The First Direct Arena | Completed

[Leeds No.1]

Same- east of Quarry Hill isn't a bad site either IMO. If an arena was to be built any further out, I think that new transport links would have to be instated. For example, a site at Elland Road is good for road transport, but a new station, with good rail links to ease the already congested, at match times, M621, and bus shuttles.

[magicrealist]

It MUST be built next to Clarence Dock. Anyone with half a brain surely must realise that. Next to Elland Road would be a disaster.

Build it at CD and make the area a destination. Large numbers of pedestrians would head there providing impetus to the development of CD and surrounding areas. I think if they did the research into how 13,000 people would arrive at each site, CD and Quarry Hill would have the highest numbers of pedestrians. People who walk there will be more inclined to stop off on the way for a bite to eat or a drink. Cars will simply queue to get in and queue to get out.

We would have the NEC (in Brum) effect. Now, I'm not knocking the NEC but nobody EVER walks there. Yes, there is public transport but the vast majority of people who visit the NEC, drive (clogging up J6 M42/A45/M6 for miles around!).

Knit the arena into the fabric of the (expanding) City Centre itself and the whole of the City Centre will benefit.

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by magicrealist

Knit the arena into the fabric of the (expanding) City Centre itself and the whole of the City Centre will benefit.

The Harewood Quarter is being built to link up the city centre and Quarry Hill. If an arena was built around there it would contribute to the so-called 'cultural quarter' the council is keen to develop.
I've never liked the siting for LUFC games, i much prefer the closer proximity provided by Headingley; i'd be rather pissed off if i had to get a bus to go and see Status Quo.

[Leeds No.1]

(Different Article, similar detail)

Top five arena sites revealed
Council's feasibility study for £50m 13,000-seater venue for Leeds to be made public
Joanne Ginley
FIVE sites in Leeds would be an ideal venue for a proposed entertainment arena in the city, experts say.
Tomorrow a report by consultants hired to examine the options for creating a £50m complex will be made public for the first time. It flags up five sites which it says would be ideal because of transport links and other factors.
However, senior councillors are stressing that at the moment the sites are merely options, and a decision about where any arena would be is some time off.
The five locations for an arena are:
n Land near Leeds United's Elland Road ground;
n Shannon Street, east of Quarry Hill;
n Stourton North, immediately west of junction seven of the M621;
n Holbeck, south of Sweet Street;
n Carlisle Road, close to the Royal Armouries and Clarence Dock.
Consultants PMP were hired by Leeds City Council to investigate whether the city needed new concert facilities.
A summary of a report published by PMP last month, revealed public and business support of an arena venue with associated conference and exhibition facilities. It concluded investing in existing facilities at Leeds Town Hall was more affordable than building a new concert hall for classical music.
In a joint statement, Mark Harris, leader of Leeds City Council and Andrew Carter, deputy leader, said: "This is a good, objective and extremely through study. Its findings and the recommendations of the task group, which oversaw the study, will be considered by the council's executive board on November 16.
"We are grateful to the members of the task group for their work and are confident that we have the basis here to proceed, particularly on the arena for which there is a great deal of public support.
"There is still a lot of work to do before we are in a position to discuss the merits of different sites. In the meantime the consultation process continues and publication of the full report gives the public the opportunity to make further comment which we welcome."
The consultants looked at a number of other suitable sites for a 13,000-seater arena.
They concluded that a combination of an arena, upgraded town hall, and conference and exhibition facilities could be delivered across the city, encouraging it to move up a league and capitalise on its status as a regional capital.
The Leeds Initiative, the city's public-private strategic partnership, is carrying out a major consultation exercise on the arena plans.
As part of that process, PMP's full report will be made public for the first time tomorrow.
Copies can be inspected at Leeds Central Library, Leeds Civic Hall and the Leonardo Building on Rossington Street in the city centre, or at www.leedsinitiative.org/venue
joanne.ginley@ypn.co.uk
13 October 2005

[SmartCity]

Originally Posted by magicrealist

It MUST be built next to Clarence Dock. Anyone with half a brain surely must realise that. Next to Elland Road would be a disaster.

I agree totally. I really hope the council does not try and stall this, we all know where this project needs to be.

Another reason to locate it nearer to the centre would be that it would be close to the main hotel district on the city centre loop.

[MikeinLeeds]

Originally Posted by SMARTCITY

I agree totally. I really hope the council does not try and stall this, we all know where this project needs to be.

Another reason to locate it nearer to the centre would be that it would be close to the main hotel district on the city centre loop.

I hope this isn't about the City Council having a vested interest in the land at Elland Road. That site is TOTALLY unsuitable for an arena...it is so inaccesible by public transport and by anyone wanting to use any of the city centre facilities before or after an event.

