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Nicki Minaj’s Co-op Live gig cancelled HOURS after fans entered arena following star’s arrest

She was arrested in Amsterdam.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 25th May 2024

Nicki Minaj’s concert at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester has been cancelled.

The news has come HOURS after fans entered the arena.

The Queen of Rap was arrested in Amsterdam earlier today – an incident she captured on an Instagram live stream.

Nicki was detained at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on suspicion of possession of soft drugs.

In a string of tweets, she wrote: “They’re trying to keep me from MANCHESTER.”

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Despite this, it looked as though her gig at the Co-op Live was going to go ahead, with fans being let inside just after 7pm.

But after filing into the ground-breaking new arena, fans have been waiting for hours for an update – and it’s not the one they wanted.

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Nicki Minaj’s scheduled performance on the Pink Friday 2 World Tour has now been postponed ‘despite Nicki’s best efforts’.

She is still set to play the arena on 30 May, as well as tonight’s rescheduled sold-out show at a later date.

A statement from Live Nation and Co-op Live said: “Manchester, 25 May 2024: Pink Friday 2 World Tour Update – Nicki Minaj’s scheduled performance at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Saturday 25th May has been postponed.

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“Tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled performance which will be announced ASAP.

“Despite Nicki’s best efforts to explore every possible avenue to make tonight’s show happen, the events of today have made it impossible.

“We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused. More information will be available at your point of purchase.”

Nicki Minaj herself has not yet released a statement.

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Featured image: Publicity picture

News

Full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Day 2024

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester Day is back for 2024 this weekend, and the full list of road closures set to be in place has been confirmed.

Now that schools are officially out across Greater Manchester, and the summer holidays are well and truly here, the hugely-popular Manchester Day is making a return once again this Saturday 27 July, and as always, it’s set to be “the day summer officially starts” in the city centre – with a massive celebration of “all things Mancunian” on the cards.

The theme of this year’s annual event is ‘Let The Games Begin’, and it’s inspired by the international summer of sport, just 2024 Olympics kicks off over in Paris.

The day will be packed full of free events and activities to get involved with.

But of course, in order for the all the fun to go ahead as safely as possible, and as tends to be the case for events like these, Manchester City Council says it will need to make some temporary road closures to facilitate it.

The full list of road closures has now been confirmed by the Council, and there’s some major city centre thoroughfares set to be out of action.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Manchester Day is back for 2024 to celebrate the international summer of sport / Credit: Manchester City Council

Manchester Day 2024 – Road Closures

Saturday 27 July 

From 6am to 11:59​pm, Manchester City Council has confirmed that the following roads will be closed:

  • Deansgate (Manchester Cathedral to John Dalton Street) – access will be maintained to Marks and Spencer’s car park ​and Number One Deansgate.
  • St Ann Street (Deansgate to Cross Street)​
  • St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)​
  • St Mary’s Street (Southbridge Street to Deansgate)​
  • Market Street (Exchange Street to Cross Street)​
  • Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only​.
  • Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only​.
  • Cateaton Street (Exchange Square to Deansgate)​
  • Barton Square (St Ann’s Square to St Ann Street) ​
  • King Street  (Cross Street to Deansgate) – no access for deliveries.
  • King Street West (Deansgate to Southgate)​
  • South King Street  (Ridgefield to Deansgate) 
Everything happening for Manchester Day 2024 – sports sessions, vintage fairground, flash mobs, and more

All accessible bays, bus lanes, and taxi ranks within the closed areas will also be suspended during from 6pm on Friday 26 July to 11:59pm on Saturday 27 July.

The parking suspensions set to be in place are:

  • Deansgate (Manchester Cathedral to John Dalton Street) ​
  • St Ann Street – including the bays outside St Ann’s Church (Deansgate to Cross Street) ​
  • St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate) ​
  • St Mary’s Street (Southbridge Street to Deansgate) ​
  • Southgate (St Mary’s Street to King Street West)​
  • Market Street (Exchange Street to Cross Street) ​
  • Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
  • Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
  • Cateaton Street (Exchange Square to Deansgate) ​
  • Victoria Street (Cathedral Approach to Deansgate) ​
  • Todd Street  (Corporation Street to Station Approach)  ​
  • King Street (Spring Gardens to Southgate) ​
  • South King Street (Ridgefield to Deansgate) ​
  • Barton Square (St Ann’s Square to St Ann Street) ​
  • King Street West (Deansgate to St Mary’s Parsonage)​
  • St James’s Square (John Dalton Street to South King Street) ​
  • Cross Street (King Street to Corporation Street) ​
  • Museum Street (Peter Street to Windmill Street)
  • Marsden Street (Cheapside to Brown Street)

Manchester Day 2024: Let The Games Begin! will take over the city centre on Saturday 27 July from 12pm-6pm.

Check out everything you need to know ahead of the event here.

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Featured Image – Manchester City Council

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‘Complex’ Metrolink repairs to the Rochdale via Oldham line could take weeks to complete

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Work currently underway on the Rochdale via Oldham line is expected to take several weeks to complete.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has now “slowed”, and this means that detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works have been able to get underway.

In order for trams to run again on the crucial line from the city centre to the two major Greater Manchester towns, TfGM says that a small section of track has to be moved back – also known as ‘slewed’ – into its original position.

The overhead line poles also need to be repaired too, the transport operator revealed.

Unfortunately though, due to the “complex” nature of these works, and despite the fact that TfGM says it’s actively looking to “accelerate” the repairs, the project is expected to take up to five weeks to complete in full.

On top of this, the detailed ground investigations will also establish whether any further work to strengthen foundations beneath the track will be needed at a later date.

TfGM has apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.

‘Complex’ Metrolink repairs to the Rochdale via Oldham line could take weeks to complete / Credit: TfGM

Speaking on the scale of works currently underway, and how long he expects them to continue for, Pete Sommers, who is TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, said: “I’m sorry for the impact this is having, and will continue to have, on people’s journeys.

“We are working to get trams running through the area again, but this remains a complex and challenging issue and it could still be a few weeks before this happens.

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“We will of course keep passengers updated, and I’d encourage people to check our social media channels and website for the latest information and advice.”

Get the latest updates on the works via the TfGM website.

Featured Image – SJ8459 (via Geograph)

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