Manchester‘s newest landmark arts complex Factory International is reportedly in talks to sell naming rights to the venue to help fund the rising costs of the project.
After it was reported earlier this month that the huge arts centre being built in Manchester city centre – which is set to be a world-leading theatre, performance space, and cultural hub – had blown past its budget once again, and was seeking for a further £25.2 million in funding from the government and Arts Council England to be approved by Manchester City Council, it’s now been revealed that the option for selling naming rights is being explored.
Plans for the unique structure – which boasts 21m-high ceilings and an enormous warehouse-style space that can be divided up for different audiences – were first announced in 2016, and back then, its total budget was set to be £110 million, with an opening date pencilled in for 2019.
But now, as construction costs continue to skyrocket, the landmark complex is actually looking at a total cost of £210.8 million, which is almost double its original budget, and a completion date in 2023.
Councillors are expected to approve the renewed request for funding at an executive meeting next week – but local authority leaders say they hope “a significant proportion” of the costs will be recovered by selling the naming rights to the venue.
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Factory International is set to be a world-leading theatre, performance space, and cultural hub / Credit: Pawel Paniczko
MIF executive director Randel Bryan told the Council that the naming deal is expected to raise at least £25 million.
This is said to go above the total fundraising target previously set for the arts centre.
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“We’ve already had really advanced conversations with a number of leading brands that have been in excess of the £24 million mark,” Mr Bryan said.
“Those deals, for a number of reasons, are still being developed and are still in a pipeline, but it does show that there are sponsors and partners out there that are prepared to exceed our ambitions with naming rights.”
Factory bosses hope to finish the naming rights deal before the venue opens in 2023, with around 70% of the proceeds from the deal going to the Council directly and the remaining 30% to support MIF and the future of the venue.
When it’s finally completed, the complex will be programmed and operated by the team behind Manchester International Festival (MIF) to act as a permanent home to the roving arts festival, and it’s expected to create or support around 1,500 jobs, attract 850,000 visitors a year, and contribute around £1.1 billion to the economy over a decade.
Manchester City Council says the venue will be “inclusive and inspiring”, with plenty of free and low cost events and opportunities for Manchester people to get involved, both as participants as well as audiences.
Featured Image – OMA 24
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Football fan handed ban and hefty fines for ‘tragedy chanting’ during Man United v Liverpool match
Emily Sergeant
A football fan has been handed a football banning order and some hefty fines for ‘tragedy chanting’ at Old Trafford last month.
Michael Avery, from Manchester, was in attendance at Manchester United‘s home ground last month as the Red Devils took on fierce local rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter final on Sunday 17 March, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
But due to his actions at the hotly-anticipated match, the 49-year-old has now been “successfully convicted”.
His convictions come after GMP’s Specialist Operational football investigation team carried out enquiries following obtaining video footage of a man in the home section of the Old Trafford crowd making gestures – which was also widely-shared on social media.
#UPDATE | Michael Bernard Avery (06/11/1979) has today been given a three-year Football Banning Order and a total £1,205 fine after he pleaded guilty to tragedy chanting at Old Trafford when Manchester United hosted Liverpool last month.
Avery was subsequently charged with Section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986, and this was in addition to arrests and charges made to other supporters relating to pyrotechnics.
Avery pleaded guilty to the offence yesterday (Monday 22 April) at Salford Magistrates Court, and for this, received a three-year Football Banning Order (FBO) alongside costs of £85, a victim surcharge of £320, and a fine of £800, which was reduced due to an early guilty plea.
GMP says it’s keen to continue taking “proactive action” against football supporters who take part in behaviour of this type of behaviour.
A football fan has been banned and fined for ‘tragedy chanting’ during a Man United v Liverpool match / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Reflecting on the case, following Avery being convicted earlier this week, Chief Inspector Jamie Collins, from GMP’s Specialist Operations Branch, commented: “Following the understandable concern raised online following the video being shared of Avery’s actions, we undertook an investigation into this to ensure justice was brought.
“We are continuing to take a proactive action against those engaged in this type of behaviour that is intent on causing distress to victims and supporters impacted by terrible football tragedies of the past.
“Any kind of gesture or comments in relation to tragedy chanting will not be tolerated and is totally unacceptable.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Peter Kay’s gigs at Co-op Live have been postponed as the arena admits it’s not ready for opening act
Danny Jones
Just a day before the venue was set to welcome its very first act, Co-op Live has announced that arena opener Peter Kay’s gigs have unfortunately been cancelledand postponed until later this month.
Both of Peter Kay‘s highly-anticipated shows have ultimately had to be called off after Co-op Live revealed that the brand-new entertainment venue is simply not ready to welcome guests just yet, with work still to be completed on key areas of the building, namely power supply issues.
Issuing a regretful statement on social media, the arena has confirmed that the shows will now be rescheduled to Monday and Tuesday, 29-30 April.
An important update from Co-op Live. Following our first test event on Saturday, regretfully we have made the difficult decision to reschedule our two opening performances by Peter Kay. These dates will move from 23 April and 24 Wednesday to Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 April. pic.twitter.com/SxW50Ph5hm
Co-op Live confirms Peter Kay’s pair of opening shows have been cancelled and rescheduled.
Addressing the situation online, Co-op Live said: “Following our first test event on Saturday, regretfully we have made the difficult decision to reschedule our two opening performances by Peter Kay…
“It is critical to ensure we have a consistent total power supply to our fully electric sustainable venue, the completion of which is a few days behind. Rescheduling gives us the extra time we need to continue testing thoroughly.
“This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size. Peter Kay has very graciously agreed to perform his record-breaking comedy at Co-op Live on 29 (rescheduled from 23) and 30 (rescheduled from 24) April 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 are very sorry for the inconvenience that this change will undoubtedly cause for some.” Safe to say many of those looking forward to the show have been left frustrated.
Booked train ticket hotel and can’t make next week! Place is a joke !!
Please tell me why I am finding this out of flipping TWITTER and have not been emailed?!
— 🧜🏽♀️ Lauren Sparks – Book Siren 🧜🏽♀️ (@thickthighnolie) April 22, 2024
Speaking to The Manc, a Stockport gig-goer who had tickets said they had to find out via social media and that her group had still received no email notifying them about the cancellation, adding, “We just logged into the app to find the date on our tickets had been changed to next Monday”.
As for the beloved Bolton-born stand-up and British comedy legend himself, Kay added: “I’m truly gutted as I know how disappointing this will be for everyone with tickets, but obviously it’s a brand-new venue and it’s important that everything is finished and safe for full capacity audiences.
“Fortunately, we’ve been able to reschedule the shows to next week, (I’ll have to miss my Bums & Tums class) but hopefully I’ll see you then.”
The venue also went on to assure that they will still be hosting The Black Keys on 27 April in the lower bowl with 10k fans as planned and will continue to test the resilience of the venue and its operations for the time being.
They also reminded fans who previously missed out on tickets that due to dates being moved, tickets may now become available.