Final preparations underway with Co-op Live FINALLY set to open
14.05.2024 - 07:13
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Troubled Co-op Live is set to finally open its doors tonight. After a number of false starts, East Manchester's new £365 million venue, set to become the biggest indoor arena in Britain, will host its first full show with local heroes Elbow the headline act.
Bosses insist the gig is going ahead after a safety inspection. Whilst the Bury band have told fans they are 'ready' and they will 'see you there.'
Workmen and staff in high-vis jackets could last night (Monday) be seen carrying out final preparations at the venue next to the Etihad Stadium ahead of the grand opening.
READ MORE: Elbow at Co-op Live - seating plan, support, set times, parking and everything you need to know
A successful first event would bring to a close a tumultuous first chapter in the venue's history during which a string of shows in its opening season had to be moved or postponed.
A test event headlined by Rick Astley on Saturday, April 20, went ahead however issues with the electricity supply and communications saw the capacity have to be reduced from the planned 11,000 with a number of ticket holders seeing them cancelled just hours beforehand.
Peter Kay's planned two shows on April 23 and 24 were postponed and put back a week to 29 and 30 April with Kay saying he was "truly gutted" for his fans.
Following this the venue's General Manager Gary Roden resigned. His departure came in the wake of a backlash against him claiming to the BBC that grassroots music venues were often "poorly run." Rebecca Kane Burton, an ex-boss of London’s O2 Arena, is then announced as interim general manager.
However, on April 26 Peter Kay's shows had to be postponed again, and moved to May 23 and 24, as the venue was still not ready with the gig by American