July 8, 2020 5.06 pm This story is over 44 months old

Ex Lincoln City player ready to open indoor football arena

The Sports Bar inside will open this month

Former Lincoln City player Danny Hone has already tasted football success at Wembley during his career, and he will be hoping for business glory when he opens an indoor arena in the city this summer.

After the end of his playing career three seasons ago, the 30-year-old started a football franchise for kids called Kixx Lincoln, and now he is getting ready to launch a new venture – Active Arena – with his wife Stacey.

Danny invested £250,000 to create Active Arena – a purpose-built indoor football arena for adults, children and the wider community to enjoy.

It will create three new full-time jobs and is located at the Moorland Centre Retail Park, behind the M&S food store on Moorland Way off Tritton Road.

The main adult pitch at Active Arena. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Active Arena is located at the Moorland Centre Retail Park. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The Sports Bar will open for the first time from 4pm-10pm on Friday, July 10 and the completed football pitches are ready and will open once government guidance allows them to do so.

Active Arena will feature two adult indoor five-a-side pitches, one junior pitch, a fun one-on-one pitch, the sports cafe and bar and a party room across two floors.

Danny Hone inside the Sports Bar at Active Arena, which will open on July 10. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

There are two adult pitches, one junior pitch and a one-one-one pitch. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

It is priced at £35 per hour for the main adult pitch and £30 for the second adult pitch. The junior pitch will cost £25 an hour. Children under 18 can book for £2 per person at weekends.

Five-a-side football leagues will also run from the venue. People/teams can register their interest in booking the facility or to join a league by clicking here.

Active Arena will feature two adult indoor five-a-side pitches, one junior pitch, a fun one-on-one pitch, the sports cafe and bar and a party room across two floors. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Danny made close to 100 appearances for the Imps during 2007-2012 and, before the end of his playing career he won the FA Trophy with North Ferriby at Wembley in 2015. He also played for Halifax, Gainsborough, Darlington and Barrow.

He stopped playing three seasons ago and is looking forward to opening, starting with the bar on Friday, and he believes the quality of the astro turf pitches is the “best in Lincoln”.

Danny Hone is getting ready to launch Active Arena with his wife Stacey. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Danny told The Lincolnite: “I achieved my dream of playing at Wembley and I didn’t want that to just carry on and peter out, so it was a good time for me to leave [playing football].

“Football is in your blood and, as much as you have good and bad experiences of it, it stays with you. There is a massive demand for football locally and we want to continue that and support that.

“We are really excited. It’s been two years from the start until now. It’s been a rollercoaster with a sprinkling of COVID-19 chucked in the mix.

“There’s been a few sleepless nights, but the hard work has paid off and we are just really excited to open our doors to the public and let them experience and enjoy it.”

Inside the Sports Bar. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Watch live football at the Sports Bar at Active Arena. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The junior pitch. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The one-on-one pitch. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The Sports Bar will open 12pm-10pm seven days a week. It will start showing live televised football from the opening weekend, with matches to be listed on the venue’s website.

Once they are given the go ahead to open, the football pitches will be available for people between 10am-10pm Monday to Friday and 9am-10pm at weekends.

Inside the changing rooms at Active Arena. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Active Arena will be hoping to shoot to success. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Active Arena has a range of facilities. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Get your football fix at Active Arena. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

In the future, Danny hopes to add in some pool tables and ten pin bowling lanes.