A major live events venue could be coming to Hammersmith, the man behind the UK’s largest indoor arena has hinted.
Tim Leiweke, the American businessman behind Oak View Group (OVG) which is set to launch the 23,500-capacity Co-op Live in Manchester, said its next venture could be in west London.
Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Leiweke said early indications were positive, but that it would take about a year before “it gets real”.
“If you guessed Hammersmith it would be a good guess,” he said, when asked about the new potential site.
“We’re pretty focused on a particular site. We’re excited about the site.
“But I understand there’s a process and we need to talk to neighbours, we need to talk to the community, we need to talk to the business leaders and to political leaders.
“We’re going to play by their rules, I’m not going to get ahead of them.”
It comes after plans by a US company for a massive Las Vegas-style Sphere entertainment venue in Stratford, east London, were blocked by Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The MSG Sphere’s parent company, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Company (MSG), eventually withdrew its plans in January, saying the planning process had become a “political football between rival parties.”
Mr Leiweke said it was a “lost opportunity”, adding of his company’s plans: “London deserves to have the greatest arena in the world. They don’t yet.”
Oak View Group had been due to launch Manchester's Co-op Live - the largest arena in the UK, seating 23,500 people - this week with shows from Peter Kay on Tuesday and Wednesday.
But, after capacity for a test event on Saturday was reduced with just hours' notice, the arena announced on Monday that Kay's performances would instead take place on April 29 and 30.
A spokesman for the arena, which is next door to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium, said: "It is critical to ensure we have a consistent total power supply to our fully electric sustainable venue, the completion of which is a few days behind.
"Rescheduling gives us the extra time we need to continue testing thoroughly.
"This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size."
The venue was given planning permission in 2020 and boasted an investment from popstar Harry Styles.
