Trafalgar Entertainment will manage the £50m Bradford Live venue opening this autumn after NEC pulled out.
The £50m venue used to be the Odeon cinema. It also was known as the Gaumont. It was supposed to open last year originally. NEC pulled out in a September announcement; they felt another operator would be better.
Bradford Live now has a new manager. The electric board displayed ‘Love It’ after the news. It followed slides showing ‘Bradford Live’ and ‘Trafalgar Entertainment.’ People near the National Media Museum are excited.
Joanne Littlefair and Neil Smith, a couple from Shipley, said it’s a hot topic. “Bradford is getting better,” they said. “We can’t wait to try it.” They added, “We watched The Grinch and Goldeneye there.”
Neil is happy something is finally happening. “It has been empty for decades now,” he said. “It would not be empty so long in Harrogate.” They will visit depending on the shows offered.
Ajmal Rashid, 42, wants to visit the venue. He thinks Bradford deserves it. “I will hopefully go,” he stated. “It is about time they found an operator.” He used to go to the Alhambra on trips and was always intrigued by the other building.
“This city deserves it,” he added. He noted the city’s regeneration. Alison and Graham Cotterill are from Skipton. They compared Bradford to Bruges, Belgium. “We are happy to see it looking good,” they mentioned.
“It is good the building will see use,” they said. “We’ll watch what they are putting on there.” They observed, “Bradford is looking better. City Hall looks like it belongs in Bruges.”
Zakara Nisa was in the city with her daughter. Visiting Bradford Live will be nostalgic. “I will go,” she ensured. “I look forward to it opening.” She recalled, “I watched Pearl Harbor at the Odeon. Reopening will be like a memory trip.”