Contractors are on site preparing for main construction work that will see the 3,500-capacity attraction built on part of the car park adjacent to the LC.

The arena is due to be part-funded by the £1.3 billion Swansea Bay City Deal as part of the Swansea City and Waterfront Digital District project that’s now been approved by the UK Government and Welsh Government, subject to final terms and conditions being agreed.

Other features of the City Deal project in Swansea include a digital village development for tech and digitally focussed businesses on Kingsway, and a box village and innovation precinct facility for start-up companies at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David SA1 Waterfront.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader and Chairman of the Swansea Bay City Deal’s Joint Committee, said: “This is the start of a transformational project for Swansea. Thousands of residents and visitors share our excitement at the opportunities and benefits it will bring.

“Having the contractors on site for this preparatory work is yet another big step forward. This follows on from a major announcement that the UK and Welsh Governments are soon releasing £19 million of City Deal funding, based on the approval of projects including the Swansea City and Waterfront Digital District.

“It’s a significant moment as we deliver a project that will be a catalyst for the transformation and success of Swansea city centre for future generations.

“The arena project is gathering pace. This is a big deal for Swansea - an end to the artist impressions and a beginning for new landmarks.”

The arena attraction also forms part of an overall £120 million scheme known as Swansea Central phase one that will include new homes, commercial units, a digital square, a coastal themed park, a broad pedestrian bridge over Oystermouth Road, and hundreds of new parking spaces too.

Swansea Council is behind the scheme, with principal contractor Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd undertaking the preparatory work on site.

RivingtonHark, appointed by Swansea Council, is development manager for Swansea Central phase one.

The LC car park remains open throughout the works. Local businesses and venues such as the LC and the National Waterfront Museum also remain open and accessible.

Main contract works on Swansea Central phase one are due to be complete in early 2021.

ATG (Ambassador Theatre Group), which operates close to 50 venues worldwide, from London’s West End and across the UK to the United States and Germany, will run the indoor arena.

The £1.3 billion Swansea Bay City Deal will also see major investment in a number of other transformational projects across South West Wales in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot.