The Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground has addressed claims that the venue was ‘dangerously overcrowded’ at recent concerts.
The Manchester venue has hosted Harry Styles, The Killers and Red Hot Chilli Peppers in the last few weeks as the city’s huge summer of music kicked off in earnest.
With crowds of up to 50,000 for live music event, it’s one of the region’s largest venues.
But fans say their recent gig experiences have been marred by poor organisation and overcrowding.
Dozens of negative reviews and complaints have been filed online from the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground, saying it’s been ‘overcrowded’, ‘poorly staffed and unsafe’.
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The venue has since insisted that ‘guest safety will always be at the heart of the events’ held there.
One video shared by a gig-goer showed a person slumped over on a tarpaulin while another appeared to argue with a steward.
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They wrote: “I cannot believe you sold this many tickets and didn’t even check who had seating. I had to help people get out because your stewards were brushing them off as drunk when having a panic attack.”
Someone else wrote on Twitter: “@EmiratesOT is the worst stadium I have ever been too. Awful organisation, poorly staffed and imo unsafe. Lucky not to get trampled on whilst leaving a gig. Overcrowded.”
Another said: “Worst venue I’ve ever attended. Nearly got crushed. Leaving one SINGLE gate unattended for everyone getting in and out. The stewards attitude was disgusting. No crowd control at all. Clearly oversold.”
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On TripAdvisor, one person wrote: “Amazed a venue in 2022 could be so dangerous. Massively oversold for the size. From the second you clear security it was absolute chaos and people trapped with no where to move around. Completely trapped and more and more fans pouring in behind.
“We witnessed numerous fans come into medical trouble and the untrained staff just waved them away as if they were drunk. Disabled and families had no way of getting to seating area. Nowhere near enough exits. And then stopping people exiting after the show! If an incident were to have happened this would have been a disaster.”
Another reviewer claimed: “If I could give minus I would! Avoid this venue at all costs if attending a concert. Just been to see the Red Hot Chill Peppers and I can honestly say I have never been to a worse venue.
“The organisation was a complete disgrace. They dangerously oversold it and packed so many people in there was no room to move. Anywhere!!
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“We attend gigs regularly all up and down the UK and I have never experienced anything like this! If this is how they run all concerts then it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
“If you want to see your favourite artist perform pick another venue on the tour – one that knows how to run such an event safely. I will never go back there.”
A spokesperson for Emirates Old Trafford said: “All events at Emirates Old Trafford are reviewed continuously to improve the guest experience by working alongside all stakeholders that are involved.
“Our guest safety will always be at the heart of the events we host at Emirates Old Trafford.”
Featured image: The Manc Group
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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: