Manchester’s Co-op Live has successfully opened with a hometown concert by rock band Elbow.

The launch of the UK’s largest arena – a joint venture between Oak View Group (OVG) and City Football Group – was pushed back two weeks following a series of hitches, but last night’s belated opening gig passed by without incident.

“It’s been tough,” OVG chief Tim Leiweke told reporters ahead of the event, as per the Guardian. “I’m emotional because this is a big deal and we want to do right by Manchester.

”It’s never easy getting these things built with Brexit and Covid but at the end of the day we’ve built the greatest arena ever built – for Manchester. It’s been tough. I’ve apologised to those [fans] we disrupted… now the building is open and will be for another 30 years.”

”Everybody that’s been working on this building has been so excited today, so nervous but so excited,” Elbow frontman Guy Garvey told the crowd at last night’s (14 May) show. “There was already electricity in the air before you lot got in today and now it’s thoroughly amped up. I hope you can feel it.”

The 23,500-cap Co-op Live was originally set to launch with Peter Kay on 29 April, only for the comedian’s dates to be pushed back due to a delay in completion of the power supply at the site. Days earlier, a free test performance by Rick Astley was only permitted to go ahead at a significantly reduced capacity, while a 10,000-cap test event with the Black Keys was also postponed.

“We were going to take our time to make sure we did this right”

A performance by rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was then axed for “technical reasons” 10 minutes before doors were due to open on 1 May after part of the air conditioning system at the arena became detached, prompting OVG to announce a “short pause” to events to “allow for an independent inspection of all elements of the arena ceiling”.

“If that was 15 minutes later, something catastrophic could have happened,” said Leiweke, speaking to the BBC. “We [have since] got that double checked and triple checked,” he continued. “We’ve looked at thousands of bolts up in that ceiling now. We’ve looked at the life safety lines. And we were going to take our time to make sure we did this right.”

The A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie performance and five nights with Take That were relocated to the rival AO Arena in Manchester due to the delays, while former boss of The O2, Rebecca Kane Burton, was brought in as interim boss of Co-op Live in late April following the resignation of general manager Gary Roden.

The Black Keys’ postponed show will take place at the venue tonight (15 May), followed by Eric Clapton (18 May), Barry Manilow (19 May), Peter Kay (23-24 May), Nicki Minaj (25 & 30 May) and the Eagles (31 May) set to follow this month.

Other upcoming acts will include Liam Gallagher, The Killers, Stevie Nicks and Pearl Jam.

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It is all systems go for Manchester’s Co-op Live as the UK’s largest arena finally prepares to open its doors.

Elbow will christen the 23,500-cap venue with a homecoming gig tomorrow (14 May), with shows by the Black Keys (15 May), Eric Clapton (18 May), Barry Manilow (19 May), Peter Kay (23-24 May), Nicki Minaj (25 & 30 May) and the Eagles (31 May) set to follow this month.

“Co-op Live is thrilled to be gearing up to open our doors on 14 May 2024 for an opening performance by Manchester’s Elbow and to proceed with all scheduled events,” says a statement from the Oak View Group (OVG)-operated arena.

The announcement comes on the heels of a turbulent few weeks for the 23,500-cap venue, which was originally set to launch with Peter Kay on 29 April, only for the comedian’s dates to be pushed back due to a delay in completion of the power supply at the site. Days earlier, a free test performance by Rick Astley was only permitted to go ahead at reduced capacity, while a 10,000-cap test event with the Black Keys was also postponed.

A performance by rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was then axed for “technical reasons” 10 minutes before doors were due to open on 1 May after part of the air conditioning system at the £365 million arena became detached. Two nights with US superstar Olivia Rodrigo, set for 3-4 May, were also called off along with Keane’s 5 May concert, the latter of which has since been rescheduled for 19 October.

“Following the incident in the bowl on 1 May 2024, an inspection and verification report was undertaken by SES subcontractors,” the venue tells the Manchester Evening News. “In consultation with Manchester City Council, responsible authorities, and wider stakeholders, we are satisfied with the process and outcome of the investigation identifying the HVAC nozzle as an isolated manufacturing default. This is a standard process of review in any venue when such an incident occurs.”

“The council has received documentation that confirms that the venue has carried out the necessary investigations”

A statement from the local authority adds: “The council has received documentation that confirms that the venue has carried out the necessary investigations following the incident with their air ducting that provides reassurance that they have considered their duties under health and safety law.”

A Boogie With Da Hoodie’s gig and the first five dates of Take That residency’s relocated to ASM Global’s rival Manchester venue, the 23,000-cap AO Arena. Take That’s remaining Manchester concerts are still due to take place at Co-op Live on 11 & 12 June. Former boss of The O2, Rebecca Kane Burton, was brought in as interim boss of Co-op Live in late April following the resignation of general manager Gary Roden.

