In the latest programme announced on Factory International’s 2024 calendar, a huge skate park and free cultural event is coming to Aviva Studios this summer.
As Factory International and adidas Skateboarding collide for a dozen days over at the huge art, culture and music space later this month, Mancs will be treated to a custom-built skate plaza, a festival full of free activities for all ages, as well as a whole host of collaborations from local and global skating brands.
The event will also feature skate schools for beginners and beyond, trick competitions, food and drink, DJ sets, appearances by leading figures in the sport and much, much more.
Simply called ‘Build Manchester’, it’s one of the biggest skating events the city has ever seen.
THREAD 🧵: This summer, @adidasUK comes to Aviva Studios for global skateboarding event, Build Manchester.
Partnering with the city's most influential skate communities, we’ll be having a series of free events that celebrates skate culture both on and off-board.
— Factory International (@factoryintl) July 18, 2024
An exciting collaboration between the official adidas Skateboarding arm, their professional team of global riders and Factory International (now based permanently at the Aviva Studios hub), this event is about more than just letting people run free with a board – as much as we do love that.
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With 12 whole days of stuff to get stuck into, there’ll be exclusive product launches, exhibitions, film premieres and workshops all based around the world of skating, not to mention giveaways, demos by the very best in the business and even the opportunity to help build parts of the skate plaza piece by piece.
Better still, the mobile custom builds are set to remain in the space for the foreseeable, meaning they will be open to use by the public and provide a new space for the local skate community beyond the likes of Lincoln Square, Hulme Park and Projekts MCR.
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Speaking of which, Projekts is one of many Manc skating brands getting involved with the festival, self-built park skate pioneers Gooseside DIY, viral fashion label Drama Call and, of course, Note, who are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year.
If you’re into your pro skating, then this is your chance to see the likes of adidas global riders Blondey, Jarrad Carlin, Tom Snape, Nikolai Piombo, Gabriel Summers, Dan Fisher and more.
But even if it’s just the wider, more casual skating culture that you’re into, you can still immerse yourself in the lifestyle this summer and enjoy what feels like something of a first for Manchester, at least in the city centre anyway.
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The completely free-to-enter Build Manchester skate park and festival comes to Aviva Studios on 27 July and runs until 8 August. You can find the full programme schedule and sign-up for specific sessions HERE.
Manchester Storm’s record-breaking return to AO Arena goes down a storm with fans
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Storm have made their grand return to the AO Arena, after more than two decades away from their former home.
And it appears the ice hockey craze (which may have been spurred on by a certain Heated Rivalry) is here to stay, with record-breaking numbers piling into the venue for Sunday’s match against Sheffield Steelers.
The AO Arena has now shared that a record crowd of 11,000 fans attended the long-awaited Manchester Storm homecoming last week.
The action has gone down a storm with fans, with plenty of chatter on social media (and videos of a certain fight) doing the rounds.
Manchester Storm’s homecoming has now smashed the record for an Elite Hockey pre-season fixture, with fans travelling from across Manchester and beyond.
As the team enters this new era, bidding farewell to the ‘Storm Shelter’ in Altrincham that’s been their home for a decade, demand for tickets is continuing to grow.
This is the first time fans have been able to see the club on the ice at the AO Arena since 2004, and last weekend they thrilled supporters with a 5-5 draw agains the Steelers.
Manchester Storm is now set to bring approximately 35 games to the city centre each year, providing a regular programme of major sporting events for Manchester and its visitors.
It also brings elite-level hockey back to one of Europe’s largest indoor sporting arenas.
Gemma Vaughan, General Manager at the AO Arena says, “Tonight is a hugely significant moment for Manchester.
“To welcome Manchester Storm back to their former home after more than 20 years, and to do so in front of a record Elite Hockey League crowd, is incredibly special.
“The response from supporters has demonstrated the strength of Manchester’s passion for ice hockey and the demand for world-class sport in the city. We’re proud to be able to provide a home for the Storm as they begin this exciting new chapter.”
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
Danny Jones -
18th July 2024 
