frasers Group plc, will be opening a new 40,000sq ft store in Trafford Palazzo, Manchester.
Set to open early 2025, Sports Direct Trafford boasts the world’s leading sports and leisure brands, including Nike, adidas, Puma, and ASICS as well as feature specialist sporting areas set out for running, football, and outdoor, across men’s, women’s and kidswear.
Set across two floors, the store will house more brands from Frasers Group’s ecosystem including USC, GAME and Jack Wills.
Sports Direct will be taking a premium footfall location within Trafford Palazzo located at the entrance to the link bridge that connects to The Trafford Centre.
The prominent location in Trafford Palazzo has benefitted from an annual footfall of five million and with the additional experiential leisure offerings opening since Peel Retail & Leisure acquired the site, footfall is growing annually and currently already up by 10% year-on-year.
On top of creating jobs for the local economy, a long-term lease has also been agreed between the two parties giving longevity to Sports Direct’s intentions at Trafford Palazzo.
Mark Whittaker, managing director at Peel Retail & Leisure, said: “This is a significant signing for Trafford Palazzo and a brand that continues to have real pull with consumers. Through a clear strategy of transforming Trafford Palazzo into a destination that delivers experiences as well as selective shopping, we have secured a unique mix of occupiers who are delivering flagship and new concept stores, which in turn is boosting our visitor numbers.
“Our vision is to attract best in class operators, and we have no doubt Sports Direct’s new concept will enhance and complement our offering in both the centre and the wider TraffordCity destination.”
A spokesperson for Frasers Group commented, “We are pleased to be opening a new 40,000 sq. ft Sports Direct store, located in Trafford Palazzo. The store will offer customers the world’s best sports and lifestyle brands, as well as bring other brands from Frasers Group’s ecosystem, including USC, GAME and Jack Wills, to the location.”
Trafford Palazzo, situated at the heart of the thriving TraffordCity, offers 350,000 sq. ft of retail and leisure space, with anchor tenants such as Primark, Sealife and Legoland being recently joined by up-and-coming brands and experiences, including NERF AX, King Pins and soon-to-open Archie’s Atomic.
Trafford Palazzo also boasts strong connections with Greater Manchester’s efficient tram system as well as the North West’s most utilised motorway network, making it an ideal destination for both brands and consumers alike.
