Sports retailer takes over Stubbs Mill

FANATICS, the e-commerce retailer of licensed sports merchandise is to move Fanatics into the 25,000 sq ft Stubbs Mill in New Islington in one of the biggest office deals in Manchester this year.

The international arm of Fanatics, which formerly operated as Kitbag until it was bought by the American sports licensing giant in February, will use the move to develop a new base that will further its expansion plans across all areas of the business.

The news comes as Urban Splash completes the restoration of Stubbs Mill, which was constructed between 1880 and the early 20th century and originally made machines for industry.

Fanatics CEO Andy Anson said: “This is a fantastic development for the company, its staff and for the city of Manchester. We needed to move to accommodate our aggressive growth plans but it was incredibly important to us that we stayed true to our roots and remained in Manchester.

“Moving closer to the city centre means we’ll be right at the heart of Manchester’s commercial and tech resources and the choice of Stubbs Mill means we’ll be operating from one of the coolest environments that any e-commerce business could wish for.”

Urban Splash director Nathan Cornish said: “Stubbs Mill was a bold and brave move for us; it’s on the periphery of the city centre and in an area that has only recently been established. It would’ve been an easy move to turn it into apartments but we thought we could make it work commercially, thus bringing hundreds more people into New Islington. Fanatics will greatly add to mix of uses community here.”

Urban Splash said it will now continue its work on the broader regeneration of New Islington with the development of Mansion hoUSe, a modular apartment concept currently in for planning. Earlier this year the company announced it had completed and fully sold out all of its 43 modular hoUSes which are just a few minutes’ walk from Stubbs.

“This year’s been pivotal for New Islington,” added Cornish. “Urban Splash has completed hoUSe, welcoming new residents into every single unit and now we’ve completed and let Stubbs Mill. Add to that the opening of the permanent building for the New Islington Free School and the area’s very much on the Manchester map; it changes every time you visit.”

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