A new £365m venue is set to become the biggest indoor arena in the UK as it opens in Manchester. Co-op Live, a giant black box next to Manchester City’s football ground, has a capacity of 23,500 and aims to attract more major events from London.
The venue faced backlash after cancelling tickets for a test event featuring Ricky Astley to reduce capacity. However, comedian Peter Kay is set to officially open the arena on Tuesday. Other stars like Olivia Rodrigo, Take That, Eric Clapton, and Liam Gallagher are lined up to perform there.
Harry Styles, a minor partner in the project, has invested in the development and advised on elements of the arena’s design. Co-op Live was built by City Football Group and Oakview Music Group, with ambitions to host major award shows, gigs, and sporting events.
The arena’s executive director, Gary Roden, emphasizes the focus on artist experience, with modern suites, a gym for performers, and no distracting advertising hoardings inside the auditorium. The layout is flexible yet familiar, with a floor designed to bring fans closer to the stage.
While Co-op Live aims to complement Manchester’s existing AO Arena, competition between the two venues is evident. The AO Arena has responded with a £50m renovation and an aggressive advertising campaign to retain its status as “Manchester’s best venue.”
The launch of Co-op Live comes amid a boom in major venues in Manchester, raising concerns for struggling small music venues. Grassroots venues have called for support from arenas, with the Music Venue Trust advocating for a contribution of £1 from every arena ticket to support smaller establishments.
Roden acknowledges the importance of supporting grassroots venues and plans to collaborate with them through the Co-op Foundation charity. The conversation around supporting smaller venues continues, with Co-op Live aiming to make a significant impact on the music scene in Manchester.