Park to host concerts with almost 70,000 capacity

Ed Sheeran was the last artist to play a large concert at the park in 2019

Plans to allow larger crowds of up to 69,999 to attend events at a Leeds park have been approved, making it one of the biggest outdoor venues in the UK.

Councillors voted to increase capacity at Roundhay Park from its current limit of 19,999 at a recent Leeds City Council meeting.

The park hosted several large concerts in the 1980s and 90s, welcoming big names including Madonna, The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen.

The last time it hosted a concert with a similar-sized crowd was when Ed Sheeran played two dates at the park in 2019, when capacity was temporarily increased to 80,000.

For comparison, the UK's largest outdoor venue is the Glastonbury Festival site, which has a capacity of about 250,000 people.

Wembley Stadium can seat 90,000, and the recent Oasis concerts at Heaton Park in Greater Manchester saw 80,000 people per night attend.

Roundhay Park, which is three miles north of Leeds city centre, covers more than 700 acres and is thought to be one of the biggest city parks in Europe.

It previously held a licence to hold 79,999 people, but this was reduced due to a lack of demand in 2006. It was temporarily raised for the Ed Sheeran shows in 2019.

Roundhay Park is a large green space with a lake three miles north of Leeds centre

During a meeting of Leeds City Council's licensing committee on Monday 18 August, Polly Cook, chief officer for climate, energy and green spaces, said there was "a lot of nostalgia" for events at Roundhay Park.

"People are excited about big events coming back," she said.

"However, we are mindful that it is in a close-knit residential area and we know this has to balance the benefits to the city's economy."

She said the park would host no more than two weekends a year of events, which would be handled by an experienced promoter.

"We have a promotor who wants to work with us, they are experienced at working in public parks, and have been running similar events for many years," she said.

Madonna played at the park in 1987 on her Who's That Girl tour

"They work successfully with local communities to work through the challenges that they come across."

Past gigs at the park have included The Rolling Stones, who played there in 1982 as one of only four British venues on their European tour that year.

In 1987 Genesis played, six weeks before Madonna performed in front of 73,000 fans there when she opened her Who's That Girl World Tour in Leeds.

A year later, Michael Jackson played at Roundhay Park on his 30th birthday, while Irish rockers U2 performed in front of 54,000 fans in the park as part of their PopMart tour in 1997.

Robbie Williams also played two concerts there in 2006.

Ian Thompson lives near the park and said it was was a "great venue" for the city

Many people living near the park have welcomed the news, including Ian Thompson who went to several large gigs in Roundhay in the past and said it was a "great venue".

"Its an amazing facility for the city to have, so unless somebody gives me a good reason that it's a problem then it doesn't feel like a problem to me," he said.

Mr Thompson added that some people might not be able to visualise how big the crowds might be.

"I don't know what 70,000 people looks like for a start and I'm not sure many people will," he said.

"They just assume that what they might have seen at Ed Sheeran is about that many.

"I think that is the key thing, because you're asking people about 70,000 people and the danger is that they will overreact because they will not know how many people that is."

He added: "It's a really good thing for this area. We went to see Madonna, Michael Jackson and U2, we took our children to see them, these were really big acts.

"As long as they manage the car parking well and the access well, I can't see a problem with it."

Harry Limbert said he thinks bringing big gigs back to Roundhay is a positive thing

Harry Limbert, who works at Kofi & Co cafe on Street Lane, said he was in favour of the plans.

"Being from Roundhay I am a big supporter of it, it brings more people into the area, it shouts out about the area," he said.

"It will be good for local businesses, especially independents like ourselves.

"I think it is a very positive thing."

Another resident however said she was "not thrilled" by the idea.

"I am very aware of the financial pressures on the council, and if it brings in more money to the council then it is a necessary evil.

"I am not thrilled on a personal level, but needs must."

"We live a nice sheltered quiet life near Roundhay Park and having an influx of 70,000 people has an impact."

The park covers an area of more than 700 acres and includes lakes, woodlands and formal gardens as well as playgrounds and the Tropical World visitor attraction.

It has four car parks, a land train, skate park, toilets and cafe facilities.

The park covers more than 700 acres of rolling parkland with lakes and woods

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