Music fans want the opening night of the new Leeds concert arena to be a real hometown affair.
The Yorkshire Evening Post held an online poll last week asking readers who they would like to see raise the curtain at the £60m venue.
And, from a shortlist of five, Leeds indie rockers Kaiser Chiefs ran out the overwhelming winners.
They grabbed 52 per cent of the vote, way ahead of nearest challenger Beyonce, who scored 17 per cent.
Last week’s poll marked the start of the one-year countdown to the date when the arena should be complete and capable of staging its first gigs.
The other acts on the YEP’s unofficial shortlist were Sir Paul McCartney (15 per cent), Take That (14 per cent) and One Direction (two per cent).
Many people leaving comments online, however, said they were keen for The Who to do the honours on opening night.
A popular idea among those fans was for Roger Daltrey and co to perform a track-by-track recreation of their classic Live at Leeds album, which was recorded at the University of Leeds’s Refectory venue in 1970.
Ian De-Whytell, boss of Leeds-based Crash Records and a long-time champion of the arena scheme, said today: “I can understand why people would vote for Kaiser Chiefs and The Who.
“Perhaps the obvious answer is to have them both play on a spectacular opening night.
“They could maybe each cover one of the other band’s songs in their set.
“I’m sure The Who could do a decent version of I Predict A Riot!”
Work on the 13,500-capacity city council-backed arena got under way in earnest last May at Clay Pit Lane, near the Merrion Centre.
The final decision on who will play the venue’s first night is down to its operator, entertainment giant SMG Europe.
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