Populous has released the first images of a £55m, 13,500-seat “theatre style” arena in Leeds city centre, designed so that spectators will never be more than 70m from the centre of the action

The arena will be constructed by Bam Construct, which beat Laing O’Rourke, Bovis Lend Lease and Sir Robert McAlpine to the contract in April. It is due to be complete by 2012.