New images unveiled of Cardiff Arena as plans take step forward

Cardiff Council has unveiled more images of the proposed new 15,000-capacity indoor arena to be built in Cardiff Bay.

As plans to develop the arena move on, a comprehensive set of artist’s impressions of what the live entertainment arena will look like have been released.

The release of the images coincide with the delivery of the new venue at Atlantic Wharf taking another step forward, following the completion of the Full Business Case, and a report to Cardiff Council’s Cabinet to appoint the consortium of Live Nation, Oak View Group as operators and Robertson as developer – as the successful bidder.

Thousands of jobs

The new indoor arena aims to create a premier, UK-visitor destination, which could attract one million visitors every year and bring more than £100m per annum into the local economy.

As part of visitor attraction plans it was revealed in July that moves are underway to recognise the musical heritage of Wales as part of the new arena.

Delivering a new indoor arena is widely regarded as the missing piece of city infrastructure needed to cement Cardiff’s international reputation as a major events city.

It has been a long-standing ambition and aspiration shared by successive council administrations, which have retained a ring-fenced budget since 2006 to help make a private-sector led proposal, supported by the council, a reality.

Cabinet Member for Investment and Development, Cllr Russell Goodway, said: “The city’s business community have backed the project for many years, particularly the hospitality sector.

“The new indoor arena will be a top tier UK visitor attraction and the financial benefits that it will bring to Butetown and the wider area will be significant – with up to 2,000 jobs created during the construction phase and a further 1,000 jobs in operation when the Atlantic Wharf masterplan becomes a reality.

“Through the Atlantic Wharf masterplan, significant improvements will be made to the public realm and to transport links, and there is no doubt that the regeneration of this site will kick-start the next phase of regeneration in Cardiff Bay.

“As we always do, we are working hand in hand with private sector to get this done. The Council’s aim has always been to deliver a tier one arena on a commercial basis. The Council has agreed to raise the funding, which will be recouped through a long term lease with the operators, guaranteed by their parent companies.”

The pandemic has meant that completing the Full Business Case has taken a few more months longer than originally expected. The council anticipate the indoor arena to be open for business by the end of 2024 rather than during the spring of 2024.

Cllr Goodway added: “We have been trying to move the project forward as quickly as we can, despite the pandemic, and a significant amount of additional work has had to be done to complete the Full Business Case to mitigate the issues arising from the pandemic.

“The developer has begun to consult with local businesses and residents as part of the work they need to do before submitting a planning application.

“The planning application for the arena will include the wider masterplan for the area, which will see a number of changes to the current road layouts. Local residents have raised early concerns regarding the closure of Schooner Way for example, which the Council has taken on board and will seek to mitigate.”

The Delivery Agreement will be signed with the Live Nation, Oak View Group and Robertson Consortium once they and the Council have met a number of conditions including securing planning permission.

The revised timeline for delivery of the arena is:

September 2021: Cabinet decision on the Full Business Case and Delivery Agreement

October 2021: Contract award notice issued and developer to submit planning application

February 2022: Planning decision and initial site works to begin

March 2022: Contract signed

April 2022: Construction begin

Arena opens end of 2024.