It must be built within easy walking distance of the city centre, if the city as a whole is to benefit (and not just those with an interest in LUFC)

[SmartCity]

Originally Posted by MikeinLeeds

I hope this isn't about the City Council having a vested interest in the land at Elland Road. That site is TOTALLY unsuitable for an arena...it is so inaccesible by public transport and by anyone wanting to use any of the city centre facilities before or after an event.

It must be built within easy walking distance of the city centre, if the city as a whole is to benefit (and not just those with an interest in LUFC)

The site next to the LUFC ground will come in useful for something in the future, but not for this project.

Pehaps a theme park would be a good idea for the Elland Road site, given that it already hosts the Valentine Fair. Other cities in Europe have their own theme parks ie. Barcelona.

[Leeds No.1]

Isn't this the considered site for Leeds' supercasino if it happens (as Leeds was one of the cities that would get one if they were to go ahead, along with Blackpool, Birmingham and Croydon if I remember correctly).

[Stig282]

yep that's where there was going to be a well known architect designed casino!

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by magicrealist

It MUST be built next to Clarence Dock. Anyone with half a brain surely must realise that. Next to Elland Road would be a disaster.

Build it at CD and make the area a destination. Large numbers of pedestrians would head there providing impetus to the development of CD and surrounding areas. I think if they did the research into how 13,000 people would arrive at each site, CD and Quarry Hill would have the highest numbers of pedestrians. People who walk there will be more inclined to stop off on the way for a bite to eat or a drink. Cars will simply queue to get in and queue to get out.

We would have the NEC (in Brum) effect. Now, I'm not knocking the NEC but nobody EVER walks there. Yes, there is public transport but the vast majority of people who visit the NEC, drive (clogging up J6 M42/A45/M6 for miles around!).

Knit the arena into the fabric of the (expanding) City Centre itself and the whole of the City Centre will benefit.

Absolutely agree - if the council is truely dedicated to furthing the city's ambitions it must site any new arena / conference hall / concert venue / casino as close to the City Centre as possible. Leeds' road and transport links are fantastic and I do think that the M62, M621 and M1 make it one of the accessible cities in Britain. Clarence Dock would be the perfect location for the Arena.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by SMARTCITY

The site next to the LUFC ground will come in useful for something in the future, but not for this project.

Pehaps a theme park would be a good idea for the Elland Road site, given that it already hosts the Valentine Fair. Other cities in Europe have their own theme parks ie. Barcelona.

I think a theme park would be a superb idea, they are always out in the sticks but should be in main metropolitan centres, Elland Rd would be excellant as it is readily accesible for the whole region by motorway.

[Leeds No.1]

Yep I know exactly what you mean- wheres Leeds' nearest theme park? Lightwater Valley? ooh! A zoo would be excellent!

[Chris Silverwood]

Dear All,

Glad to see that the majority of you are supporting the idea of building the arena at Clarence Dock. We have spent a good deal of time and money in order to select the optimum location. At the start of the project our architects identified 23 sites, all of which had their relative merits, but Clarence Dock ticked every single box.

We have noted from reading the Leeds Initiative site that the public is being told that the deadline for submissions in the consultation process is November 30. Assuming that there will then be a period of time in which the submissions will be considered and summarised, this would suggest that we are unlikely to get a decison this side of Christmas.

We will continue to bide our time and ensure that as many people as possible are made aware that we are waiting in the wings, with a fully costed and funded proposal. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the users of this message board for their continued support and notes of encouragement.

Kindest regards,

Chris Silverwood & Patrick Nally

Leeds Arena Ltd
www.LeedsArena.com
e : chris.silverwood@leedsarena.com

[Leeds No.1]

I suppose like all large things it will take a few months to get through planning and whatever...

[Skychaser 2005]

Originally Posted by Chris Silverwood

Dear All,

Glad to see that the majority of you are supporting the idea of building the arena at Clarence Dock. We have spent a good deal of time and money in order to select the optimum location. At the start of the project our architects identified 23 sites, all of which had their relative merits, but Clarence Dock ticked every single box.

We have noted from reading the Leeds Initiative site that the public is being told that the deadline for submissions in the consultation process is November 30. Assuming that there will then be a period of time in which the submissions will be considered and summarised, this would suggest that we are unlikely to get a decison this side of Christmas.

We will continue to bide our time and ensure that as many people as possible are made aware that we are waiting in the wings, with a fully costed and funded proposal. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the users of this message board for their continued support and notes of encouragement.

Kindest regards,

Chris Silverwood & Patrick Nally

Leeds Arena Ltd
www.LeedsArena.com
e : chris.silverwood@leedsarena.com

...........The City of Leeds has waited for many many years for its own Arena, a few more months in consultation etc is not a long time when you consider the great benefits it will bring to our Citizens for a lifetime ahead. Good luck Chris- Clarence Dock is exactly where the Arena should be!

