New images have offered a glimpse inside Swansea's £135m indoor arena.
The 3,500-capacity digital arena in Oystermouth Road is on course to open in the second half of 2021, according to Swansea Council. The outer shell of the structure is also taking shape and will eventually be covered with 93,000 programmable LED light bulbs in time for the long-anticipated venue to host top music acts and conferences.
Major progress on the interior of the building is shown in the latest look inside the project as the foyer area and auditorium, complete with tiered seating, are revealed for the first time. The auditorium gantry is in place and the images show a sweeping foyer area complete with glass panelled outer walls.
Other plans for the finished site include a two-storey car park with parkland on its roof. The base of the cafe and restaurant that will feature in the parkland can be seen in the newly-released images.
As excitement builds for the opening of the new arena, Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), which is behind a chain of theatres in the West End and Broadway, has signed a long-term deal to run the new venture.
The company is recruiting for four positions for people to become an integral part of the venue, and they all offer salaries of £40,000 per annum. The group is looking for a conference and events manager, operations manager, head of marketing and sales, and a technical and building manager.
A new footpath and cycleway is also being created running alongside the arena and the car park will come complete with a "living wall".
The newly installed Copr Bay bridge also features in the images after being lifted into place recently. The eye-catching golden structure has divided opinion in the city, with some people comparing it to a taco or the inside of a Crunchie chocolate bar. It was recently illuminated with temporary lighting to give people an idea of what it might eventually look like at night.
When officially opened, the 50m long landmark bridge will link the two sides of the Copr Bay Phase One project, near to the LC, St David's Church, and Tesco Marina. The aim is to help bring the city and the sea closer together.
Swansea Council is financing Copr Bay Phase One, with some funding for the arena coming from the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal.
