Police probe fraud claim at SMG Europe

POLICE are investigating allegations of a major fraud at SMG Europe, the operator of the Manchester Arena, TheBusinessDesk.com can reveal.

There have been no arrests yet, and inquiries are ongoing, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said.

GMP said:  “On 15 October 2014 police received an allegation of fraud. An investigation has been launched and enquiries are ongoing.”

The Manchester-based group, which is a subsidiary of US venue specialist SMG, operates arenas in Poland and Germany, as well as in Newcastle, York, Belfast, Scunthorpe and Leeds.
 
The company was not available for comment at the time of publication.

No mention of any alleged financial irregularities were made in the company’s 2014 accounts publised last week.

The business is looking for a new naming rights partner for the Manchester venue, which after London’s O2 is the second busiest in the world.

It is said to have contributed more than £3bn to the Greater Manchester economy in the 20 years it has been open.

SMG Europe has a new senior management team after the departures of long-serving chief executive John Sutherland and finance director Alan Robinson within the last two years.