The Leeds Arena will be a 13,500 capacity entertainment focussed arena, and will be the first in the UK to have a fan-shaped orientation. The arena will be noted for its innovative and contemporary layout, which will allow all the spectators to face the performance area.
The design of the area makes a shift from the traditional arena designs. Instead of four sides of seating around a sports pitch, the new arena will have one large super-theatre seating bowl that fans out from the stage. This kind of seating arrangement will provide all the spectators a view of the centre stage. The maximum distance between the centre stage and outermost spectator is 68m as opposed to 95-110m at traditional arenas.
Externally, the arena will be marked by an iconic honeycomb design, which will be illuminated in the night by an ever-changing kaleidoscope of coloured lights, depending on the type or mood of the event.
The arena is located on Claypit Lane and is situated at the Northern Quarter of Leeds city centre, behind the Merrion Centre and Morrisons Supermarket. The facility was topped out by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. The facility is likely to entail an investment of £60 million ($94.17 million) and is slated for completion in late 2012.
