The announcement comes just days after Yorkshire Forward agreed to invest in the project following the publication of an economic appraisal report, which showed Leeds Arena would be a huge boost to the Yorkshire economy.

Councillor Andrew Carter, joint leader of Leeds City Council and executive member with responsibility for the Arena project said:  “I am delighted to welcome Davis Langdon to the Leeds Arena project.  It’s another great step forward in the progress of the development and I am confident they will bring valuable expertise and experience to the team.”

Detailed specifications for the arena have yet to be decided, but it is expected to:

• have around 12,500 seats;
• have an entertainment focused layout;
• be able to cope with national and international scale music concerts;
• be built to allow maximum flexibility of use so that various types of events can be held; and
• be designed so it is sympathetic to its chosen location.

The design team on the project includes Populous, Jacobs and Arup.  International operator SMG will run the site, which is expected to create 300 jobs and generate nearly £30 million a year for the local economy.

This appointment further strengthens Davis Langdon’s sports and venues sector experience and expands its unrivalled track record in arena projects, which includes the O2 Dublin; the Echo Arena Liverpool; Odyssey Arena Belfast; the MEN Arena Manchester; Budapest Arena, Sheffield Arena, London Docklands Arena and the National Indoor Arena Birmingham.  

Martin Jennings (Liverpool office), lead Partner for the Davis Langdon project team said: 

"We are very excited to be part of the team that will successfully deliver this transformational project for Leeds, which will be a superb entertainment focussed venue in the heart of the city."