Former Lincoln City footballer Dan Hone is investing £250,000 in fulfilling his dream to create a purpose-built indoor football arena in the city.
And commercial agent Banks Long & Co is proud to have played a key role in helping Dan and his wife Stacey achieve their joint goal of making Active Arena a reality after leasing them the ideal premises on behalf of its client Lincolnshire Co-op.
Dan is thrilled to be progressing with the fit-out of the large complex behind the M&S store in Moorland Way, which promises to be great news for the wider community, as well as ardent football fans.
As well as Active Arena being home to Dan’s youngsters’ football programme, Kixx Lincoln, the centre will also be open for adult football lovers and the wider community to enjoy.
Dan, who already employs a mix of 18 full and part-timers across his business interest, is creating three extra full-time jobs with the opening of Active Arena.
“Active Arena has been two years in the planning. It’s something I have always wanted to do. It’s great to be filling a gap, because there is no purpose-built football venue of this kind around here. I had been searching for a long time for the right commercial unit,, capable of taking my expansive layout,” he said.
Conversion work at Active Arena is already underway. It includes changes to the mezzanine floor within the building to create two upper-floor adult five-a-side pitches. A junior five-a-side pitch is being created on the ground floor, along with a one-versus-one area.
“I’m really excited about our move because Kixx Lincoln, a football activity programme for children from 18 months to 10 years old, will be based here and we will also host community health and fitness sessions, walking football groups, holiday clubs, adult five-a-side football leagues in the evenings, and more,” added Dan.
“Our facilities will be available for private hire and corporate events and our Sports Café & Bar will be open for users and visitors. The bar will also show live sporting events on big screens.”
Banks Long & Co Associate Director James Hall said: “We are delighted to have acted for Lincolnshire Co-op in leasing the Moorland Way warehouse to Dan and Stacey. It is great news that it is going to be put to wider community use and we wish them both the very best for the future.”
