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.
Co-op Live and @beenetwork are very pleased to announce a ground-breaking, first of its kind initiative which will see travel on trams and new city centre shuttle buses included in all arena event tickets from 20 April to 30 June 2024 🎟️🚊
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.
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Co-op Live and TfGM has partnered to offer free tram and bus travel to and from the new arena / Credit: Co-op Live
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.
The groundbreaking initiative will be available to all event ticket holders during Co-op Live’s opening season / Credit: TfGM
“We are delighted to be working with TfGM to offer this inclusive service for our fans for opening season.
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“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
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Salford RLFC issue statement as head coach Mike Grady departs after less than three months
Danny Jones
Salford Rugby League Football Club have issued an official statement following the departure of head coach Mike Grady, who has left the role after less than three months in the job.
It has been insisted that this is not a sacking, but rather a joint decision to terminate his contract.
Grady, who took up the mantle at the start of this project following the end of the Salford Red Devils era, was only appointed on 5 January.
He had previously been in charge of the Red Devils’ women’s side over the past couple of years, but moved over to hopefully lead this new era forward.
As you can see, the club confirmed in a statement that they and Grady have “mutually agreed to part ways due to changes in his personal circumstances.”
They go on to write: “We are forever indebted to Mike for his unwavering commitment to the club. We want to thank him for all his hard work since taking on the role as Head Coach in very challenging circumstances in December.”
Also sharing a comment from former player turned CEO, Ryan Brierley, he said: “Mike came in as Coach at a time when the club had just come through one of its toughest times with the double impact of relegation and liquidation.
“He was willing to roll up his sleeves and bring stability to the club on the pitch. The fact we were able to field a team against Oldham in January, after only three weeks, speaks volumes about his commitment and determination. To beat Hunslet at home only four weeks later was a fantastic achievement.
“Mike will always be remembered as the person [who] strived and achieved the objective of sending out the first Salford team of this new era. A team running onto the pitch, after so much hard work, gave us all something to cheer about. We also remember how well he successfully guided our women’s team to third and fourth place finishes in the Championship.”
Sharing his own farewell message, he went on to add: “I want to thank Ryan for the opportunity to represent this great club and fan base. What we created at the start of the year was pretty special, and I’m proud to have built that.
“I’m happy to leave the club in a better place than I found it and wish the club all the best for the future.” Salford RLFC have already assured that they are now recruiting for his replacement.
Price caps and standardisations to be introduced for vet care in UK following major investigation
Emily Sergeant
Reforms to the veterinary industry to help pet owners better navigate the vet services market are set to be introduced this year.
After an independent inquiry group recently found that the current system is leaving pet owners ‘in the dark’, with a lack of information to help make informed decisions leading to weak competition and high prices, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has this week concluded its investigation into veterinary services for household pets in the UK.
The final report green-lights a package of measures to make the market more competitive, easier to navigate, and more responsive to pet owners’ needs.
It outlines the final remedies and recommendations, which together, will transform the market.
Remedies and recommendations in the report range from price caps and standardisations, through to upfront cost transparency.
We’ve set out major reforms to the UK’s veterinary sector now our market investigation is complete.
Our reforms will help pet owners better navigate the vet services market and will start coming into force later this year.
— Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) March 24, 2026
Practices will soon be required to publish a comprehensive price list for standard services – including consultations, common procedures, diagnostics, written prescriptions and cremation options – so pet owners know up-front how much certain services are expected to cost.
They’ll also have to make it clear whether they are part of a group or an independent business, and provide a written estimate in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more (including aftercare costs), plus an itemised bill.
Written prescription fees are set to be capped at £21 for the first medicine, and then £12.50 for any additional medicines.
Price caps and standardisations are set to be introduced for vet care in UK / Credit: Pxhere
There’s also set to be changes to the complaints process, as practices will now be required to follow a transparent, accessible, in-house complaints process, and engage in mediation where disputes cannot be resolved.
The CMA says an ‘unprecedented’ response from both the public and the sector has helped to shape the final report.
The next step is for the Government to respond to the report formally – with Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds, commenting: “We are grateful for all the work of the Competition and Markets Authority, and we will respond to the report and set out next steps for our proposed reforms in due course.
“This Government is focused on helping families save money on vet services by improving transparency and choice around pricing, so the public can make informed decisions about their pets’ care.”
Emily Sergeant -
14th March 2024 
