I was always expecting a mixed bag of reaction to this, and to be honest agree with most of the above comments. Yes, it is good for Leeds and should bring a decent amount of employment, talent and performing artists to the city. Being a massive music fan this can only be a good thing, but, and this is a big but, why can we not think on a much bigger picture, and if we are going to do this at all, make sure we do it properly. Not being biased at all, I am a Leeds United fan, and have been keeping up with the potential re-development of the Elland Road area, and one thing that has always been mentioned in such discussions is an ajoining music / event arena being constructed next to the football stadium. Obviously this would be on a much larger scale than the proposed 12,500 seats, and as mentioned, can accomodate other events that will provide revenue when concerts are not being played (like Ken Bates said, why should Elland Road only make money on match days?!?!) Top 10 musical venue within the next few years, well yes, the potential is there, but only if we do it properly and have many many more than 12,500 seats and the capacity to hold other events there too!!! Let's just hope they wake up and smell the coffee in time!!!!

Edward Burton

We should be grateful , but this is a big missed opportunity. For Leeds to truly compete alongside Manchester and Birmingham we need a multi purpose Arena / Conference / Exhibition centre. We also need it in a convenient location with excellent road ( motorway ) access and car parking. Building the arena means we will never have the other facilities because a significant part of the required income stream has been taken, Think bigger Leeds !!

Mike Firth

Madonna & Bruce Springsteen?? / Top 10 in the World Venue?? - the hyperbole just gets more and more inflated (have a cursory glance at the venues these two named artists actually played on their respective 2009 tours and ask whether a 12,500 seater venue would fit in with the likes of the San Siro & Stadio Olympico and provide the necessary revenues these acts would demand for a show?) I'm not a showbiz expert but the cost per seat would have to be pretty high for it to stack up. These claims should be viewed in the same light as the selling of the "special" fan shaped design as an advantage to us rather than unmitigated compromise it is. This special "super-theatre" design surely limits the facility massively especially compared with the MEN / Hallam that it will have to compete with - Boxing / Wrestling & Darts are hardly likely to turn Leeds into the International Venue claimed.

Noel Partland

Very good point from Nick Pickles regarding 'other activities'. Also where will we be come 2012. If we are already behind the likes of Manchester, Liverpool and Cardiff how far behind will we be when this is finished.

Paul Rayment

It has got to be good news for yorkshire and Humber region, I work with a project called www.backstage-academy.co.uk There is a skills gap of 30,000 technical staff need the the entertainment industry before 2020 in UK. The Leeds arena can only bring talent to the region,

Andy Bevan

Live music is already starting to tail off from the past two years of growth - even bands playing the 2,500 capacity Academy don't play Leeds and Sheffield, so why is there an assumption they'll play an arena in Sheffield and Leeds? Furthermore, Sheffield / Manchester / Newcastle / have nationally competing basketball, ice hockey and several other sports to keep the arena busy when there are no gigs - where is the non-musical activity coming from in Leeds? I wouldnt mind so much were it not for the fact that it's taxpayers money at risk in the long term.

Nick Pickles

The best venues in Leeds are, and have always been, the really small ones that put on DIY gigs; the Duchess of York (RIP), Brudenell etc. These are the places that actually get interesting bands not tedious pap where a drinks costs £3+ and has to be financed by the taxpayer.

Richard Hamer

To be one of the World's top ten....it needs a greater capacity than 12,500 !!..back down to earth please!

Mike Ridgway

I'm all for a new venue in Leeds - it's a positive thing. But your question is - what about these claims?...well, "one of 10 top venues in world" - at roughly half the size of the MEN in Manchester and trailing behind O2; NEC; Wembley;Cardiff etc...is that really likely??. And the "astonishing" £27m spend by 750,000 concert goers.....how astonishing is a £37 a head spend? That's your ticket plus a burger and maybe a beer! A decent venue in Leeds would enhance the City - this sort of hyperbole just makes the City look decidedly provincial!

Peter Harkness

Can't wait, just a shame it has taken so long and 2012 seems a long way in the distance.

Paul Rayment