Over the next two nights, the University of Sheffield will compete against Sheffield Hallam for the Winter Varsity trophy.
Tonight sees the competition get underway at the Ski Village with the ski and snowboard events. The action will then transfer to Sheffield Arena for the final ice hockey match on Saturday afternoon.
That match promises to be the biggest single sporting event in Sheffield this year with reported ticket sales somewhere in the region of 3000.
The move to the Arena has been organised in partnership with Sheffield Steelers, the city’s professional ice hockey team.
Union Sports Officer Kate Rickard praised the Steelers’ organisation.
“I am excited about this weekend’s events and a lot of that is credit to the Steelers, especially Mike O’Connor and Amanda Hilary.
“Everything has gone pretty smoothly in the build up to the event.”
Club Sport manager Andy Cox was also keen to praise the Steelers.
“It has been good to work with the Steelers and start a partnership with them. We already work with both Sheffield United and Wednesday, so it’s a good to start another relationship with another major sport in the city.”
The move to the Arena for the ice hockey finale has excited many groups within the University, according to Rickard.
“It is encouraging for us all that the event has been embraced by so many societies, residences and departments.
“I’m sure that the wide range of support we have got is going to make the difference come the weekend’s events.”
Cox said: “It has become an event as well as just a game of ice hockey.
“There are a number of buses going down from the residences and ticket sales are looking good.”
The move has also raised the profile of the event significantly, with adverts being seen across the city.
Cox said: “It is definitely a bigger profile for the event. Being at the Arena we can handle much higher numbers than we have done in recent years.
“I am confident that everything will go well.”
Rickard said: “I am looking forward to this weekend being the biggest and the best Winter Varsity that we have ever seen.”
Cox was a little more circumspect in his views.
“I just hope that we have a really good game for everyone who is going down.”
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