The view from Co-op Live as race to catch up continues following a week of drama
27.04.2024 - 18:39
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
In the shadow of Manchester's mammoth new arena, a sea of workers in hi-vis jackets and hard hats are rushing back and forth.
It's a Saturday afternoon and Co-op Live should have been preparing to welcome thousands of music fans for its grand opening. But instead of the sound of the American rockers, The Black Keys, the venue will be filled with a cacophony of drills and hammers this evening.
Pictures taken outside the £365m venue today show it is a hive of activity as hundreds of construction workers scramble to get it ready to open. What should have been a week of celebration has descended into a nightmare for Co-op Live, with tickets cancelled at the last minute, gigs rescheduled and an ongoing issue with power at the entertainment complex.
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Yesterday's decision to postpone tonight's concert was just the latest in a series of setbacks in a turbulent seven days for the venue.
Co-op Live was originally billed to open last Tuesday (April 23) with a gig from Bolton comedian Peter Kay. However, concerns about whether the landmark venue would be ready in time for the show began to surface hours before a test event last Saturday, which featured a performance from Rick Astley.
With less than two hours to go until the event, some ticket holders were told that they could no longer attend. The capacity for the event had to be cut from around 11,000 to 4,000 amid concerns raised by emergency services.
Two days later, the arena announced its official opening - two performances by Peter Kay starting the following night - would have to be pushed back by a week as the venue was not ready to open.
Problems with power at the site are