Wellington Place to welcome world’s media

WELLINGTON Place is to welcome the world’s press after being chosen to host a state-of-the-art media centre for the start of the Tour de France in Yorkshire.   

More than 2,000 journalists are set to base themselves at the centre in the run-up to the Tour’s two stage Grand Départ on July 5 and 6.

The first stage of the race will see riders tackle a 190 kilometre (118 mile) route, beginning in Leeds and passing through the stunning scenery of the Yorkshire Dales before finishing in Harrogate. The following day, cyclists will ride 200 kilometres (124 miles) from York to Sheffield. 

The media centre at MEPC’s Leeds scheme will be housed in temporary structures, including up to four giant marquees, and will offer journalists the opportunity to conduct and film interviews, take part in press conferences and write articles for their respective news organisations.

Elite competitors taking part in the Tour can also use the centre, alongside their support teams, for formalities such as kitting up and organising other essential equipment. It will also be used as a base and information centre from which journalists and media crews can travel to the race routes.

Dominique Simcox, marketing manager at MEPC, said Wellington Place was privileged to be hosting the media centre.

“The Grand Départ is set to be a fabulous occasion for Yorkshire and we are delighted to be playing our part in helping to showcase this wonderful region to a global audience of around 3.5 billion in 190 countries,” Simcox said.

Wellington Place boasts a number of blue chip tenants including Allianz, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sky and Towers Watson.

MEPC has secured a 15,000 sq ft pre-let with leading law firm Shulmans and a 3,928 sq ft deal with UK private bank Brown Shipley for 10 Wellington Place, which is currently under construction on the site.