Pinsent Masons advises Manchester Storm on return to AO Arena

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons is advising Manchester Storm on its move to the AO Arena, helping secure the UK ice hockey club's return to the arena it last called home in 2002.

Led by Scott Oxley, the Pinsent Masons team is advising the owners and leadership of the Storm on all aspects of the arena move and will continue the relationship as sole legal providers to the team's owners, Emma and Ryan Finnerty. 

Ice hockey is a fast-growing sport across the UK, attracting 1.25 million spectators last season, and the move to a larger-capacity arena follows the Storm's success in reaching the playoffs during the 2025/26 season. 

Manchester is a true sporting city, so it's a privilege to advise the owners of Manchester Storm on their move home to the AO Arena.

Having invested in our own premises in Manchester last year, we are firmly committed to supporting businesses across the city in unlocking the next chapter of their growth. As ice hockey continues to grow in popularity, we look forward to advising the Storm and its Community Interest arm, Storm in the Community, on the momentum that this new chapter will no doubt bring.

Pinsent Masons' Head of Manchester, Neil Black

With the season getting underway, we're delighted to be facing off in our new home. The Pinsent Masons team has provided invaluable advice as we relocated, ensuring we're well placed to start the season at the newly refurbished AO Arena. We look forward to having them as our sole legal providers in what's set to be an exciting year for the Storm and ice hockey in the UK more broadly.

Commenting on Pinsent Masons' advice, Mananging Director of Manchester Storm, Emma Finnerty