[Leeds No.1]

Trust casts doubt over funding for arena plan
Report questions if £20m plans to upgrade town hall 'are worth it'

Andrew Robinson
SERIOUS doubts have been raised about the feasibility of building a huge entertainment arena in Leeds.
A report out earlier this month concluded it would be possible to built a 13,000-seat arena for pop concerts at a cost of £50m but that the private sector would have to come up with up to £30m to make it happen.
Leeds Civic Trust has now questioned whether such an ambitious and costly arena will be possible. Trust members also raised doubts about plans to spend £20m upgrading Leeds Town Hall to a top-class concert venue.
Trust director Dr Kevin Grady, writing in the trust's October newsletter, said a report by consultants into the options raised many questions.
"Several of our developer corporate members are very sceptical about the assertion that a £20m-30m funding gap on an arena can be met by commercial means."
He is also not sure it is worth spending £20m on Leeds Town Hall.
"It is plausible that substantial further investment can 'upgrade Leeds Town Hall to a first-class symphonic music venue of international standing' and would it be worth spending up to £20m in an attempt to do so?"
The consultants' report concluded that Leeds also needed conference and exhibition facilities associated with an arena (either a 13,000 seater, or a smaller venue with 2,700 seats and 3,500 standing).
Dr Grady says the consultants apparently feared that a large Leeds exhibition centre might damage Harrogate.
He added: "Should Leeds restrict its ability to compete effectively with other big cities and to boost its own economy because of unsubstantiated speculation that it might damage Harrogate's economy?"
However, last night Dr Grady said that since writing the article he was now less concerned about the funding and more worried about where the arena will be built and if it would be "out of town" and come with shopping and other attractions.
It had to be a maximum of a 15-minute walk from the railway station, he says, to bring money into the city, which ruled out one of the preferred sites, Elland Road.
Dr Grady's comments in the newsletter were dismissed last night as "a little bit sour" by Councillor Andrew Carter, deputy leader of Leeds Council, who said he had made it "crystal clear" that the arena would not be an out-of-town development with a shopping centre attached.
He said a 13,000-seat arena was the top priority and was achievable. "The consultants show quite clearly that people who run concerts in these arenas believe the missing piece of the jigsaw is Leeds. We have a seven million population catchment area but of course the site has got to be right. There are 30 possible sites and nothing has yet been decided."
Coun Carter said an arena would be the easiest option to finance and would bring in £28m a year into the Leeds economy.
On the town hall plans, he said: "Only a further study will clarify what decisions have to be taken. We are very much at the start of the process. I have made it quite clear my priority is delivery of the arena."
A spokesman for the Cultural Facilities Taskgroup, which commissioned the consultants' report, said: "The Civic Trust raise some obvious questions, many of which the feasibility report answers. The trust's views will be a useful contribution to the current consultation. On the question of funding, the consultants have reported significant commercial interest and they also propose a number of funding routes. This is not to minimise the difficulties but the report is very positive. Our recommendations are nothing if not realistic about what can be achieved."
Details of the arena and town hall options can be foundatwww.leedsinitiative.org
andrew.robinson@ypn.co.uk
20 October 2005

Stupid Civic Trust. And I couldnt care less whether it damages Harrogate or not, and if it does, then Harrogate would be able to share in Leeds' economy because fo its proximity, and HarrogateKnaresborough can also promote itself as a tourist town too.

[Fred2]

I don't consider the Civic Trust to be stupid in this matter. It is the CT which is questioning this imaginary effect on Harogate. Why should Leeds have to consider that ?
I also agree with it concerning the Toiwn Hall. Throwing £20 million at it in the vain attempt to make it a worthwhile concert hall capable of competing - perhaps with the second division of concert halls (if there is such a thing!) - would be a waste of council taxpayers money.

[Leeds No.1]

I'd rather them put that £20m towards the Arena, or if not, towards another use, perhaps improving city centre streets which look a bit delapidated these days, such as Vicar Lane, The Headrow, New Briggate and Lower Briggate and Kirkgate.

[Simon22]

Originally Posted by Fred2

I don't consider the Civic Trust to be stupid in this matter. It is the CT which is questioning this imaginary effect on Harogate. Why should Leeds have to consider that ?
I also agree with it concerning the Toiwn Hall. Throwing £20 million at it in the vain attempt to make it a worthwhile concert hall capable of competing - perhaps with the second division of concert halls (if there is such a thing!) - would be a waste of council taxpayers money.

I agree that Leeds shouldn't care about Harrogate's conference centre, true some emloyment may be lost in Harrogate but the boom in Leeds over the last 15 years has provided many folk in that town with jobs and prosperity.

[di Livio]

It's the same twisted logic that prevents a state-of-the-art independent cinema from opening in Leeds (Bradford already has Pictureville, what about Hyde Park?). Small- mindedness yet again.

Currently, Sheffield has better cinema, gallery and music facilities. What an embarrassment! For all its money, Leeds appears to be run by people who have no interest in providing basic cultural facilities. The Playhouse is first-rate, why can't we have a concert hall that is equally impressive?

Sheffield City Hall. Note the black advertisements.