The new Leeds Arena could host Davis Cup tennis and some of the biggest names in rock and classical music when it opens next year.
SMG Europe, the company that will operate the 13,500 capacity arena, plans to launch the venue with a season of performances from world class acts in September 2013.
Yesterday (Sept 25) Leeds City Council, Marketing Leeds and representatives from SMG Europe, which also operates the Manchester Arena, outlined the benefits that the arena would bring to Leeds.
It’s estimated that the arena will provide a £25m boost for the local economy, by attracting more visitors to the city.
Ben Williams, the new general manager of Leeds Arena, said yesterday: “We are in constant contact with promoters and agents. We’re looking to put forward a series of events which will reflect the diverse range of entertainment that will be on offer at the arena. We’re looking at rock, pop, family entertainment, comedians, and classical artists.
“It will be world-class entertainment but we can’t be specific just yet. It will be the first time people in Leeds will have been able to see shows of this scale in their own city. ”
He added: “The arena is a very flexible space and will be able to stage some, although not all, sporting events.
“We can put the retractable seats back and move the floor seating around. We can accommodate tennis, so we’re in conversations with the Davis Cup for example, about hosting tennis at Leeds Arena and some of our other arenas.
“We could also put on basketball, with the Harlem Globetrotters for example.
“We’re talking about sport entertainment, so there’s also the potential for wrestling and boxing. On an event day, there will be around 300 people making shows happen. A lot of those positions will be entry level jobs. We’re already working with Leeds City Council to look at job specifications.”
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