Bradford Live: Key questions remain over future of venue

Last week, the T&A called on Bradford Council, Bradford Live and the Birmingham-based NEC Group to answer seven fundamental questions about the £50.5 million scheme.

The questions included: When is Bradford Live expected to open? When will acts and events be announced for Bradford Live, and when will people be able to buy tickets for them? Does the NEC Group still envisage itself operating Bradford Live? If not, why not?

The NEC Group - which was unveiled as operator of Bradford Live back in 2017 - failed to respond to the questions in the open letter.

Meanwhile, Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, who is also a director of Bradford Live, said on Monday: "Thank you for your letter. 

"Bradford Live is a fantastic performance space and will be a critical driver for economic growth and attracting investment to Bradford and is a key part of our overall city centre regeneration.

"We know there is lots of excitement and interest about its opening, especially after people saw the images of the beautiful interior when the main building works finished recently. 

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, who is also a director of Bradford Live (Image: Newsquest/Mike Simmonds)

"Looking at your detailed questions, most of these are really for the NEC who have a contract to operate the venue. So, I will leave it for them to answer.

"The legal processes relating to handover to the NEC Group are progressing."

The T&A spoke to Cllr Ross-Shaw at a road safety event in Bradford yesterday and asked him if Bradford Live would open this autumn, as previously stated.

He responded: "The building is complete, it looks amazing.

"The NEC are still contracted to Bradford Live and all those operational questions are really ones for the NEC to respond to."

Our reporter put to Cllr Ross-Shaw that this was also a matter for him, as a director of Bradford Live as well as portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport.

He said: "I understand that and obviously Bradford Live's role in delivering the building has been done. 

"We're going through legal processes with the NEC as contracted operator and they're still in that contract."

Pushed on whether he knows when Bradford Live is expected to open, he said: "It's a matter for the NEC.

"It's not a question for me to answer. 

"NEC are the operator."

Cllr Ross-Shaw took no further questions.