December wrapped up my first full year working at Leeds Arena — and it couldn’t have been a better mix of chaos, sparkle, and satisfaction. From private Christmas parties to huge public shows and even a televised boxing night, it really felt like the arena was alive every single day leading up to Christmas.
December 4th – Jet2 Airlines Christmas Party (Private Event)
The month kicked off with a corporate clean-up for Jet2’s big staff Christmas bash.
By midnight, Jess Glynne’s “Hold My Hand” had played for what felt like the tenth time. I half-joked to my boss, “Can I pull the power to the stage?” — he laughed, shook his head, and we carried on sweeping to the same chorus echoing around the arena.
December 5th–6th – Wolf Alice & D-Block Europe (Music)
Back-to-back nights, both packed but worlds apart.
Wolf Alice brought atmospheric rock and soft light, while D-Block Europe turned it into a bass-heavy rave.
December 10th – Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics (Music)
Ibiza came to Leeds for a night.
Lasers, violins, and club beats — one of those shows that sticks in your head long after the lights go down.
December 12th – Madness (Music)
Madness lived up to their name — full energy, pure joy, and crowd singalongs that shook the arena.
December 13th – Jimmy Carr (Comedy)
A sharp contrast — same arena, totally different vibe.
Jimmy Carr had the crowd in stitches from start to finish.
December 16th – Arena Staff Christmas Party (Private Event)
This one was for us — the people who keep the place running all year.
No stress, no public, just the Leeds Arena family celebrating the end of a long season.
December 18th – Jools Holland (Music)
Smooth, classy, and the perfect pre-Christmas show.
Jools Holland brought his signature mix of jazz, boogie-woogie, and soul to a packed arena.
December 20th – Boxing (BBC Three Broadcast)
A night that stood out.
Broadcast live on BBC Three and iPlayer, this wasn’t just any event — it was live television.
I had the audio feed in my earpiece so I could time my moves around ad breaks, slipping in and out to change bins before the cameras came back on.
I wore a hard baseball cap all night — just in case the overhead wire cameras or jib cranes swung unexpectedly.
It’s organised chaos, but that’s what makes nights like this unforgettable.
December 29th–30th – Cirque: Wizard of Oz (Family Show)
A colourful, magical way to close the year.
Full of acrobatics, storytelling, and confetti — the perfect curtain call for 2025.