LONDON (ShareCast) - Arena Leisure said current trading is behind market expectations with attendances in 2008 to date lower than anticipated across all operating courses.
However, the racecourse operator still expects to trade ahead of last year and said total attendances have increased by 50% to around 120,000, thanks to the re-opening of Doncaster Racecourse.
“We remain cautious about the ongoing impact of the current economic situation on both consumer and corporate spending,” said chairman Raymond Mould.
“Although the year has not started as well as we had hoped and we are cautious about the ongoing impact of the current economic situation (…), I am confident that Arena is well placed to deliver on the exciting value enhancing opportunities in front of it and to continue to deliver a growing profit stream for its shareholders,” he added.
Arena also announced that it has appointed Antony Harris as new finance director. Harris, the former chief financial officer of Unite Group, will take up his new role on 1 May.
-1.00p
Update - 