“Co-op Live is purpose built for music, showcasing enhanced sightlines and innovative acoustic design for music fans and artists to enjoy a full live entertainment experience,” says the Co-op Live statement. “As so, we are especially disappointed to have delayed our introduction and frustrated so many in the process.

“For all shows rescheduled to take place at Co-op Live, and for those ticket holders of shows next week that have worried about their shows taking place, we want to ensure that all fans have the best possible experience at their long-awaited event.”

People with tickets for rescheduled events will be offered a free drink and a food voucher when they attend the venue.

“Since our first postponement on 23 April 2024, we have remained strongly committed to ensuring all events are rescheduled and returned to Manchester”

“Whilst we know this won’t erase the inconvenience and upset caused by the original postponements, we hope it will help everyone have the best possible time on the night,” adds Co-op Live. “Since our first postponement on 23 April 2024, we have remained strongly committed to ensuring all events are rescheduled and returned to Manchester, allowing as many fans as possible to experience their favourite artists. We deeply appreciate the cooperation and hard work of ticketing agents, promoters and artists to make this a reality.

“Collaboratively working hard behind the scenes, we are happy to have rescheduled all shows to the city, and we continue to work with Olivia Rodrigo and team to secure new dates. We will update ticket holders to those events as soon as possible.”

Elsewhere in Manchester, the O2 Victoria Warehouse was forced to postpone last night’s (12 May) show by PVRIS at short notice due to “unforeseen circumstances” in the midst of heavy storms in the city. Posting on Instagram Stories, the band said the cancellation was due to “a massive leak” in the 3,500-cap venue’s ceiling.

“We are so sorry to have the cancel the show tonight due to a massive leak in the venue’s ceiling causing flooding right before doors,” they said. “We’ve tried everything we could to find an alternative to still perform for you all tonight but due to circumstances beyond our control there is unfortunately no options for the show to go ahead.”

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Major UK artists will “return to their roots” as part of a crowdfunding campaign to help grassroots music venues, which have been struggling to stay open during the Covid-19 crisis.

The crowdfunding campaign, Passport: Back To Our Roots, will open on 17 August when fans can donate a minimum of £5 to help support their favourite venues.

Everyone who donates will be entered into a prize draw to win entry for a show for themselves and a friend.

Among the concerts announced so far are Elbow performing at Night & Day Cafe in Manchester, Everything Everything at Bedford Esquires, Public Service Broadcasting at Amersham Arms in London, and The Slow Readers Club at The Trades Club in Hebden Bridge.

Organisers say the series of one-off intimate gigs will take place when live shows can safely return without social distancing measures, most likely between March and September next year.

The initiative was launched by registered charity and independent grassroots venue Band on the Wall, the Music Venue Trust and Stephen Budd Music (creator of War Child’s Passport: Back to the Bars & Passport: To BRITs Week series).

Sally Cook, co-founder of Passport: Back to Our Roots and director of operations at Band on the Wall says: “This project has been a long time in the making and it’s incredibly exciting to see artists supporting the grassroots venues that form the foundation of the UK’s live music industry, acknowledging their importance and celebrating the unrivalled experience of watching your favourite bands up close and personal, surrounded by friends and united in appreciation for live music in all its loud and sweaty glory.”

“These shows will be awe-inspiring for fans and also a joy for the artists who are helping keep live grassroots venues alive”

Stephen Budd, founder and CEO of Stephen Budd Entertainment says: “I’m delighted to help put this amazing series of shows together. I’m doing this on a not-for-profit basis as I did for the successful War Child shows I helped put together, using the same mechanism we created which has proved so workable and simple for artists and it won’t impact negatively on their own show plans.

“There is nothing like seeing your favourite artist in a venue that is closest to the artist’s hearts. These shows will be awe-inspiring for those fans who are lucky enough to win the prize draw and also a joy for the artists who participate knowing they are helping keep live grassroots venues alive.”

Of all money raised, 80% will go to the Music Venue Trust (MVT), who in turn will distribute half of the amount to the host venue and the other half to their Crisis Fund, which will benefit all UK venues in need of financial support.

The remaining 20% will go to Inner City Music, the charitable organisation that operates Band on the Wall in Manchester, which is responsible for the administration of the project and will cover its overheads.

Aside from its involvement with Passport: Back To Our Roots campaign, MVT also recently partnered with Fightback Brewing Company in support of the #saveourvenues initiative. 

Fightback Lager, which is stocked in over 60 grassroots music venue bars across the UK, now makes a 5p donation to MVT from every pint sold.

This article forms part of IQ’s Covid-19 resource centre – a knowledge hub of essential guidance and updating resources for uncertain times.

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