Swansea Arena has been sparkling in recent days as early lighting tests continue at the venue.
Over 1,600 gold-coloured panels have now been installed around the outside of the development, complete with 95,000 LED lights.
Many thousands of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians will have noticed the most recent tests, with thousands of sparkling white lights giving the arena a festive look in the early evenings in the build-up to Christmas.
Further preparatory tests will take place in coming weeks and months.
The tests will help determine what works best on the arena’s façade to better understand how it can be used in future.
The arena is one feature of the £135m Copr Bay phase one district being developed by Swansea Council and advised by development managers RivingtonHark.
Construction of Copr Bay phase one – led by Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd – will be complete later this year, with the arena, to be run by the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), opening its doors in early 2022.
Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “The festive sparkling lights many people have seen around the outside of Swansea Arena in the early evenings are a sign of things to come as this iconic new Swansea landmark starts to take even more shape ahead of its completion.
“Further lighting tests will follow in coming weeks, with the arena’s programme of stars for 2022 also making more and more progress.
“But as well as world class entertainment, the arena and the whole of the Copr Bay district is worth so much more. It’ll generate hundreds of jobs for local people, create more footfall and spending in our city centre, and give Swansea’s economy a £17.1m a year boost.”
Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “The lights outside the arena in our emerging Copr Bay district complement everything else we’re doing in Swansea to create a festive atmosphere for residents, businesses and visitors to the city.
“This includes the return of Waterfront Winterland – run by Sayers – at the nearby Museum Park and the arrival of the Christmas Market in the city centre.
“Thousands of colour-changing Christmas lights are also now in place in other parts of the city centre, along with two Christmas trees and the return of the panto at the Grand Theatre from December 10 to January 2.”
As well as Swansea Arena, Copr Bay phase one also includes a 1.1-acre coastal park, the new bridge over Oystermouth Road, new apartments, new car parking and new spaces for leisure and hospitality businesses.
The arena feature of the development is being part-funded by the £1.3 billion Swansea Bay City Deal, with the bridge being part-funded by the Welsh Government’s Active Travel Fund.
