Government commits £20 million new Blackpool Arena

The government has committed £20 million to the development of a new indoor arena at the Blackpool Central site, marking a major milestone in plans to create a world-class entertainment venue for the town.

Thousands of local residents signed my petition calling on the government to invest in an arena for Blackpool. In recents months I’ve been making the case to ministers that Blackpool deserves ambitious investment to strengthen its economy, create jobs and cement its position as one of the UK's leading entertainment destinations.

The proposal has now received backing from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, who has committed £20 million to fund the next stage of work. The arena would become the centrepiece of the Blackpool Central regeneration project and attract major concerts, sporting events, comedy, exhibitions and live entertainment throughout the year.

The government investment will test the business case and get the project ready for private investment. The next job is finding the right partner to invest the remaining funding, build the arena and run it. Those conversations are already underway.

An arena in Blackpool would bring significant economic and social benefits to our town, helping to drive year-round tourism, support existing cultural venues, increase overnight stays and boost hotels, restaurants, bars, retail businesses and attractions across Blackpool.

It could also create hundreds of construction jobs, permanent employment in venue operations and hospitality, and opportunities for apprenticeships and careers in events, tourism and the creative industries.

The arena could also act as a catalyst for wider private-sector investment around Blackpool Central, encouraging further regeneration and strengthening the town's position as the UK's entertainment capital.

For too long we’ve watched major events choose other towns and cities because we simply haven’t had the facilities to compete. This investment gives us the opportunity to explore whether we can change that.

There is still a significant amount of work ahead. A detailed business case must demonstrate that an arena is financially viable, deliverable and represents the right investment for Blackpool. I welcome that process because it’s vital that any proposal is built on strong evidence and delivers lasting benefits for our town.

I’m looking forward to working constructively with Blackpool Council, Blackpool Tourism Ltd, investors, industry partners and local residents to explore the opportunity. If the evidence demonstrates that an arena can succeed in Blackpool, I hope we can come together to deliver a transformational project that benefits our town for generations to come.