FYI - Arena News

[cnosni]

raveydavey wrote: Well, another trail over the Pennines tonight to see a gig at the M.E.N Arena.Lets hope they get this arena sorted out soon - you can tell the council are involved due to the time it's taking.... Who did you see?

[raveydavey]

No!!!!!Despite all the talk on here (and elsewhere) about the need for the arena to be sited centrally, preferably within the city centre so the maximum gains for the city could be made from it, guess what?It's been reported in the YEP that things are now down to the two final sites:1) The former site of Fletcher Motors at what used to be the end of the M621, or2) Land adjacent to Elland Road stadium.Both of which are right next to the motorway making access straighforward (although it's not as if traffic isn't bad enough around those two sites already is it?), but also meaning that the vast majority of people attending anything at the arena will simply drive off the motorway and into the car park, watch the gig / show / whatever and get back in their car, queue for quite a while and get straight back on the motorway. Unlike anyone going to Manchesters MEN Arena which is sited in the city centre and right next to the railway station. The city centre location means that people attending their go to the shops, bars and restaurants before the main event and spend money boosting the local economy. Does anyone thing that the Old Printworks in Manchester would have been so perfectly redeveloped if it wasn't within a spit of the arena and directly between it and the main shopping area?Marsh Lane or Sovereign Street would have been so much better as locations for "our" arena.Another opportunity lost by our council.

[cnosni]

raveydavey wrote: No!!!!!Despite all the talk on here (and elsewhere) about the need for the arena to be sited centrally, preferably within the city centre so the maximum gains for the city could be made from it, guess what?It's been reported in the YEP that things are now down to the two final sites:1) The former site of Fletcher Motors at what used to be the end of the M621, or2) Land adjacent to Elland Road stadium.Both of which are right next to the motorway making access straighforward (although it's not as if traffic isn't bad enough around those two sites already is it?), but also meaning that the vast majority of people attending anything at the arena will simply drive off the motorway and into the car park, watch the gig / show / whatever and get back in their car, queue for quite a while and get straight back on the motorway. Unlike anyone going to Manchesters MEN Arena which is sited in the city centre and right next to the railway station. The city centre location means that people attending their go to the shops, bars and restaurants before the main event and spend money boosting the local economy. Does anyone thing that the Old Printworks in Manchester would have been so perfectly redeveloped if it wasn't within a spit of the arena and directly between it and the main shopping area?Marsh Lane or Sovereign Street would have been so much better as locations for "our" arena.Another opportunity lost by our council. Well my opinions on the arena are well known,i believe it should be centrally located.I noticed Marsh Lane has been purchased by a developer,so thats now a no goer.I went to Liverpools arena on Tuesday and was well impressed with the place.10500 capacity certainly made for a more intimate atmosphere than the MEN,so ours at 12500 should be somewhere in between.However,the arena was not full as the artist in question was at Sheffield the following night and the MEN the night after.So i would say that those from Liverpool who would have gone to the MEN before ,naturally went here.This would have been to the detrement of the MEN,so the Leeds arena will have a similar effect on the MEN and Sheffield,which is probably why the MEN operators,SMG,wanted to get in on the Leeds arena.They will still get the money from the punters in the Leeds area who would have gone to the MEN AND get the revenue from those in the Leeds area who would have gone to Sheffield,which is run by another operator.This may breed some complacency on the behalf of SMG,and i would have though that Leeds may not get the lions share of their activity.Anyway,the Liverpool arna is next to the Albert Dock.The are has been redevloped around the dock itself,and around the arenas immediate vicinity,theres a hotel,Pizza express and multi storey car park (and also the conference centre.Its quite a walk from the town centre (or at least it seemed it),and you have to dross the very busy Dock Road to get to it,but people were walking in very large numbers from the town centre,infact i would have said that the majority did so.We were stood outside the arena for some time and i purposeley took note of where people were coming from.So perhaps a hike to Sweet Street might not be too bad,and also the access to the train station will be improved with the mooted new south entrance.Also Neville Street is being improved,a forward thought to an arena in Sweet street perhaps?The thing that troubles me is Ken Bates plans for Elland Road,namely the proposed Hotel and shopping Mall on the East Stand.One thing Leeds has at the moment is plenty of empty hotel rooms,so why open anew one there,with an adjoining shopping mall.Not sure about anyone else but Lowfields Road isnt exactly going to pull the shoppers in is it?What does trouble me is that Bates is no mug,he wouldnt do something like this without good reason,so what is the reason?Does he know something we dont know,that is, the councils actual plans for the area around the ground. Personally out of the two id say Sweet Street would be my hearts choice,but my head says they are going to go for Elland Road.Shame the council didnt own the area for the Wellington Street development which is currently being "delayed",now that would be an excellent place all round.Well,its just a thought.

[tyke bhoy]

I thought the latest front runner for the arena is the Brunswick Terrace area i.e. the site of Leeds Met's closed building and its car park plus the council car park between it and the inner ring road

[cnosni]

tyke bhoy wrote: I thought the latest front runner for the arena is the Brunswick Terrace area i.e. the site of Leeds Met's closed building and its car park plus the council car park between it and the inner ring road Yeah ive seen that mentioned on Skyscraper city,but on there they seem to be stating that there doesnt seem to be any basis or source for this site.Though still within the town centre i think its connections for transport are of less merit.Ok its adjacent to the inner ring road but the streets around the area and the actual slip roads on and of the inner ring road are hardly condusive to allowing large numbers of arena visitors in or out of the area.Plus the distance to the train station is further than Sweet Street,though not as far as Elland Road.Inerestingly the Liverpool arena itself (with the adjacent conference centre removed) would probably fit on to Sovereign Street if the BT building was demolished (oh dear that would be an architectural shame!!)Just think of the possibilties of that site.Right in the middle of town,a possible direct walking connection to both the train station (a la MEN) and also across to the already incumbent NCP car park and Criterion car park.Down side would be getting the traffic in and out,but im sure that with the adjacent train station then the amount of traffic would be far less.Anyway,its not going to happen there is it,because it would be common sense.    

