Bruce Springsteen is making a single performance at Leeds Arena as part of his Wrecking Ball world tour road in July.
Bruce Springsteen is making a single performance at Leeds Arena as part of his Wrecking Ball world tour road in July.
The performance is ahead of the official opening of the new arena and at the request of the singer, arena management said.
The show will be a special one-off performance as part of his ongoing ‘Wrecking Ball’ world tour, the 13,500 capacity venue is pulling out all the stops to prepare for the multi-award winning ‘Born to Run’ rocker and his E Street Band on Wednesday, July 24th
This will be Springsteen’s first indoor UK show director since his arena tour in 2007.
Arena director Tony Watson said: ‘We are delighted that all of our stakeholders’ hard work in building a world class arena in Leeds has attracted the attention of an international superstar such as Bruce Springsteen. The team is ecstatic that an artist of this sheer calibre will be providing all of us with, what is effectively, a big dress rehearsal for the arena for its opening season.
‘Springsteen has always expressed a love of performing in the UK and, from what I understand, any opportunity to put Leeds Arena through its paces was too much to resist. We’re more than happy to take orders from ‘The Boss’ on this occasion.’
Councillor Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council added: ‘This is an unexpected but very welcome announcement. To hear that the arena’s appeal is such that the advance actually came from Bruce Springsteen’s people is incredibly exciting.
‘Leeds has waited a long time to welcome him back since his legendary 1985 Roundhay Park concert. It also means that the people of Leeds will be able to enjoy their amazing new arena and it will make its mark on the city’s cultural landscape far earlier than originally anticipated.
‘We will be handing over the arena to SMG on schedule towards the end of March and it is then up to them to fit it out to their requirements and open it on a date of their choice. Personally I am delighted at the prospect of a world-famous rock icon such as Bruce Springsteen performing there and am looking forward to him helping us put Leeds Arena firmly on the map.’
