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Football could be coming home to Sheffield in the UK, following an application to develop an immersive football experience in a disused timber depot in the city
Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 06 Jul 2023
Yard Ball aims to reintroduce visitors to the sport in a fun, positive and inclusive environment Credit: Yard Ball
A new immersive football experience in Sheffield, UK, is currently in the planning stages, after an application was submitted to redevelop a former timber depot in the northern city.
The plans, if approved, will see the depot undergo a £1m (US$1.3m, €1.2m) transformation to become the country’s first Yard Ball venue.
Aiming to reintroduce visitors to the sport in a “fun, positive and inclusive environment”, Yard Bell strips the game back to its most basic form - street football - and encourages players to enjoy the game with no pressure or judgement.
The 50,000sq ft (4,645sq m) experience will offer a host of football-themed activities, including shooting against garage doors, playing ‘kerby’ and ‘top bin’ in an immersive street scene, as well as a new take on the ‘crossbar challenge’.
Visitors will also be able to fire footballs at strategically placed targets, such as pub signs, ice cream vans and bin chutes.
In addition, the venue will offer food and beverages themed around major historical football tournaments, such as tacos inspired by Mexico ‘86, pizza and pasta from Italia ‘90 and fish and chips or pie and peas from Euro ‘96.
“One-man Wembley, spot, kerby – the games we all played as kids are back. Anyone who played football as a child knows the feeling of practicing their skills on the street, car park or field,” said a Yard People spokesperson.
“While football is a multi-billion-pound industry, for us it’s simply a sport and sport is first and foremost about enjoyment. Early memories of football are what shape our future relationships with it. Those fortunate enough to grow up in a period where we created memories on our own doorstep know football is about expression, not pressure.
“By stripping back football to what it should be - fun with a ball, with your mates or family - Yard Ball will provide a much-needed escape from the pressures of modern-day football and provide new and exciting opportunities to create memories that will last a lifetime.”
If permission is granted, redevelopment work will begin in the autumn, with Yard Ball expected to open in early 2024.
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