Arena WayThe Leeds Arena (also known as the First Direct Arena) is an entertainment-focused indoor arena located in the Arena Quarter of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is the first in the United Kingdom to have a fan-shaped orientation.
The arena officially opened on 4 September 2013, with Sir Elton John, playing to an audience of 12,000. Bruce Springsteen had, however, held the first concert on 24 July 2013, with an audience of 13,000. The arena's opening season in 2013 later included acts including Kaiser Chiefs, Rod Stewart, Status Quo and Depeche Mode.
The building was named the "best new venue in the world" in 2014 by the Stadium Business Awards.
The first event in the arena was a concert by Bruce Springsteen on 24 July 2013 although the arena officially opened in September 2013. A wide variety of events have already taken place or been scheduled, including:
Music
Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Leonard Cohen, Kaiser Chiefs, Stereophonics, Depeche Mode, Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, James Blunt, Bryan Adams, Slash, Boyzone, JLS, 5 Seconds of Summer, Miley Cyrus, Prince, Dolly Parton, Eagles, The 1975, Status Quo, Pearl Jam, Biffy Clyro, Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia, Eric Clapton, Il Divo, The Who, Alfie Boe, Michael Bublé, The Script, Madness, Morrissey, Lionel Richie, Paloma Faith, Queen + Adam Lambert, Olly Murs, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell Williams, Fleetwood Mac, John Legend, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Bette Midler, Neil Diamond, Simple Minds, Duran Duran, Bad Company, Paul Weller, alt-J, Natalie Imbruglia, Simply Red, Slipknot, Foals, Wet Wet Wet, Peter Andre, Ellie Goulding, Mariah Carey, Jeff Lynne's ELO, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Gladys Knight, Jean-Michel Jarre, Green Day, Drake, Pet Shop Boys, Kings of Leon, The Weeknd, Adnan Sami, Craig David, Richard Ashcroft, Shreya Ghoshal, Bruno Mars, Iron Maiden, The Cribs, Shawn Klush, Adam Ant, The Stone Roses, Celine Dion, The Killers, Steps, The Kooks, Jools Holland, Elbow, Black Sabbath, James Taylor, Alice Cooper, REO Speedwagon, Kylie Minogue, Nickelback, David Byrne, Gabrielle, Rick Astley, Tom Bailey, Belinda Carlisle, Culture Club, The Prodigy, Courteeners, Bring Me the Horizon, Mumford & Sons, James, The Charlatans, Jane McDonald, Alison Moyet, Tears for Fears, Cher, Rita Ora, Bonnie Raitt, Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls, The Wombats, George Ezra, Shawn Mendes, Westlife, A-ha, Little Mix, Blink-182, Genesis, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Deacon Blue, Liam Gallagher, Sam Fender, Dua Lipa, Blondie, Diana Ross, Diljit Dosanjh, Shania Twain, Ghost, Snoop Dogg, Tenacious D among others.
Comedy
Miranda Hart, Russell Howard, Micky Flanagan, Lee Evans, John Bishop, Mrs. Brown's Boys, Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, Michael McIntyre, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, Ricky Gervais, Chris Rock, Russell Peters, The League of Gentlemen, Whoopi Goldberg, Joanna Lumley, Jason Manford, Jack Whitehall.
Performance
Cirque du Soleil, Jesus Christ Superstar, Dancing on Ice, Disney on Ice, The X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing, Diversity, BBC Radio 1 Xtra Live, The MOBO Awards, Dynamo, Bear Grylls, The ARIAS Awards, Leeds Gymfest, Harlem Globetrotters, Brian Cox, Nashville in Concert.