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YOUR VIEWS:

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As stated we are the only major city not to have an arena. But we do badly need one, but an arena to cater for all types of music. As to the citing in Claypit Lane area I would be against this. Parking in the centre of Leeds or near Claypit Lane is poor, even with the multi storeys. What is needed is an area similar to the Millenium Dome 02 Building in London with vast car parking, and public transport networks. What about land on the A!/M1 Link with easy access off the motorway.?

Angela Stocks

Leeds LS15


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Will this arena make a profit?
Shouldn't LCC be more concerned about the health of the population, and leave the entertainment venues for the private companies.

Nigel

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What a pathetic response from Sheffield. How petty and childish can they get? Are they afraid of a little competition? Are there not enough live acts to fill both arenas every weekend? I am unable to recall the complaints by Leeds over cash allocated to Sheffield to build its tram network. What goes around comes around in my view.

Steve Pearce


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Fantastic decision, at last some joined up thinking from LCC. You only have to look at the difference between Sheffields arena and Manchester's one is in a fantastic postion to get access from the Motorway, therefore you have no interest in going into the city centre and spending money on hotels etc. The other is city centre, walking distance. good accessibility on foot, with plenty of ready made amenties.

Andy R

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Sheffield have had a concert venue for years now, we saw Disney On Ice there very good, but Leeds is a major city in the north without an arena, pretty embarrassing really, so now it's our turn. I don't think people should worry because I am pretty sure that Kylie would add Sheffield Arena to her tour schedule as well as Leeds, because it's more money for her isn't it...
Richard L

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An Arena in Leeds will NOT harm Sheffield, why on earth would it? Manchester Evening News Arena doesn't hurt Sheffield does it, and whilst yes it's in Lancashire not in Yorkshire, you only have to look at how fast the bands that play these venues and the shows they put on sell out to see that another Arena would only be good for the Country as a whole!!!! Why do other parts of Yorkshire moan at each other when something good happens??? it's pathetic, Sheffield has a very good Rock Club that put on some fantastic gigs that our Rock Club here in Leeds doesn't and vice versa so it can only be the same with an Arena surely???
I think Sheffield need to pull their necks in and see that this is a good opportunity for Leeds and not be so begrudging!!!
Yes people of Leeds may not travel to Sheffield to the Arena if a band/show they want to see is on at the Leeds Arena but there will be people travelling from the length and bredth of the country to Sheffield so why are they so worried?
I personally have been waiting since I was in my 20's for Leeds to get a decent Arena in order that I could just jump on a bus to go and see the likes of Motley Crue, Slipknot, Machine Head etc instead of having to get the coach to Sheffield/Manchester/Nottingham and wait around until the early hours of the morning to travel back on the coach or pay the extra expense of a hotel. Not everyone in the country drives a car, I don't, so it's a very costly hobby for me and my husband to go to gigs in Manchester and Sheffield, particularly when there are no trains during the night from Sheffield back to Leeds, at least with Manchester we have trains that run in the night.
So Sheffield shut up moaning and let Leeds share the gift of an Arena!
Denese, Leeds

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I believe that it is about time Leeds had its own concert venue - as the major city in Yorkshire and the only major city in the country not to boast such a facility I can see no logic in the argument put forward by Sheffield politicians.
Indeed, I am sure that the revenue generated by the introduction of a world class venue can only be good for the region, and the local economy.
Sue Harrison, Southampton

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Leeds Council has its priorities all wrong.If you want to promote the City of Leeds in Europe if not the whole world with 30m quid , its not through an Arena, its through having a successful european football club. Ive lost count of the number of times in the distant past ive been asked around the world 'where are you from in the uk? ' on replying 'Leeds' the answer was 'ahh - Leeds United ! ' not 'ahh -Leeds Arena'
Milos, Brighouse

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Sheffield have had it there own way for years. Now let Leeds have a chance. If Sheffield continue, to moan. shut there place down.
Kenneth I

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Hardly - I wouldn't visit Sheffield or drag the kids there- LEEDS really needs this for our culture to be shared and for our younger generations to have the benefits of seeing their idols and the arena shows/attractions.
Nigel C

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It seems that to uninformed outsiders, ie most of the country outside Yorkshire, Leeds hardly rates on a national scale. With due respect I would submit that for sometime Leeds and its image have been losing ground compared with many other cities.

I am dismayed at the lack of publicity that the city manages to generate in the national media and it is certainly not punching its weight. An arena would be a step in the right direction to put that right and keep Leeds on the map.

A proper top rate concert arena is a must for any major city, and I am amazed that Leeds seems to be the only place in the whole country that hasn't got one.

Look at the national press at the weekend and you'll see many advertisements for events at long lists of lesser venue towns and cities with Leeds conspicuous by its absence.

As well as just a desirable facility for the people of Leeds, an arena is an essential ingredient of a modern version of Civic pride for which Leeds was once rightly famous and respected.

It is certainly time this was put right and I am delighted that apparently something is being done about it at long last.

While I would always wish Sheffield, as another fine Yorkshire city, well, I'm pretty certain that they have enjoyed a fair share of whatever support has been available, and that the Sheffield opposition to Yorkshire Forward being involved in the Leeds Arena cannot hold much water.
Brian Harvey, Chippenham, Wiltshire


I can appreciate what they are saying but as a regular concert goer I am fed up with all the travelling involved in seeing bands and artists. The arena and Don Valley Stadium at Sheffield are great but an arena for Leeds is long overdue. I think the residents of Leeds are a little tired of seeing investment in new facilities coming up in South Yorkshire and other cities of Britain including a modern up-to-date transport system whilst if we want to use this kind of facility we always have to travel.

However, these projects are funded whether by European funding or the state or bodies such as Yorkshire Forward we all have a right to have a modern facility like this providing culture, sport, music, business and pleasure exhibitions, animal and show facilities etc on a doorstep which, in essence, would serve the whole of West Yorkshire for its citizens now and those in the future.
Carol Judson

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This would be great news for the city and would benefit the local economy. Let's hope to see some great names/acts coming to Leeds in the near future instead of having to travel to Manchester/Sheffield and even further afield.
Alistair Roberts

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I live near to the proposed relocation site and think it is a tremendously poor idea – the traffic and parking in this area of the city is already a joke, and this proposal seems to take more parking away while producing a need for much more parking.
The streets near us are constantly full of people parking (mostly illegally) and our building has no parking even for residents. What sort of civic planning was involved in proposing to put an arena in that will put a huge stress on local traffic, parking, etc, while taking away some of the already meagre resources with no room to add needed access and parking?
Carly Rivers, North Street, Leeds