Sheffield Utd signs Las Vegas Sands deal

Sheffield United plc has announced it has signed a deal with Las Vegas Sands Inc to co-develop an entertainment complex behind the Laver Stand at the clubs's stadium, located in Bramall Lane.

Las Vegas Sands, which is owned by US gambling entrepreneur Sheldon Adelson, is also developing a casino and entertainment complex with Glasgow Rangers FC.

The complex will consist of a casino, a hotel, retail outlets, leisure facilities and underground car parking.

The club, currently third in the first division of the Nationwide League, also posted an interim operating loss before player amortisation and exceptional items of £0.3m (€0.45m) against loss of £1.1m (€1.65m).

Sales for the period were £6.2m (€9.31m) against £4.7m (€7.05m), while the pre-tax loss was unchanged at £1.3m (€1.95m).

Average crowds were up 24% to 20,438, with season ticket sales up 34% to 13,000.

Sheffield United Chairman, Kevin McCabe, said: "We continue to carefully manage the difficult financial problems that face the football industry and utilise our resources to compete both on and off the pitch."