Co-op Live has partnered with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to offer free tram and bus travel to and from the new area for all event ticket holders.
Travel on the Metrolink and new city centre shuttle buses via the Bee Network will be included in all arena event tickets during the brand-new venue’s opening season from 20 April to 30 June 2024 as part of the just-announced initiative.
Under the new venue-funded initiative, fans will be able to use the Metrolink from four hours before, and up to four hours after (depending on the timing of each show) shows with a valid arena event ticket.
This will apply all four zones of the Metrolink, which should therefore allow people to travel at a time that’s most convenient to them – especially following the recent introduction of trams every six minutes all-day from Monday to Saturday, and later trams on a Friday and Saturday, too.
The number of shuttle buses available will vary by event profile, according to Co-op Live, with a maximum of 10 buses per show deparing from Joe Mercer Way at the Etihad Campus and arriving at Piccadilly Gardens.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bosses at the Bee Network and the state-of-the-art new venue – which is set to not only be the biggest in the UK, but in Europe – say including tram and shuttle bus travel with all event tickets will help to ensure fans can make a “quick and easy getaway at the end of the night”, no matter whether they’re heading back home or into Manchester city centre to enjoy further attractions.
“We are dedicated to ensuring easy and accessible transport links to and from Co-op Live,” commented Gary Roden, who is the Executive Director and General Manager of Co-op Live, as the new transport offer was announced.
“We are delighted to be working with TfGM to offer this inclusive service for our fans for opening season.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Coupled with the planning application submitted for a new ‘CityLink’ walking route from the city centre to the Etihad Campus, we are further demonstrating our commitment to the environment by encouraging more sustainable transport choices, and providing additional neighbour-friendly options to support increased footfall across East Manchester.”
To claim travel across the network, all fans must be in possession of a valid event ticket – which they will need to show on request.
Find out more via the dedicated page on TfGM’s website here.
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Entire tram line suspended due to overhead line damage at Old Trafford
Daisy Jackson
Metrolink trams along the Altrincham line have been suspended due to damage to an overhead line near Old Trafford.
The damage, caused by a third party, has caused significant disruption for commuters across the Greater Manchester region this afternoon.
No Metrolink tram services are operating between Altrincham and Piccadilly, in either direction.
Large queues are already forming for buses at Piccadilly Gardens as people attempt to get home.
Engineers have arrived on site to try and fix the issue, but ‘significant disruption’ is expected to continue into the evening.
TfGM and Metrolink have also deployed staff to assist people with their journeys at all stops in the city centre as well as at Old Trafford, Trafford Bar, and Cornbrook.
Trams between Bury and Deansgate-Castlefield are unaffected.
Ticket acceptance is in place on the 245, 255, 256, 263, 281 and 285 bus services and on Northern Rail services between Altrincham and the city centre. Simply show the driver your Metrolink ticket or pass when boarding.
You can plan the rest of your journey online using the TfGM journey planner here.
Pubs can extend their opening hours if England make it to the Euro 2024 semi-finals
Emily Sergeant
Pubs are to be permitted to extend their opening hours if England make it through to the semi-finals of EURO 2024 this summer.
With the Premier League, and the English and Scottish football leagues, all drawing to a close over the next couple of weeks, our nations are already looking ahead to what is gearing up to be a massive summer of sport – with both the UEFA EURO 2024, and the 2024 Olympics coming up before August is out.
And now, it’s been revealed by Home Secretary James Cleverly that if either England or Scotland’s mens national football teams make it to the semi-final of European football’s flagship tournament, then pubs will be allowed to stay open for longer.
But, there’s a bit of a catch… because isn’t there always?
The Government has said that venues will be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours on match days if either or both teams reach the last four or the final of the competition, but this only applies to pubs that already have a license to open until 11pm anyway.
Pubs can extend their opening hours if England make it to the Euro 2024 semi-finals / Credit: Piqsels | Wikimedia Commons
The move to extend opening hours comes after a consultation at the end of last year, and is hoped to provide a boost to the hospitality industry – which has notably been hit hard during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The Home Secretaries in England and Wales, under Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003, can make an order relaxing licensing hours to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, but the Scottish and Northern Irish Governments have to set their own rules.
“We have listened to the public through our consultation,” explained Home Secretary James Cleverley, “and we will be extending pub licensing hours should England or Scotland reach the semi-finals or final of Euro 2024.”
The EURO 2024 semi-finals are to be held on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 July / Credit: UEFA
Mr Cleverley said the move will “allow friends, families and communities to come together for longer to watch their nation hopefully bring it home”.
This legislation is set to be laid in Parliament today (Wednesday 8 May) to ensure there is enough time for it to be debated and passed before the tournament begins on Friday 14 June, the Government has confirmed.