Take That at AO Arena, Manchester – seating plan, stage times and more after gigs shift from Co-op Live arena

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Take That will perform at the AO Arena this week after Co-op Live delayed its opening - seating plan, stage times, setlist and more

Take That will perform at the AO Arena this week after Co-op Live delayed its opening - seating plan, stage times, setlist and more

There aren’t many bands who can sell out SEVEN arena shows in Manchester – but Take That is clearly one of them.

Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald were set to perform a staggering run of shows across May and June at the Co-op Live – but we all know what happened there.

Their first five gigs have now been moved to the AO Arena instead, and will officially kick off on Tuesday 7 May.

It’s a huge homecoming gig for the trio, who’ll be performing hits from their whopping nine studio albums.

Ever since their comeback in 2006 they’ve become one of the biggest and best-selling pop groups on the planet, with almost every album topping the charts and reaching Platinum status.

But change of venue for Take That has meant thousands of tickets have been reallocated, and there is a date change in the mix too.

If you’re one of the lucky ones to bag tickets for Take That’s This Life On Tour tour in Manchester, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know.

What dates are Take That performing in Manchester?

Take That’s first batch of Manchester gigs have moved from the Co-op Live (right) to the AO Arena. Credit: The Manc Group

At AO Arena

At Co-op Live

How to get your new tickets after venue change from Co-op Live

If you had tickets for the group’s original planned shows at the new Co-op Live arena, you’re probably wondering how the venue change will work.

Any tickets that were purchased through Ticketmaster will automatically change in your account in the next few days (if they haven’t already).

If you have any queries about your ticket, contact your point of purchase.

What if your new seats for Take That are worse than your original booking?

Take That will bring their huge 2024 tour to Manchester this week. Credit: Publicity picture

Ooh yeah, this has been a bit of a sore subject for Take That fans, some of whom have found themselves in much worse seats than they initially paid for.

That’s down to the different layouts of the two arenas, and the fact that the AO Arena is slightly smaller than Co-op Live.

The AO Arena has asked ticketing providers to reallocate seats as fairly as possible, keeping seats as close to the original booking as they can.

The arena said in a statement to one disgruntled fan: “We appreciate your frustration and advise you contact your provider to discuss further.”

On their FAQ page, it states: “The transfer process takes into account the position of previous tickets, and the number of tickets in the individual booking.

:However, each venue is different in their block row and seat configuration, which will undoubtedly mean that some fans won’t get exactly what they had for the original show.”

If you’re one of the affected people who’s not happy with your new seat, you need to contact your ticket provider directly for help and advice.

What to do if you can’t make the rescheduled date

Most of the Take That shows have remained on their original dates, simply switching from Co-op Live arena to the AO Arena.

But the show originally scheduled for Wednesday 8 May has unfortunately had to be rearranged to Thursday 9 May.

If the new date doesn’t work for you, refunds are available from your point of purchase.

Seating plan at the AO Arena for Take That’s Manchester gigs

The exact venue layout for Take That at the AO Arena hasn’t actually been released by Ticketmaster at the time of writing.

But after decades hosting some of the biggest acts in the world, the venue is pretty familiar to most of us at this point.

The below chart is the one for Girls Aloud, which is also being staged as a fully seated concert.

Take That have been making use of a B Stage in the heart of the floor audience too, which will likely be added to their Manchester gig.

Who is supporting Take That at their Manchester shows?

In an effort to create the most chart-friendly, crowd-pleasing, middle-of-the-road pop night of all time, Take That have recruited Olly Murs as their support act.

The former X Factor alumni headlined arenas across the UK in 2023 with his Marry Me tour, and now he’s back to warm up the crowds for Take That.

You can expect to hear some of the 39-year-old’s biggest hits, including Please Don’t Let Me Go, Heart Skips a Beat, and Dear Darlin.

What is Take That’s expected setlist?

Take That have already performed multiple dates on this tour, so we’ve got a good idea of what their setlist in Manchester will look like.

What will the stage times be for Take That at the AO Arena Manchester?

*Stage times are often subject to change so allow plenty of time to get into the arena.

Are there still tickets for Take That?

At the minute, tickets have been taken off sale for Take That, presumably while the AO Arena and Ticketmaster deal with transferring tickets from one arena to the other.

But given that Co-op Live was completely sold out, and the AO Arena is smaller, there are unlikely to be any tickets remaining.

Your one remaining chance may be some re-released tickets from those who can no longer make the rearranged date, or reliable re-sale sites.

Is tram travel included with your gig ticket?

As part of Co-op Live’s huge opening season, they announced free tram travel for gig-goers in a partnership with TfGM.

Thankfully, this is being honoured for the shows that have switched to the AO Arena.

Tram travel around Greater Manchester is included with event tickets for four hours before and after Take That on Tuesday 7, Thursday 9, Friday 10, Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May.

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Featured image: Publicity picture