first direct ARENA LEEDS

Our team worked with Leeds City Council to bring the vision of an arena in Leeds to reality.

Our team was initially appointed in 2004 to undertake a city-wide feasibility study considering the need for all types of music facilities across the city, including concert hall, arena and mid-scale venues. A key recommendation of the feasibility study was to develop a large-scale arena.

We subsequently developed a delivery plan, including recommendations on site selection, procurement, funding and implementation. Our innovative package of funding and procurement proposals were integral in the successful delivery of the arena.

We managed the operator procurement process, resulting in the appointment of SMG as operator tenant in 2008.

The 13,300-capacity arena features a ‘supertheatre’ design and opened to tremendous reviews in the Summer of 2013.

During the course of the project, we also provided a range of other support to the Council including: an economic impact assessment and support for funding bids to Government, preparation of a casino licence bid and associated economic and social impact studies and analysis of additional conference and exhibition uses.