A new 12,500-capacity arena and surrounding complex will be named after a regional daily thanks to a sponsorship deal involving its publisher.

The Press & Journal has revealed the new £333 million complex, in Aberdeen, will officially be named P&J Live after DC Thomson Media revealed it will become the inaugural naming rights sponsor of the venue after reaching an agreement with its operator SMG Europe.

According to DC Thomson, the arena will bring “some of the biggest stars” in music and entertainment to Aberdeen, as well as conferences and exhibitions with attendees from across the globe, after it opens this summer.

It is expected to bring an additional 4.5m visitors to the city with an additional visitor spend of £113m, while 350 jobs will also be created.

An artist’s impression of the complex

Alan McCabe, editor-in-chief of The Press & Journal, said: “DC Thomson Media is delighted to be making a significant investment in the future of Aberdeen and the North-east by supporting this truly phenomenal venue.

“There’s a lot to be positive about in Aberdeen right now and we see this as big vote of confidence for the region. P&J Live will provide a visitor experience far beyond anything seen in the city and will attract visitors from far and wide and give us all an opportunity to shout about what a great place this is to live, work and play.”

Events already lined up for the impressive venue include concerts my musicians Lewis Capaldi and Elton John, as well as comedian Russell Howard.

Nick Waight, managing director at P&J Live, said: “We are thrilled to welcome P&J Live as our official naming rights partner. Having a brand which has strong roots in Aberdeen is incredibly important to us and being part of DC Thomson Media is hugely positive for our business and pivotal to the success of this transformational project.

“We look forward to a strong partnership and bringing P&J Live to life, delivering on a fantastic new venue for entertainment, conferencing and exhibitions for Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland.”