The Rolling Stones entertain a busy Roundhay Park, Leeds, in 1982

Leeds’ Roundhay Park is on the brink of reclaiming its place among the UK’s live music heavyweights. Councillors will soon vote on whether to boost its concert capacity from 19,999 to almost 70,000 - a shift that could transform the park into one of Britain’s largest outdoor stages.

For a live events industry still rebuilding after years of pandemic shutdowns, spiralling costs, and festival cancellations, this isn’t just a local licensing tweak - it’s a major opportunity to inject energy, revenue, and jobs into a sector that’s been under sustained pressure.

📊 Supporting Stats

Live music sector value: Worth £4.3bn in 2023, up 14% year-on-year - but still facing margin squeeze from production and staffing costs (UK Music).
Event workforce: Over 210,000 people work in UK live music, from crew to security to hospitality (LIVE).
Festival closures: More than 50 UK festivals cancelled in 2024 due to financial strain (Association of Independent Festivals).
Mega-event pull: Concerts over 50,000 capacity draw significant tourism spend - Hyde Park’s BST series injected £83m into London’s economy in 2023 (Mayor of London’s Office).

🧠 Decision: Did It Work?

If approved, this capacity boost would be a strategic win for the city and the industry.

For the sector - Large-capacity venues are crucial for routing global tours efficiently. When cities like Leeds can host 70k crowds, it keeps big artists touring in the UK beyond London, spreading both revenue and cultural capital.

For workers - Bigger shows mean bigger crews: stage builders, riggers, sound and lighting techs, catering, transport, security, medical teams. It’s a multiplier for freelance and seasonal employment in a sector where gig-to-gig income is the norm.

For the city - Beyond the ticket sales, mega-gigs bring hotel bookings, restaurant trade, late-night transport use, and a visible cultural halo that benefits tourism marketing.

📌 Key Takeouts

What happened: Leeds considering raising Roundhay Park’s capacity from 19,999 to ~70,000.
Sector impact: Strengthens the UK’s live music infrastructure at a time when mid-tier festivals are struggling.
Worker boost: Creates hundreds of local jobs per event and steady contracts for crew and suppliers.
Economic uplift: Potential for millions in local spend per gig; positions Leeds as a northern mega-tour destination.
Cultural gain: Revives a venue with historic prestige, drawing acts who might otherwise skip the region.
Risks: Logistics, resident impact - but these can be mitigated with investment in transport and sound management.

🔮 What We Can Expect Next

If this gets the green light, expect Leeds to rapidly feature on the routing for global acts in 2026, with potential knock-on benefits for smaller local festivals and venues as audiences travel in for big shows and discover the city’s wider scene.

It could also signal a shift in how the UK distributes its biggest gigs, with more large-scale outdoor events taking place outside the capital. For an industry that thrives on scale, and a workforce that’s been through the toughest five years in its history, Roundhay’s upgrade could be more than a crowd boost - it could be a morale boost.