Yorkshire’s Olympic and Paralympic heroes will be given a homecoming to remember with a major event at the Leeds first direct arena on October 10.
Olympians and Paralympians will take to the stage to talk about their exploits in an event hosted by 2016 Olympic medallist Nile Wilson and sports broadcaster Tanya Arnold.
Athletes attending include Jess Learmonth, Jonny Brownlee, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Jack Laugher MBE and Hannah Cockroft MBE among many others - with more athletes being confirmed daily.
Tickets are available to the public for just £5 per ticket which includes a donation to charity SportsAid, an organisation that has supported so many of the Yorkshire athletes, and will include live entertainment including headline Yorkshire act, The Skylights, along with Phoenix Dance, Yorkshire Prose live poetry and other acts.
Tickets have been priced as affordably as possible to give thousands of people the chance to be part of this historic event to celebrate our county’s athletes under one roof, together.
Channel 4, who have just opened their new National HQ in Leeds, are backing the event – which will take place on Sunday October 10 from 3-5pm – as headline partner.
Tickets go on sale on Friday from 9am via the arena. In addition to the public tickets, free tickets will be distributed to local grassroots sports clubs, and organisations working with more vulnerable children and young people to enable these groups to attend the event.
All of Yorkshire’s 22 councils are joining forces on the event, with Leeds City Council acting as lead organiser supported by Yorkshire and Humber Councils.
Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis, said: “Our Leeds and Yorkshire athletes performed brilliantly at Tokyo 2020, and this homecoming celebration event promises to be the perfect way of congratulating them all on their inspiring achievements.
"The first direct arena will be the ideal venue and we are delighted to have Channel 4 supporting the event, so we look forward to a really special day honouring our sporting heroes and the importance of grassroots sports across the county which helped produce them.”
Sinead Rocks, Channel 4 MD Nations and Regions, said: “Channel 4 is delighted to join the celebrations welcoming back Yorkshire’s athletes from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic and Olympic Games. Having just opened our new national HQ at the Majestic in Leeds, we’re thrilled to be able to join the party giving our athletes a rousing welcome home.”
Tickets are £5 plus booking fee and can be purchased via the arena here.
Leeds
Major Leeds Festival artist cancels string of dates after losing voice
Rising rock star Violet Grohl has addressed fans after cancelling a series of sold-out gigs just hours before fans entered the venue.
The singer (who, yes, is the daughter of Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl) had been set to perform to a packed-out crowd at Band On The Wall in Manchester last night.
But just hours before doors opened, Violet announced that the show would be postponed, along with tonight’s show in Glasgow.
She said in a statement that she was ‘really f**king bummed’ to be cancelling the shows.
Violet told fans that the gigs had to be cancelled because she ‘doesn’t have a voice right now’.
She is due to perform on The Canopy stage at Leeds Festival this Friday, and its sister site Reading Festival on Sunday.
The star added ‘it pains me to make this decision’ as she officially postponed her Manchester show.
Those who had tickets will receive updated information soon, with the plan to reschedule them.
She wrote: “hey everyone. really f**king bummed to have to let yall know i’m canceling tonight and tomorrow’s shows in Manchester and Glasgow.
“i don’t have a voice right now and it pains me to make this decision, but i just can’t perform.
“we’re rescheduling these shows and everyone who bought a ticket will receive the updated info. looking forward to seeing you soon xx i’ll be back!!!”
Violet Grohl released her debut album, Be Sweet To Me, back in May, produced at the home of acclaimed producer Justin Raisen.
Her music takes influence from late 80s and early 90s rock, including Pixies, Soundgarden, Bjork, PJ Harvey, and more.
When she announced her UK tour dates, demand was so overwhelming her Manchester show was upgraded from The Deaf Institute to Band On The Wall.
Leeds United among Premier League clubs with the cheapest pints, new data reveals
Clementine Hall
Leeds United fans looking for a crisp pre-match pint, you're in luck.
Why? Because new data has revealed Leeds United as one of the Premier League clubs offering the cheapest pints.
It's al down to credit card provider Zable who analysed the average price of a pint at pubs near every Premier League stadium, revealing which fanbases pay the most, and least, for their pre-match drink.
You'll be glad to know that Leeds United ranked a very respectable fifth among the Premier League teams with the cheapest pre-match pints, with fans paying an average of £4.74 at pubs near the Elland Road Stadium.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
However, if fans are looking to grab a drink inside the stadium, they face a higher price tag, with a pint costing £5.60, a difference of over 18%.
Newly promoted Coventry supporters are getting the best deal in the league with the average pint nearby to the stadium costing £4.16, whilst Sunderland came in second please (£4.41), followed by Hull City (£4.70).
The top 10 most expensive pre-game pint prices at nearby stadium pubs:
Coventry (£4.16)
Sunderland (£4.41)
Hull City (£4.70)
Bournemouth (£4.72)
Leeds United (£4.74)
Liverpool (£4.95)
Newcastle United (£5.07)
Manchester United (£5.18)
Ipswich Town (£5.27)
Nottingham Forest (£5.34)
Adam McAllister at Zable says: "For many fans, grabbing a pint before kick-off is part and parcel of the matchday experience, but our research shows that where you choose to drink can make a noticeable difference to the price. While stadium pints are often assumed to be more expensive, that's not always the case.
"With the cost of attending football continuing to add up, from tickets and travel to food and drinks, small differences like these can make a real impact on the overall cost of a matchday. Taking a little time to compare prices before heading to the stadium this season could help fans make their money go further, whether they choose to have a pint at the pub or inside the ground."
Georgina Pellant -
24th September 2021 
