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  • 26/05/13
  • 6°C to 18°C Sunny
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    Monday 27 May

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Slideshow: Sneak peak inside Leeds Arena

  • by Aisha Iqbal
 

It’s due to host some of the biggest names in showbusiness when it finally opens its doors in the summer.

But Leeds Arena played host to the people that really matter - the hundreds of workers who have helped build it.

The construction team and their families were invited to a special thank-you event, prior to the flagship 13,500-seat capacity venue being handed over to Leeds City Council in the coming weeks.

And as our preview pictures show, it’s a majestic sight both inside and out.

And ahead of the event - as workers finished off the painting and the massive post-construction clean-up process started - construction manager Gordon Alexander said the project has consumed his life for the past two years, but it’s been worth it.

“It’s going to be a good one for my CV!” he joked. “And it will be fantastic for Leeds.
“We are just in the final bits of painting on the lower floors and we are starting to clean the building down for the handover.

“The fit-out programme will then be completed before Bruce Springsteen turns up.

“Hundreds of people have worked on it, and it’s been a very interesting and hard construction phase.”

Last night’s celebratory event also raised money for Macmillan Cancer Care. A charity raffle included VIP tickets to see Elton John at the Arena.

Leeds City Council will soon hand over the reins to SMG Europe, who will be responsible for running the venue.

Councillor Richard Lewis, executive member responsible for economy and development, said: “The construction of the Leeds arena has been a great success with the project being delivered on time and on budget.

“The construction has seen contracts with 60 businesses from Leeds; created and safeguarded 220 jobs for Leeds residents and seen 90 apprentices work on the scheme.

“The venue is of great importance to Leeds, and I am delighted that so many Leeds businesses and workers have played such a key role in its construction.

“It is only right that these hard workers get to celebrate what a wonderful building they have helped to create and the event was a nice way to say thank you to those who have worked so hard whilst raising money for a good cause. “

Nigel McAvoy, senior site manager, said: “Everybody’s worked extremely hard.

“I’ll be happy to let other people see the fruits of our hard work. I will come [to see events], but we have seen it for 88 weeks, so we’ll let others enjoy it now I think!”

 
 
 

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