[tyke bhoy]

I have it on good authority that Leeds Met expect to complete the sale of Brunswick Terrace imminently. The council bundled in the car park in the original "mixed use" development which fell through so as the apartment market's bottom has dropped out and business use is not likely given the credit crunch leisure and/or retail is most likely.

[chameleon]

tyke bhoy wrote: I have it on good authority that Leeds Met expect to complete the sale of Brunswick Terrace imminently. The council bundled in the car park in the original "mixed use" development which fell through so as the apartment market's bottom has dropped out and business use is not likely given the credit crunch leisure and/or retail is most likely. ....or, just sitting on it as developers are prone to do until the climate improves. An example is Green Belt land near us bought on-spec by a major builder over 20 years ago in the hope of housing coming along - and now the UDP is to allow this from 2011. A killing on its value is already there.

[cnosni]

tyke bhoy wrote: I have it on good authority that Leeds Met expect to complete the sale of Brunswick Terrace imminently. The council bundled in the car park in the original "mixed use" development which fell through so as the apartment market's bottom has dropped out and business use is not likely given the credit crunch leisure and/or retail is most likely. Well lets see.Ok,have done a bit of fantasising about an arena on Sovereign street.Have taken the overall building foot print for the Liverpool echo,and if yo remove the BT building in Neville Street you can fit the whole of the Liverpool Echo onto the site from Neville Street to Criterion place multi storey.There is also room for the new south train station entrance (numbered 1,dark red boxing)with ticket barriers (Blue eliptical)and a connection to an existing service lift and accompanying bridge which gives access to all the platforms.The adjacent yellow area, numbered 2,serves as the waiting area to enter the overall arena building.Area 2 also connects to Criterion Multi Storey CP for pedestrian access to this entrance.Yellow area number 3,bottom left,once again is a waiting area prior to access into the inner building proper.The event arena itself is within the overall building,surrounded by food/drink outlets,merchandise stalls,toilets etc.The event arena has the stage at the Neville Street end,and is removable to make for extra seating blocks around the arena floor in the instance of sporting events/events in the round etc.The arena floor is seated,but can have seating removed (black area).The Immediate surrounding blue area is permanantly fixed seating blocks,which on 3 sides have themselve got a further tier above of either seats and/or corporate boxes.Yellow area number 4 is a direct link to the lift areas of Criterion Place CP,with a covered pedestrian link around the edge to yellow area number 2,adjacent to the station.Yellow are number 5 would be the main reception area prior to entrance to the building interior,this would have food outlets etc.Once past the red line there would be an open area immediately in front,for use as exhibition space etc.Above this area is a conference centre,though quite small it can be used in conjunction with the exhibition space below.Access to the event arena from yellow area number 5 would be through the exhibition space,as the conference centre is above.Yes i know its all fanciful,but its possible.traffic would be a problem,so management of traffic post event would be to direct traffic down both sides of Sovereign Street,with a choice of left or right at the junction with Neville Street. Any thoughts (apart from Idiot!!)

[tyke bhoy]

Thoughts are it is far too much like joined up thinking to be sensible to Northern Trains, Metro and LCC.As for traffic problems I think they are more likely at the start of the event than at the end merging in to the end of the rush hour. Since the advent of Bridgewater place and Holbeck Village Neville Street is a nightmare between 5.00 and 6.00pm and often causes back ups on Sovereign Street and the loop. At around 10.00 -11.00pm the traffic flow on to an "empty" loop for north bound traffic and onto Neville Street and then an empty M621 for South/East and West bound traffic should be no wo worse and probably better than the rush hour.

[cnosni]

tyke bhoy wrote: Thoughts are it is far too much like joined up thinking to be sensible to Northern Trains, Metro and LCC.As for traffic problems I think they are more likely at the start of the event than at the end merging in to the end of the rush hour. Since the advent of Bridgewater place and Holbeck Village Neville Street is a nightmare between 5.00 and 6.00pm and often causes back ups on Sovereign Street and the loop. At around 10.00 -11.00pm the traffic flow on to an "empty" loop for north bound traffic and onto Neville Street and then an empty M621 for South/East and West bound traffic should be no wo worse and probably better than the rush hour. Fair points,but dont forget that vehicle arrival will be more phased than the departures which will be all at once.I also used the whole of the Liverpool echos footprint as the basis for the size of an event arena at Soveriegn Street,whereas the actual event arena with the seating etc at Liverpool is naturally smaller than the whole buildings foot print (its a horshoe within a horseshoe),so the possible capacity for the event arena itself on that (Soveriegn Street)site could well be the speculated 12500.Anyway just a bit of fun,but id say that for location,proximity to hotels,bars,restaurants and transport links it would be a very good option.Andrew Carter said that,following the cancellation of the Criterion development on the councils part,the site could be used for something far more "Desireable",i wonder what he means?