The AO Arena has announced several details of its enormous transformation project, including increasing its capacity to 23k.
The venue in Manchester city centre is currently the largest indoor arena in the UK and Europe, and has undergone a £50m redevelopment.
When the project is completed, fans will be able to make use of new features like a brand-new lower concourse, a standing floor that has had a 100% capacity increase, and a brand new food and drink offering too.
Despite its new 23,000-fan capacity, the AO Arena promises that fans will feel even closer to their favourite artists.
The 30-year-old venue has gone through a complete re-imagination and reconstruction while continuing to host huge gigs and sporting events throughout.
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AO Arena and ASM Global say that the entire visitor experience will be improved, for gig-goers and performers and venue staff alike.
That includes new entrances with state-of-the-art technology that will make getting in and out of the arena the quickest of any venue in Europe.
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The concourse spaces will be digitised, helping concert-goers to find their way around the arena.
The Mezz at the AO Arena after its transformationThe AO Arena will have brand new bars for fansA new restaurant space at the AO Arena after its redevelopment project
There’ll be brand new bars throughout the AO Arena, and the new The Mezz restaurant and bar, where the menu will be created by Michelin-star chef Simon Rogan and Tom Barnes, who opens Skof in Manchester this year.
The AO Arena’s redevelopment project also includes improved acoustics, sound and sightlines, and the venue already had ones that were regarded as the best in Europe.
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Backstage, there are all-new back of house facilities for artists and touring crews.
Chris Bray, president of ASM Global Europe said: “As part of AO Arena’s redevelopment we have dramatically expanded the standing floor space which means it will compete with any other venue in the UK.
“Its unique bowl configuration means that AO Arena proudly remains the biggest sporting indoor arena, and we are excited to continue to host the world’s biggest and most exciting events here in the heart of Manchester.”
The new-look event floor at the AO Arena ManchesterThe AO Arena’s £50m redevelopment includes new event bars
At a topping out ceremony last month, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham described the venue as ‘the beating heart of Manchester’.
Aitch also visited that day, saying: “When the AO Arena asked me to be part of tonight I thought, how can I say no? It’s always been a huge part of the culture here in Manchester and you know I’m all about anything that gives back to the community.
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“The AO has been pushing the music scene forward for over 27 years and over one million people walk through these legendary doors every year, and we have them right on our doorstep.”
Last year, the AO Arena raised tens of thousands of pounds and gave hundreds of hours to local community projects.
It also had record attendances for LTA Tennis, England Netball, KSI vs Fury and Elton John’s Farewell Tour.
This year, there’ll be more events like Peter Kay Live, The 1975, Bill Bailey, Niall Horan, Ne-Yo and more.
The AO Arena’s redevelopment will be revealed in full in March 2024. See all of its upcoming events here.
Co-op Live appears to tease major Mariah Carey Christmas gig sending fans into a frenzy
Emily Sergeant
All we want for Christmas… is Mariah Carey in Manchester.
And maybe, just maybe, our Christmas wish might come true very soon, as Co-op Live has taken to social media today to tease its next gig announcement with its hundreds of thousands of followers, and without jumping to conclusions, it does appear to be hinting at the queen of Christmas herself making an appearance.
Look, we know it’s only July and right in the middle of summer, but even if you think it’s too early to be talking about the festive season, you have to admit that the potential of Mariah Carey coming to Manchester is worth getting excited any time of the year.
The US pop powerhouse last performed in our city nearly a decade ago now when she brought her famous All I Want For Christmasshow to the UK for the first time ever, taking to sold-out Manchester Arena stage on 10 December 2017.
Mariah has not performed in Manchester since, but all that could be set to change as Co-op Live has hinted that an announcement is ‘coming soon’.
Taking to its official social media platforms today, Co-op Live posted a very festive-themed AI video of snow falling on the arena as the camera zoomed in and the instrumental of Mariah’s absolutely iconic hit ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ playing in the background, and the caption hinting at the song’s title too.
Of course, we could be wrong, it might not be Mariah at all, but if the 300+ comments from fans in a frenzy thinking the same as us are anything to go by, it’s looking like we might be right.
“The countdown to Christmas is on,” Co-op Live said in its video, before letting fans know that they would be getting some form of confirmation soon.
So, is it Mariah then? What do you think? Only time will tell, so stay tuned.
Featured Image – Picryl
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DMA’S announce VERY intimate shows ahead of major tour
Daisy Jackson
DMA’S have just announced details of some of their most intimate gigs yet, with the Aussie trio set to perform at record stores and tiny music venues around the UK.
The indie-rock heavyweights have just announced a handful of very intimate shows this summer, ahead of their much larger tour in 2027.
DMA’S will be treating fans to up-close acoustic gigs in cities including Manchester, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Dundee and Bristol.
The shows are to celebrate the release of their self-titled fifth album, which is due for release on 21 August.
DMA’S will be playing the outstore gigs the week after the album is released, kicking things off in Kingston on 24 August.
Then they’ll head out to some of the nation’s finest record stores and intimate event spaces, which means a show at The Yard here in Manchester.
DMA’S announce VERY intimate shows ahead of major tour. Credit: Roman Jody
DMA’S Manchester gig will be with Crash Records and Piccadilly Records, using the Cheetham Hill creative hub and record studio for the actual show.
Then they’ll end up back up North with a gig at Wardrobe in Leeds.
The announcement follows the release of the band’s latest single Killing Time, a fast-paced, euphoric and instantly infectious anthem that continues to build anticipation for the album.
This is a rare chance to see DMA’S – Johnny Took, Matt Mason and Tommy O’Dell – in an intimate setting, when they normally dominate some of the biggest stages in the world.
DMA’S have accrued over 500 million streams across their catalogue, four multi-platinum singles, multiple ARIA Award nominations, and 13 songs in triple j’s coveted Hottest 100.
These intimate outstores mean that fans won’t have to wait all the way until 2027 to see the boys live again, when they’ll be playing huge shows including two nights at the Manchester Academy.
DMA’S intimate record store shows
Monday 24 August – Kingston, Circuit (with Banquet)
Tuesday 25 August – Manchester, The Yard (with Crash & Piccadilly)
Wednesday 26 August – Middlesbrough, Empire (with Jacaranda)
Thursday 27 August – Dundee, Fat Sams (with Assai)
Daisy Jackson -
6th February 2024 
