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In pictures – inside Manchester’s enormous new arena as the Co-op Live officially opens its doors

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 21st April 2024

At long last, Manchester’s huge new arena, the Co-op Live, is up and running.

The venue has been under construction near the Etihad Stadium for several years, and now the gargantuan space has hosted its first event.

Although the Co-op Live doesn’t officially launch until Tuesday, a test event last night saw Everything Everything and Rick Astley performing to a smaller crowd.

The £365m music venue is the largest indoor venue in the UK, with an overall capacity of 23,500 fans.

Not only has Harry Styles invested in the arena, he’s also consulted on several elements of the build.

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It’s hoped that it will provide the best possible gig-going experience both for artists and fans.

And Harry popped up to say hello at the test event… via screen.

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Other famous faces offering video endorsements included Phil Foden and David Beckham.

At last night’s test event, the first fans through the door were treated to a vast space bathed in blue (that might have something to do with its links to the City Football Group…) and got to see inside the huge arena space itself, which has the largest floor space of any indoor arena.

The Co-op Live isn’t actually quite finished yet – still to come will be 32 bars, restaurants and lounges around and inside the site.

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And last night’s event didn’t go without its hiccups, with many fans finding that their tickets for Rick Astley had been cancelled with just hours to go.

Co-op Live's launch event
Co-op Live’s launch event
Inside Co-op Live in Manchester
Inside Co-op Live in Manchester
Investor Harry Styles joined the Co-op Live launch by video
Investor Harry Styles joined the Co-op Live launch by video
Inside Co-op Live
Inside Co-op Live

Co-op Live said in a statement yesterday: “We’re busy putting the finishing touches on Co-op Live, and we are looking forward to Co-op Live becoming the pre-eminent arena in the UK upon opening.

“As a part of the opening process, we are in the midst of an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures. To enable us to test the spaces effectively, we have made the difficult decision to reduce overall capacity for today’s test event.

“We apologise to affected guests and look forward to welcoming them to The Black Keys.”

After the official launch on Tuesday 23 April, acts lined up in the coming weeks will include Take That, Olivia Rodrigo, The Black Keys and Nicki Minaj.

You can see a full tour of inside the new Co-op Live arena below:

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Manc music legend Peter Hook is running his fourteenth Great Manchester Run for charity

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Peter Hook

Manchester music icon Peter Hook is taking on an incredible endurance challenge for charity next month.

The Great Manchester Run is coming up next month on Sunday 18 May, with thousands of runners taking up the 10K or Half Marathon challenges either for their own personal achievements, or in the name of a number of worthy causes.

First staged in 2003 as a legacy event following the Manchester-hosted Commonwealth Games in 2002, the 10K has grown to be one of the largest in Europe, and in recent years, it has evolved to include a popular half marathon too.

35,000 runners are taking on the challenge this year, with 100,000 supporters set to line the streets… and one of those runners is none other than the legend himself, Peter Hook.

Incredibly, this is the fourteenth time the former bassist and co-founder of two of Manchester’s biggest bands, Joy Division and New Order, has taken part in the Great Manchester Run.

And it’s also the fourteenth time he’s raising money for The Christie Charity in the process.

Peter Hook
Great Manchester Run 2023 guide
Manc music legend Peter Hook is running his fourteenth Great Manchester Run for charity next month / Credit: Wikipedia Commons | Great Run Company

Hooky, as he’s affectionately known by friends and fans, took on his first run in 2006 and has continued over the years raising money for The Christie Charity – which supports the work of The Christie hospital in Manchester.

Peter’s relationship with The Christie and its charity started when he lived in Withington for many years and saw patients going into the hospital for treatment, and sadly things became very personal when two good friends, as well as family members were treated there – his former manager Tony Wilson, musician Dave Dee, and his aunt and father-in-law.

“I love running as it clears my head, and I can’t think of a better cause to run in support of,” Peter Hook explained ahead of the Great Manchester Run next month.

