My February 2025 Journey as a Post-Event Cleaner at Leeds Arena

Working as a post-event cleaner at Leeds Arena this February has been an eye-opening experience. I’ve witnessed the aftermath of some incredible shows and gotten a unique perspective on the entertainment industry that few get to see. Here’s a glimpse into my month behind the scenes at one of Leeds’ premier venues. February 2nd: Craig David My month kicked off with cleaning up after Craig David’s performance. The arena was littered with the evidence of nostalgia—90s and early 2000s fans singing “7 Days” left behind a sea of drink cups and merchandise wrappers. His R&B beats may have been smooth, but the cleanup certainly wasn’t! What struck me most was finding several handwritten notes that fans had hoped to pass to him. The dedication of his fanbase was evident even in what they left behind.

February 3rd: School Academy Trust Event Outwood Grange

The contrast couldn’t have been more stark when I returned the next day for a School Academy Trust conference. Gone were the glowsticks and beer cups, replaced by coffee cups and notepads. The cleanup was surprisingly extensive—educators apparently generate as much waste as concert-goers, just different kinds! Finding abandoned presentation handouts gave me an interesting peek into the education sector’s current priorities.

February 8th: Waterloo ABBA Tribute

The Waterloo ABBA tribute night transformed the arena into a disco wonderland. Cleaning up after “Dancing Queens” meant collecting countless feather boas, glitter, and platform shoe insoles that had given up midway through “Mamma Mia.” The energy of the night lingered in the morning, and I found myself humming “Take a Chance on Me” while sweeping up the remnants of what was clearly an enthusiastic crowd.

February 12th: Leeds Apprenticeship Fair

Midway through the month came the Leeds Apprenticeship Fair, which left behind mountains of brochures and business cards. It was actually inspiring to see how many young people had attended, evident from the trampled career guides and employment packets. The cleaning team joked about finding our next careers among the discarded information—though I’m not sure how many apprenticeships are available in professional post-event cleaning!

February 13th: James Blunt

James Blunt’s show the next day provided yet another cleanup character shift. His more mature audience left behind fewer messes but more lost items—reading glasses, scarves, and even a walking stick that somehow got forgotten. The most common debris? Tissues. Apparently “Goodbye My Lover” still hits hard after all these years. I never thought I’d be cleaning up the physical evidence of emotional catharsis, but that’s exactly what it felt like.

February 18th: Queen Extravaganza

The Queen Extravaganza—the only tribute band officially connected with Queen—brought one of the most passionate crowds I’ve seen. The aftermath included homemade Freddie Mercury mustaches, Union Jack paraphernalia, and more than a few abandoned fake microphone stands that fans had brought but couldn’t carry home. The cleaning team couldn’t help but belt out “Bohemian Rhapsody” as we worked—something about that music just demands participation, even during cleanup!

February 19th: Pantera with My Brother

One of the month’s highlights was when the legendary Pantera performed. This wasn’t just another shift—I’d taken my brother and his friends to the show even though I was working on the event before the night cleanup began, Experiencing the concert and hearing and seeing people paying tribute to two past members who are no longer with us Dimebag Darrell on guitar and Vinnie Paul on drums and the bands co founder ****then once the tributes had been made the head-banging and moshing started to some of the more commonly known famous songs like walk, cowboys from hell, mouth for war and one that surprised me was Mississippi Queen which was covered by the tour guitarist zakk wylde, then seeing its aftermath offered a complete picture of the event. The cleaning was intense—heavy metal fans leave behind evidence of their enthusiasm in the form of discarded guitar picks, band t-shirt tags, and inexplicably, a surprising number of single shoes. The cleanup crew theorized that the mosh pit claims footwear as sacrifice!

February 27th: Fire and Health & Safety Training Day

The month closed with something completely different—a day of fire and health and safety training. While there was less to clean afterward, it was fascinating to see the arena from yet another perspective. Learning about emergency protocols for the venue gave me a new appreciation for how much work goes into keeping everyone safe during the events I’d been cleaning up after all month.

Reflections on My Month Behind the Scenes

This February has shown me that every event leaves its unique fingerprint, not just in the memories of those who attended but in the physical remnants left behind. From Craig David’s nostalgic fans to Pantera’s metal enthusiasts, each audience interacts with the space differently. Working as a post-event cleaner might not be glamorous, but it offers an intimate look at the culture and community that forms around music and events. It’s like archaeologists studying civilizations through their garbage—I’ve learned more about people from what they leave behind at concerts than I ever would have expected. As March approaches, I’m curious to see what new insights the upcoming events will bring. Until then, I’ll be here with my broom, dustpan, and a newfound appreciation for the hidden stories behind every successful event at Leeds Arena.