Man who transformed the Millennium Dome pinpoints where next London arena could be

The developer who transformed the Millennium Dome into the O2 arena has revealed where in London he wants to build a new venue.

Tim Leiweke, who has just built the new co-op Live in Manchester, said he is ‘hyper-focused’ on London, naming Hammersmith as the next best place to build a super venue.

He said: ‘We could accomplish something unbelievable in London. I’m bullish on the UK, and London is biggest and best music market in the world. ‘

Tim, who is the chief executive of of Oak Valley group, said the new arena would be best placed in the north or west of the city, naming Hammersmith as one option.

This would provide a shorter route to the venue than the one in Wembley currently allows for.

But it is not known where in Hammersmith the arena could be built.

His plans to build to the west of the capital comes as residents resoundingly reject to concert venue The Sphere being built in Stratford, east London.

It had a planned capacity of 21,000, but was cut over concerns with light pollution.

Tim admitted building another arena in London would ‘take a little more time’ compared to other major global cities, but the result would be ‘worth it’.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan recently announced his plans for a London 2040 Olympic bid, and more arenas would only help this.

Tim told The Times: ‘If you look at Los Angeles which is hosting the 2028 Olympic Games, the arenas are part of that offier.

‘If there really is a desire to bid for these world events, you need world-class arenas.’

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