Leeds’ First Direct Arena celebrates its 5th birthday

The first act performed in the venue on the 24 July 2013.

Today, 24 July 2018, marks the fifth birthday for Leeds Arena.

The venue, which has played host to some of the biggest names in music and entertainment, opened its doors on the 24 July 2013 for a headline appearance by Bruce Springsteen.

Since then, the venue has welcomed the likes of Prince, who played his final ever Leeds performance at the venue on 23 May 2014 with a thirty-three song set ending with Sometimes It Snows In April.

The MOBO Awards called Leeds Arena its home in 2015 and 2017, while rock legends Pearl Jam played a celebratory thirty-six song set lasting three hours and twenty minutes in 2014.

The Stone Roses played their only English indoor arena dates last year at the venue, while just last year Leeds First Direct Arena welcomed their two-millionth customer during Celine Dion’s pair of headline shows.

Fans eagerly await Bruce Springsteen at Leeds First Direct Arena’s opening show on 24 July 2013

It’s not all music either. Eddie Hall broke the world record for the 500kg deadlift in 2016 when the venue hosted the Europe’s Strongest Man competition. The venue itself broke a record two years earlier with the biggest ever attendance for a live TV darts game, with eleven thousand fans descending on Leeds First Direct Arena.

This year, Leeds First Direct Arena continues its combination of music, attractions, comedy and more, with the likes of Walking With Dinosaurs and PAW Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure promising top class family entertainment.

Comedy arrives courtesy of The League Of Gentlemen Live Again!, while music fans can catch Jason Derulo, Kylie Minogue, Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Mariah Carey and much more.

In the run up to their firth birthday, the venue has been encouraging fans to celebrate their favourite moments in Leeds First Direct Arena. Responses celebrate iconic appearances by the likes of Manic Street Preachers, the cast of Nashville, Pete Tong, Queen + Adam Lambert, and Diversity.

Tomorrow will mark 5 years since we opened our doors!

We’ve had some truly world class events in our five years since opening – if you could travel back in time to one of them, which would you choose? pic.twitter.com/nHcKRNpRdS

— first direct arena (@fdarena) July 23, 2018