Underground Manchester trainer consignment store Sneaker 63 has made headlines around the world this morning after sharing a ‘first world look’ at the latest pair of rare Nike Air Jordans ahead of their official release.
The first shop in the world to show the brand new Air Jordan 2 Low x Two 18 collab, thanks to the ‘leak’ the hidden Chinatown trainer store has blown up across the globe overnight – getting media coverage from sneaker fans in America, Brazil, Japan and Hong Kong.
The store is known for getting its hands on super-rare pairs of trainers and is full to the brim with elite and exclusive designs, some of which sell for as much as £6,000.
Image: Sneaker 63
And whilst they tell us that these new Aid Jordan 2s are more likely to go for around the £200 mark, the prestige of having the shoe first is worth way more than the shoe’s retail value.
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Speaking to The Manc, they described getting their hands on these extremely rare Jordans first as being like ‘looking [for] and finding a rare or unseen Pokemon.’
Created by Detroit sneaker retailer Two 18 in collaboration with Jordan, the shoes feature a full suede build with tonal browns covering the upper and leather liner with subtle red and blue paneling.
The soles feature Two 18 branding, whilst the tongue is dressed in the usual Wings logo.
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Owner Jack Chen has some great connections in the sneaker world, cultivated through meets and events he goes to, and is helping to put Manchester on the map for sneakerheads.
It certainly seems to have worked. Since opening the store in Chinatown in 2019, Manchester has welcomed the arrival of quite a few more shops in Sneaker63’s image – Kershkicks, Kick Game, and Crespslocker, to be precise.
Image: Sneaker 63
Jordan has made the Air Jordan 2s a priority for this year, and whilst Sneaker 63 tell us the UK ‘isn’t ready for Jordan 2 at the moment’ that hasn’t stopped them from getting ahead of the curb and debuting the new shoe collab.
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Since sharing the post yesterday, the store has featured on the front pages of some of the world’s best sneaker pages – including Nice Kicks and the Japanese page Up to Date, both followed by big-name sneakerheads and rappers like Michael Jordan’s son Marcus Jordan, Pigeon SB dunk designer Jeff Staple, and rappers Mayor and PJ Tucker.
Other rare pairs the store has stocked in recent years include players’ edition shoes made for the Oregon basketball team; a limited, executive-level ‘friends and family’ release of Para’s Nike Airmax 1 collab; Chinese New Year custom Jordans 1’s (one of just 50 pairs in the world); and a leaked early pair of the Travis Scott x Jordan collaboration.
Whilst Jordan Brand and Two 18 are yet to officially comment on this collaboration, it’s exciting to see an independent Manchester store putting the city on the map in such a big way.
Feature image – Sneaker 63
News
New stations appear across Manchester for city’s rentable ‘Burnham bike’ scheme
Daisy Jackson
The roll-out of Greater Manchester’s Bee Bike cycle hire scheme has stepped up a gear, with new docking stations appearing across the city centre.
The scheme, nicknamed the ‘Burnham bikes’ as a nod to London’s ‘Boris bikes’, initially launched in Salford and along the Oxford Road corridor.
Several new yellow stations have appeared around Manchester now, with plenty more on the way.
The next phase of the roll-out of the Bee Bikes has seen stations installed around St Peter’s Square and Manchester Central.
‘Burnham Bike’ cycle hire stations near St Peter’s Square. Credit: The Manc Group
By the time the scheme is complete, bike numbers will increase to 1,500, which will include 300 e-bikes.
It’s all part of the vision for a Bee Network – a joined-up, integrated public transport network across the region.
And it’s certainly off to a more successful start than Mobike, which famously withdrew from Manchester due to high levels of vandalism and theft.
The Bee Bikes are funded by TgGM and operated by Beryl, which runs similar schemes in London, Watford and Bournemouth.
Here you go – your new “Bee Bikes” which will be on our streets from November. 👇🏻
Many will be e-bikes and, in time, part of a single integrated payment system across bikes, buses and trams.
Richard Nickson, programme director, Cycling and Walking at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “The cycle hire scheme has really taken off in Greater Manchester since it was first introduced, and we are seeing significant numbers of riders and distances travelled by on the bikes- which is fantastic, particularly as we are still in the early days of the scheme’s roll out.
“The next phase of the roll-out has now started in Manchester city centre, with new stations installed at key locations including Manchester Central Library, Manchester Central Convention Centre and St Peter’s Square.
“More stations are due to be installed in Manchester city centre over the coming weeks, before the scheme continues to expand its footprint to new locations in Salford and Trafford.
“Once complete the scheme will see bike numbers increase to 1,500 – including 300 e-bikes – and over 150 new stations in operation.”
Manchester is OFFICIALLY in the running to host Eurovision
Daisy Jackson
The potential host cities for Eurovision 2023 have been announced this morning – and Manchester is officially in with a chance.
The UK has stepped in to host the global singing contest in place of this year’s winners, Ukraine.
As our nation was runner-up this year with Sam Ryder’s Spaceman giving us our biggest success in years, it’s over to the UK to welcome all the countries taking part.
Cities have been announcing their bids for several weeks, with 20 expressions of interest to host sent in.
Sam Ryder came second in last year’s Eurovision. Credit: BBC
But it’s a complicated event, so those who wish to host need to actually have a suitable venue and the financial contribution too, and demonstrate that they will celebrate and honour Ukrainian culture and artists.
The shortlist of seven cities has just been announced live on BBC Radio Two, on Zoe Ball’s breakfast show.
“We have a large and proud Ukrainian community in Manchester. It would be our privilege to host this iconic celebration on their behalf and we will do everything we can to honour them throughout.”
“We’re exceptionally grateful that the BBC has accepted to stage the Eurovision Song Contest in the UK in 2023,” said Martin Österdahl, the Eurovision Song Contest’s Executive Supervisor.
“The BBC has taken on hosting duties for other winning countries on four previous occasions. Continuing in this tradition of solidarity, we know that next year’s Contest will showcase the creativity and skill of one of Europe’s most experienced public broadcasters whilst ensuring this year’s winners, Ukraine, are celebrated and represented throughout the event.”
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The final decision will be based on scoring criteria from the BBC and the EBU.
It’s expected that the host city will officially be announced in the autumn.
Georgina Pellant -
5th July 2022 
