Plans for new 5,000-seat arena in West Yorkshire move forward

A new 5,000-seat indoor sports arena could be coming to West Yorkshire, with council leaders set to discuss proposals that would position the venue as a major hub for basketball, netball and ice hockey, according to a BBC report.

The year-long feasibility study, commissioned by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and approved by Mayor Tracy Brabin in summer 2024, recommends Leeds as the preferred location due to its large catchment area and status as the region’s “largest corporate market”.

However, the study notes that other West Yorkshire locations could also sustain the development.

Estimated to cost between £48m and £57m, the proposed arena would reinvest its profits into grassroots sports facilities across the region.

Two operational models are under consideration: one hosting basketball and netball, projected to turn a £214,000 profit by year three, and another including ice hockey, forecast to generate £173,000 by year three. Both require additional funding due to construction costs far exceeding projected early profits.

The plan has strong backing from the basketball community. City of Leeds Basketball director Matt Newby told the BBC that Leeds would be an ideal location, citing the city’s sporting heritage and the need for mid-sized venues capable of hosting international-level games.

“There isn’t a huge amount of arena spaces that can host an international basketball game,” Newby said. “You’ve got Manchester’s National Performance Centre, Newcastle Arena, then the Copper Box and The O2 in London. There is a need for these mid-size arenas that cater solely for sport.”

Newby added that a venue of this scale would be “fundamental” to developing the sport, offering pathways for young people and bringing elite-level basketball into close contact with the community.

The study references work by University of Leeds academic and basketball commentator Dr Mark Mills, who argued that the lack of high-standard facilities is holding back participation and progression. He highlighted that more under-16s play basketball than rugby and cricket combined, yet the sport receives a fraction of their funding.

Site requirements outlined in the report include at least 10,000 square metres of space, proximity within one mile of a train station and two miles of a motorway junction, and a 30-minute catchment of at least 1.5 million people.

If approved, the project would represent one of the most significant basketball infrastructure developments in northern England in decades, aligning with wider national momentum behind the sport.

The news comes in the same week the London Lions completed phase 1 of their feasibility study for a 15,000 seat London arena.