A worldwide sports brand has released plans to introduce a football museum which will create 200 jobs in the heart of the city centre.
‘Sheffield Rules’, a name that pays testament to the City’s invention of the sport will replace John Lewis on Barker’s Pool and will contain ‘have-a-go’ rooftop pitches.
The sports brand, that as of yet are remaining unnamed, will lead a consortium of smaller businesses in the South Yorkshire area and have drawn a multi-million-pound plan for the heart of the city.
Sheffield locals are happy with the news, Sheffield Wednesday supporter David Hague, aged 62, claimed: “it is important that the city’s role in the sport is remembered, and people will want to visit.”
Twenty-one-year-old Ross Parker who supports Sheffield United, praised the financial benefits of the museum.
He said: “The economic benefits to the city will be great, people will want to travel to Sheffield to visit this museum and hopefully it means other local businesses will see the rewards.”
Whilst the plans are not finalised yet, further details are scheduled to be announced in the new year, with other proposals yet to be considered.
The £100m plans also involve redeveloping the John Lewis car park into a residential tower.
John Lewis closed its doors in Sheffield for good in June, to the dismay of locals however, the council are keen to quickly replace the department store after appointing placemaking specialists in the summer.
There are stumbling blocks to a potential renovation of the site however, as it is rumoured that £10m worth of renovations to fix asbestos issues are required before any work on a new project can begin.
The term Sheffield rules refers to the invention of the sport in this very city. Sheffield FC are known as the world’s first football team and created and then played the sport including the first competitive tournament in 1867 under the original laws, known as ‘Sheffield Rules’.
These rules were in place for 19 years when in 1877 adaptations were made. Now 164 years later, Sheffield’s massive influence on the beautiful game is finally being acknowledged.
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