Founded in 1997, the company acted as an acquisitions vehicle to buy a number of UK racecourses and leisure interests, also spanning golf courses and hotels, and joint ventures with a 47.85% stake in TV channel At The Races. The hotels were all leased to major hotel chains.[1]
Arena became dominant in the UK horse racing industry by adapting three of its tracks - Lingfield Park, Southwell and Wolverhampton - to artificial surfaces,[2] giving it 3 of the 4 of the UK's all weather tracks. These could be utilised throughout the year and in different weather conditions, increasing usage and hence revenue.
Having built up a 29.9% stake in the company, the second largest behind race horse owner Trevor Hemmings with 40%,[3] after approval from the Office of Fair Trading that there was no need to refer the proposed bid to the Competition Commission,[4] in April 2012 Reuben Brothers bought Arena Leisure. The company was then merged with the brothers' existing holding in Northern Racing to create the Arena Racing Company, otherwise known as ARC.[5]
Race Courses
The following racecourses were owned/leased by Arena Leisure