“The feeling of hope and solidarity on the day is fantastic and the sense of achievement when you finish is second to none, so I’m extremely proud to be representing The Christie Charity and supporting the wonderful work it does.”

Josh Hughff, who is the mass participation events officer at The Christie Charity, added: “Hooky is one of our longest standing event participants and we’re delighted he has chosen to support us again this year.

“He knows better than most just how important the work of The Christie is and how crucial charity fundraising is, as it allows us to fund life-changing and life-saving projects that will benefit cancer patients both now and in the future.”

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You can cheer Peter Hook and all the other runners on when they take part in the Great Manchester Run on Sunday 18 May.

Featured Image – Supplied

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Central Cee at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist, and more for ‘Can’t Rush Greatness’ tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Alright. UK rap act Central Cee is bringing his usual charm and witty bars to Co-op Live for a night of rap caviar, fully catered for by the Shepherd’s Bush native.

Cee, a.k.a. ‘Cench’, has been gaining traction since dropping freestyles on social media before eventually releasing his breakout hit ‘Day in the Life’ back in 2020.

This gig will be packed with everything from a stellar setlist to a powerful stage presence from the London MC, you’ll be up on your feet from the first song right through to the encore.

Don’t fret because this guide will have you covered with everything from A to B to make sure your night is nothing less than ‘5 Star’.

Central Cee at Co-op Live gig guide

Central Cee at Co-op Live, Manchester - tickets, times, setlist, and more for 'Can't Rush Greatness' tour
Credit: Press Shot (supplied)

Central Cee UK tour dates

  • Fri 18 April – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Sat 19 April – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Thu 24 April – London, UK – The O2
  • Sun 27 April – Glasgow, UK – OVO Arena

Are there tickets left for Central Cee at Co-op Live in Manchester?

Tickets for this show aren’t ‘Limitless’ but there are still a handful of tickets left for this highly anticipated UK arena tour, including Cench’s Co-op Live date.

Fans can pick from a range of seating and standing options starting at £42.50 and reaching £81.95, so you’re really getting lots of value for your ‘GBP’ – I’ll stop now, I promise…

Anyone looking at grabbing a ticket or two can take a pick from their limited selection HERE.

Central Cee setlist

  • Limitless
  • 5 Star
  • Day in the Life
  • 6 For 6
  • Cold Shoulder
  • Ruby
  • Commitment Issues
  • Loading
  • St. Patrick’s
  • Ten
  • Straight Back To It
  • Gbp
  • Obsessed With You
  • Did It First
  • Me & You
  • Mrs
  • gen z luv
  • Now We’re Strangers
  • LET GO
  • Doja
  • Truth in the Lies
  • Overseas
  • Must Be
  • CRG
  • UK Rap
  • Sprinter
  • BAND4BAND
  • No Introduction

What are the stage times for Central Cee in Manchester?

Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning concertgoers can get ‘Straight Back To It’ the following day without having to stay up all night to hear the rapper’s huge tunes.

Doors for the event will be open from 6.30pm, with those famous drill beats filling the massive Co-op Live venue from 8pm onwards.

There are currently no confirmed support acts as of yet, but with Cench appearing in the hometown of Manc rapper Aitch, who knows, maybe the pair will work it out on the remix and squash their squabble once and for all?

What’s going down between Aitch and Central Cee?

How to get to Co-op Live

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, luckily, it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.

Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bus

You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.

Getting there by car and parking

If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time and there are designated drop-off areas.

The postcode is M11 3DU and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.

Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day – though estimates will obviously vary:

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  • Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
  • Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
  • Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.

There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:

  • Ashton Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
  • Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
  • Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces

Walk/cycle

Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the southwest corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.

For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.

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Central Cee at Co-op Live, Manchester - tickets, times, setlist, and more for 'Can't Rush Greatness' tour
Credit: Supplied

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Featured Image – Publicity Pictures (supplied)

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