Motorists are being urged to “plan ahead” as Mancunian Way will be closed on what is a busy weekend of events.
This weekend alone, Manchester United will face Tottenham Hotspur in a Premier League clash at home at Old Trafford with a 5:30pm kick-off, boyband The Wanted will take to the stage at the AO Arena as part of their reunion tour, and the Manchester ‘Irish Parade’ will make its through Cheetham Hill to the city centre to mark St Patrick’s Day.
But this is all happening on a weekend when the major road in and out of the city centre, the Mancunian Way, is to be fully closed in both directions.
TfGM says the closure is for “annual maintenance”.
A statement confirming the full closure on its website, TfGM says: “On Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 March, the Mancunian Way will close for its annual maintenance.
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“86,000 vehicles typically use the Mancunian Way on a matchday, so its closure means that a large number of vehicles will be dispersed onto surrounding roads and diversion routes [and] to avoid being caught in the congestion, it’s important that you plan ahead and familiarise yourself with the recommended diversion routes.”
The closure is confirmed to be between Pin Mill Brow and Chester Road roundabout.
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For those making their way to one of the aforementioned events, or for those needing to travel into the city centre for other reasons, TfGM has advised that people “plan ahead” and has set out some alternative routes and transport options for motorists to consider.
In most instances, people are being “strongly urged” to use public transport.
For those opting to travel by car, TfGM recommends using the M60 for journeys through the city centre, especially for west to east and east to west trips, and advises using junction 7 to travel into the city centre on the Sunday as this “may be the quickest route”, while also adding that roadworks are also taking place on Trinity Way, which will “affect southbound journey times” near to the AO Arena.
For people heading to Old Trafford who “have no alternative but to drive”, TfGM says it “strongly dissuades” travelling through the city centre, and fans should use the M60 and then travel to the ground via junctions 7 and 9, or use one of the Metrolink Park and Ride sites at either Parkway or Ladywell.
Making your way to AO Arena on either Saturday or Sunday? Again, for those who have no other option but to drive, TfGM recommends travelling early and allowing plenty of time for your journey, and using the M60 and then approaching the Arena from the north via the A580 (junction 14), Bury New Road (junction 17), or the A576 (junction 19).
People travelling into the city centre will also need to plan around the Irish Parade, which is returning to Manchester on Sunday 13 March, and will departing from the Irish Centre at midday and travel south along Cheetham Hill Road to the AO Arena, before turning round and returning to the Irish Centre.
To allow for the parade to take place, a number of road closure will be in place on the day.
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Queens Road (westbound) – 10am to 2:30pm
Queens Road (eastbound) – 11:30am to 2:30pm
Cheetham Hill Road – 11:30am to 2:30pm.
“These closures mean all traffic will need to use alternative routes and there could be congestion on these roads, especially roads near the parade route,” TfGM says.
You can find more information about the Mancunian Way closure this weekend here.
Manchester’s AO Arena scoop up Take That as Keane’s Co-op Live gig is cancelled in ongoing venue saga
Daisy Jackson
Manchester’s existing arena, the AO Arena, has stepped in to host more concerts that have been postponed by Co-op Live, with yet another act being cancelled too.
First it was A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, announced earlier today and now, in perhaps the most damning twist of fate for the brand-new venue, Take That’s five-night run that was set for the Co-op Live this May has now been moved to the AO Arena.
Their two June dates at the new arena are said to be unaffected.
The Co-op Live‘s official opening has been hit with several delays, with events like Peter Kay’s double bill, Olivia Rodrigo and The Black Keys all already postponed over the last week or so.
Issuing a statement after rescuing multiple Take That shows, AO Arena general manager Jen Mitchell, said: “It wouldn’t be a Take That tour without a stop-off in Manchester, so it’s great to welcome the band and their fans back to AO Arena for five nights, in the heart of this wonderful city.”
The venue has naturally welcomed the sudden flood of extra names being added to its already strong lineup for 2024, doing its best to minimise inconvenience for gig-goers who have made travel arrangements, booked hotels etc.
As for the group themselves, they also responded to their tens of thousands of fans expecting to see them from this weekend onwards.
Confessing that they’ve had to make “the difficult decision” to switch venues and although “it’s not one [they’ve taken lightly], they wanted to give fans as much notice as possible”, adding: “We thank you for your understanding and we’ll see you all soon”.
Meanwhile, Noughties favourites Keane have sadly had to shelve their Manchester show for the foreseeable following the venue’s continuing “technical issues”.
Announcing the news on their social pages on Thursday evening, they admitted that they were “absolutely gutted” but that the decision was “entirely out of the control”.
Notably, the huge new venue by the Etihad Stadium had to turn away fans who were already queueing for A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie on Monday 1 May, after part of an air conditioning unit fell from the ceiling onto a (thankfully) empty arena floor.
Question marks had already been hanging over whether some upcoming gigs would be able to go ahead and now it seems that they will be taking place – just not at the Co-op Live…
Manchester’s decades-old AO Arena, the largest indoor venue in the UK (until the Co-op Live opens), will be welcoming Keane to its stage instead.
With so many people having been pitting the two venues against one another over the last weeks and months, let’s just say it’s quite clear who’s come out looking better at the minute…
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie moves Manchester gig to AO Arena following Co-op Live cancellation
Danny Jones
Rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has confirmed that his cancelled Co-op Live gig has now been moved to Manchester’s AO Arena this weekend.
After suddenly being lined up as the venue’s first official gig after the postponement of both Peter Kay and The Black Keys, the American hip-hop artists’ show ended up going the same as the others previously scheduled for the new arena and being pulled at the last minute.
With guests being turned away from the still-yet-to-open Co-op Live Arena just hours before the show was set to start, and Olivia Rodrigo fans being given the same unfortunate news ahead of her gig this Saturday, ABWDH has taken matters into his own hands.
Announcing the rescheduling of his concert on X, the 28-year-old artist confirmed that Wednesday night’s gig has now been relocated to Co-op’s main rival, the AO Arena.
Set to take place on Saturday, the artist – which just so happens to be his first name (yes, seriously) – had a simple message for his fans: “We won’t give up that easy, let’s go!”.
Nevertheless, it hasn’t stopped the venue – which is set to become the UK’s biggest indoor entertainment venue and one of the largest in Europe when it finally does open – from announcing more events over the coming months and well into 2025.
Confirming the show on their social pages, the AO simply promised, “It’s going to be a brilliant night and we can’t wait to see you all here.”
The AO Arena has hosted some of the biggest names in the entire world in the course of its existence and recently underwent a £50m refurbishment that included the launch of The Mezz.
Safe to say this presents an interesting twist in events when so many people have been pitting the two venues against one another.
Question marks have been hanging over whether more upcoming gigs, like Keane on Sunday 5 May, and then a five-night run of gigs from Take That will still be able to go ahead.
It remains to be seen whether other artists will follow suit in moving their shows should more cancellations/postponements be announced.
You can recap everything that’s happened so far down below: