First Direct Arena

Saw Bette Midler here. She was amazing, five stars, but I’m talking about the venue here. I’d give the place more stars if it weren’t in such a dreadful location. The arena is a decent venue as it’s theatre/​colosseum style with great sound and above average facilities. The stewards are extremely helpful and pleasant and I didn’t find anywhere too busy. I had floor seating in the front block so not sure how the upper levels faired which have more people in them.
BUT and it is a big BUT, unfortunately its location is in the city centre. Firstly, there are NO road signs to it whatsoever in the town. It’s only when you’re almost in front of it that you guess that you’re there as the car parks you use say ‘official arena’ on them but only when you’re almost in the car park itself anyway. Thank goodness for sat nav. As for getting there though, it’s a nightmare. City centre rush hour traffic plus arena traffic is a recipe for road disaster. Because that’s where it is — in the city centre. I know I’ve already said that but I find it astonishingly bad planning. Absolute madness. Then, you have no parking at the site (not even for the productions’ trucks who were all parked in bus bays, honestly I’ve never seen anything like it). For us car drivers it’s all in multi story car parks that belong to shopping centres. So the official car parks are appalling. Be prepared to sit in your car for an unacceptable amount of time both before and after the shows as the car parks and road network around the arena aren’t designed for a venue of this kind so can’t handle the traffic pouring in and out. If you’re from out of town, public transport just isn’t an option, it has to be a car. So you’re stuck, literally. Very very poor. To be honest, it’s a great place in a bad place. I’d love to go again but I’m unlikely to. It’s just not worth the hassle. There are other venues slightly further away but far better located and designed so overall they’re much easier to get to and from. A shame really.

It’s got to be said, The First Direct Arena in Leeds looks great and is already a landmark. Inside there is a nice open feel to the place and plenty of stairs and escalators to move people around. The auditorium is well designed so that the entire audience has a great view.
Staff are pleasant and helpful and I know from previous visits that they are happy to go out of their way to help out.
My one criticism is that use of toilets and bars seems to be limited to the first 50% of the audience to get there as provision seems to be inadequate.

It may be ugly on the outside but it’s well set up inside. Seats seem like everyone of them would be a good view.
It’s really easy to get to and work your way around. The stage was set up really well and super changeable for the cirque de soleil. Will be keeping a look out for shows I want to see!
Great addition to Leeds, it’ll bring in plenty of new people and although it is not cheap it is an easier way to treat yourself with a show, gig or comedy night.

I had reservations that the FD Arena would live up to the usual places I attend for gigs (Sheffield or MEN).
We went to see Noah and the Whale and Vampire weekend on the 16^th November and I wasn’t really impressed with the whole experience
The sound quality wasn’t wonderful, the seats are uncomfortable, on entry into the auditorium it was filled with dry-​ice smoke which irritates my asthma, the drink selection is poor and overpriced and the temperature settings are well ‘off’ (far too hot).
The staff are helpful which is one plus and the toilets were clean.
I hope the future acts that get booked appeal to me but I won’t be too put out if I have to go to Sheff or the MEN for gigs as they definitely still have the edge over what Leeds has produced.

I went to the First Direct Arena for the Depeche Mode concert a couple of weeks ago.
I must say very impressed — I live almost exactly between Leeds and Manchester but always go to the MEN (or phones4U as its now known) now I don’t have too unless Depeche Mode are also playing MEN which they did 2 days later.
The roads to the arena could be better signed — I knew where it was but the approach is not signed well. Good parking nearby with the multi story on woodhouse lane being a good close option, just 5 mins walk to the doors and a special rate of £5.00 on event nights.
its a usual arena with stairs at just inside the doors taking you up one floor to the concourse — drinks are steep in price but as you are a captive audience then take it or leave it.
Good amount of stewards showing people the way you cant really go wrong anyhow.
Inside as another review has said their seating has a good amount of legroom but most importantly the view from all blocks is very good. They have taken care of special needs seating with plenty of room for wheelchairs etc, this area also has a good view which a lot of older venues forgot about.
Sound was very good — no drop outs and a consistent level throughout.
Its a great venue which is a big benefit to Leeds, I see it becoming one of the most sort after places in the future.
And Depeche Mode? Well that was concert number 51 for me and they were spectacular.

Went here for first time last night and was not disappointed. The staff and very friendly and welcoming, the building outside and in is amazing. The show and atmosphere was great. Can’t wait to go here again.
Just hope Leeds City Council don’t find a way to mess things up.
It’s been a long wait but finally Leeds have something like this to bring people to the city.

Ah finally an arena in Leeds, they should have called it Leeds Ampitheatre just to be a bit more funky but whatever you call it, i am impressed!
I had the good fortune of getting a ticket for the first gig there by some bloke called Bruce Springsteen, and well well he put on a good old knees up, but to the venue!
The ques initially looked a bit daunting but they flowed very quickly into the lavish well signposted entrance, up the stairs to a very clearly marked seat.
I nipped out to check out the bar, the snacks and the facilities, and found all top notch. They had loads of bar staff on and also a decent choice of snacks that were served quickly, and hot. There were no ques for the loos as they seem to have realised that music and beer often mean the odd trip to the Khazi…
Everything was well laid out, the views are all good, the seats had enough leg room for a lanky so and so like me (unlike some arenas where they only cater for amputees, apparently).
You were never too far from an exit, so you could nip out without disturbing too many folks viewing. and when the gig finished it was fairly straight forward getting out, although my friends who were on a higher tier said it took them about 15 minutes.
As for the sound quality, i know a lot is down to the sound engineer, but they would have to be very bad to get it wrong here, crystal clear sound at a decent volume, good video screens to show the detail and just an excellent view.
I have heard that some American music magazines have been saying it’s one of the best designed new arenas around the world, so Well done Leeds for getting this right, and, even though i prefer small intimate gigs this would make me feel ok about seeing one of the bigger artists.

No more trekking over to Manchester to see anyone remotely decent is the hope.
I’d had my reservations going in, from the outside I think it looks somewhat like a little bit of a monstrosity, but once inside that’s forgotten — the First Direct Leeds Arena has arrived, and it’s goooood. So very very goooood. The build quality and the finish on the place is fantastic and when you couple that with the really helpful staff they’ve managed to find somewhere, my feeling is that the Arena is brilliant.
I was lucky enough to be the guest (albeit paid) of Gaucho and in their box, and again much like the whole of the Arena, the finish quality is fantastic, kitted out with fridges, sofas, comfy chairs and then a bank of arena seating for when the acts come on. The Cadbury chocolate which was branded for the act was a nice touch too.
Holding only 13,000 people it’s apparently a ‘small’ arena, and that’s a good thing for me because as someone who loves going to gigs but really cant abide standing 800 metres away from who you’re watching, the idea of the arena held thoughts of being too far away to see the act. This isn’t the case, and with 13,000 people it still almost feels intimate.
I can honestly say that I’m really looking forward to seeing who it attracts, because it really is top notch, it really should bring Leeds some great, really big acts. And yes, I’m really looking forward to not having to trek over to Manchester too.
Also, Elton John totally rocked on the official opening night.