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Brand new images give incredible glimpse inside Manchester’s new Co-op Live arena

The 23,500-capacity arena is set to open in 2023.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 19th October 2022

New images have been released that give a glimpse inside the Co-op Live arena, the enormous 23,500-capacity venue that’s being built beside the Etihad Stadium.

As the UK’s only music-first arena, and with expert design input from Bruce Springsteen and Harry Styles, Manchester’s exciting new arena will feature an innovative ‘smart bowl’.

It will have the largest floor space of any indoor venue, a lower ceiling than other arenas, and tiered seating that will take fans closer to the action.

Co-op Live is the first of its kind to be built with concert acoustics as a priority.

Not only will gig-goers experience state-of-the-art acoustics, there’ll be nothing to detract from the visual spectacles on stage either – the bowl will feature no corporate branding, and soundproof black curtains will be used in the suites that line the edges of level two.

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The smart bowl at Co-op Live arena. Credit: Supplied

There’ll be 32 bars, restaurants, and lounges around the site, including a locally sourced and sustainable food and drink offering.

The shell of the arena is now clearly taking shape just north of the city centre, with the project set to be complete in December 2023.

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It’s a joint venture between Oak View Group and City Football Group, with Harry Styles as a private investor and consultant in the design.

Harry said: “I am incredibly happy to be partnering with OVG on their plans for Co-op Live.

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“Manchester is an incredible city filled with incredible people and I couldn’t be happier to be involved in this project. It very much feels like coming home.”

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President of OVG International, Jessica Koravos, said: “Co-op Live is about the fan and the artist, it is specially designed to deliver the best sound, atmosphere and experience for everyone who walks through our doors.

“Innovative technology and design will bring a unique live entertainment experience to the UK.”

The venue will also have 330 tonnes of rigging capacity and eight loading bays, so some of the world’s biggest live productions can come to Manchester.

More images of Manchester’s new Co-op Live arena

The state-of-the-art smart bowl at Co-op Live. Credit: Supplied
The Co-op Live’s atrium. Credit: Supplied
The entrance. Credit: Supplied
A bar at the Co-op Live arena. Credit: Supplied
Canalside. Credit: Supplied
Credit: Supplied
The backstage club. Credit: Supplied
The Deck Suite. Credit: Supplied
The Atrium Mezzanine. Credit: Supplied
Atrium. Credit: Supplied
Dressing room. Credit: Supplied
Backstage Club entrance. Credit: Supplied

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Manchester’s Co-op Live arena postpones The Black Keys and Peter Kay (again)

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Co-op Live postpone The Black Keys and Peter Kay gigs again

The Co-op Live has announced it is postponing both The Black Keys gig and Peter Kay’s performance.

Both shows were set to take place this week as the huge arena finally opens in Manchester.

This is the second time Peter Kay has been rescheduled – the show was meant to officially open the venue earlier this week.

Co-op Live went ahead with a test event with Rick Astley last Saturday, albeit with a capacity that was reduced at the eleventh hour.

But the huge venue was hit with ‘power supply issues’ and took the ‘difficult decision’ to postpone Peter Kay.

It’s now gone one step further and pushed back The Black Keys – meant to be their first proper live music event – as well as Peter Kay AGAIN.

In a statement shared today, the Co-op Live said it has been ‘undertaking an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures to ensure all areas are ready for fans’.

It said that the shows are being rescheduled to ensure they can ‘run safely’.

The 23,500-capacity arena said this will give them ‘the extra time we need to continue testing enhanced emergency communications thoroughly’.

The Black Keys will now perform on 15 May, and Peter Kay on 23 and 24 May.

As for the Bolton-born comedian, he sounds somewhat in disbelief himself:

The legendary British stand-up

Co-op Live’s statement reads: “Since making the difficult decision to postpone the live shows at Co-op Live due to take place this week, we have been undertaking an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures to ensure all areas are ready for fans.

“To ensure that we can run all shows safely, regretfully we have now had to take the decision to reschedule the planned The Black Keys and Peter Kay shows.

“Both The Black Keys and Peter Kay have graciously agreed to reschedule their shows. The Black Keys will now perform on 15 May 2024, and Peter Kay will now perform on 23 and 24 May 2024.

“All tickets remain valid and ticket holders will be contacted by their point of purchase. Refunds will be available for those who can no longer attend.

“We deeply appreciate the impact this will have on excited fans, and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that this change will undoubtedly cause.

“Rescheduling Peter Kay and The Black Keys will give us the extra time we need to continue testing enhanced emergency communications thoroughly.

“This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size to ensure that our fans, artists and staff have the safest experience possible.”

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Featured Images — Press Images/The Manc Group

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Co-op Live boss resigns just days before venue’s official opening

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Gary is outta here.

The boss of Co-op Live, Manchester’s enormous, ground-breaking new arena, has resigned from his position just days before the venue is set to open.

The enormous music-first arena has been taking shape beside the Etihad Stadium for several years, and was due to welcome its first official audiences this week, but has been hit with last-minute challenges.

And now Co-op Live‘s boss Gary Roden has quit the mammoth project, with the news of his resignation announced late Thursday evening.

Oak View Group, which Co-op Live is part of, said in a statement that they would like to ‘thank Gary for his help bringing the UK’s newest arena to live entertainment fans’.

Stepping into his shoes as interim general manager will be Rebecca Kane Burton, who previously ran the U.K.’s highest-grossing venue, London’s The O2 arena.

Gary has previously come under fire for saying that some grassroots music venues ‘poorly run’ – a statement that OVG has now distanced itself from.

A separate statement said that ‘neither Co-op Live nor Oak View Group share the sentiment expressed by former Co-op Live General Manager Gary Roden regarding the grassroots industry’.

It continued: “As OVG Chairman and CEO Tim Leiweke has repeatedly stated, Co-op Live remains committed to grassroots music in Manchester and beyond, including teaming up with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham on the Artist of the Month campaign, and as a founding partner of Beyond The Music.

“Co-op Live also donates over £1m a year to the Co-op Foundation to support communities and empower young people to take social action through its new Young Gamechangers fund.

“Oak View Group and Co-op Live remain happy to meet with grassroots organisations once the venue is fully operational.”

Co-op Live boss Gary Roden speaking at the launch of Co-op Live just days before he resigned. Credit: The Manc Group
Co-op Live boss Gary Roden speaking at the launch of Co-op Live just days before he resigned. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside Co-op Live in Manchester
Inside Co-op Live in Manchester

The news of the venue’s boss stepping down comes at a time when all eyes are on Co-op Live, the opening of which has been delayed.

The Co-op Live’s opening event – two nights with Bolton comic legend Peter Kay – was pushed back due to ‘power supply issues’.

The venue did host a test event with Rick Astley last weekend, but even that faced difficulties, with thousands of tickets cancelled to reduce capacity just hours before showtime.

It’s now set to officially open this Saturday 27 April with a performance by rock group The Black Keys.

The full statement from OVG about Gary’s resignation said: “Gary Roden has decided to resign. We’d like to thank Gary for his help bringing the UK’s newest arena to live entertainment fans and wish him the best for the future.

“Rebecca Kane Burton has been named Interim GM, effective today. Rebecca is a seasoned veteran of venue management and live entertainment in the UK having served as VP/GM of The O2 from 2012-2016 and CEO of LW Theatres from 2016-2021.

“We are focused on opening Co-op Live.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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