Co-op distance themselves from Manchester’s Live Arena
After the most disastrous venue opening in recent memory, retail giants Co-op have expressed their disappointment with Manchester’s Co-op Live while also distancing themselves from the venue.
The problems surrounding the venue first started with its test event, in which Rick Astley performed on April 22nd. Shortly before the performance was due to take place, the venue cancelled 4,000 tickets over concerns about the arena’s capacity. Since then, the official opening act of the arena has advertised as Peter Kay, The Black Keys, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Olivia Rodrigo, Keane and Take That – all of whom have since had their shows cancelled or rescheduled.
Take That, who were due to perform multiple dates at Co-op Live in May, have since relocated their shows to the venue’s rivals, AO Arena in Manchester. On top of the logistical issues, the arena’s boss, Gary Roden, resigned from the venue shortly after Peter Kay’s scheduled shows were postponed.
Adding insult to injury, a spokesperson for the Co-op Group has voiced its disappointment in the venue. In a statement, the company said, “As naming rights sponsor for Co-Op Live we are disappointed with these further schedule changes. We fully appreciate and understand the impact and upset the delays have caused to ticket holders and our Co-Op members”.
Despite their branding being splashed over the outside of the building, the Co-op Group has distanced the company from the arena, saying, “Co-Op is a sponsor and does not own or run the venue, and we have made it clear to Oak View Group, who are responsible for the building, that the impact on ticket holders must be addressed as a priority. We are pleased that they will shortly be putting plans in place to do so”.
Currently, the opening act of the cursed arena is set to be local heroes Elbow, who are due to perform on May 14th. However, being slated as the opening act for Co-op Live has proven to be something of a kiss of death for artists thus far. Guy Garvey’s group are the seventh artist to be given that moniker, whether or not the venue will be able to honour it remains to be seen.
When, or if, the venue eventually opens, it will boast an impressive run of shows, including the likes of Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks, and Billie Eilish, among many others. There is no doubt, though, that the farcical opening of the venue has certainly tainted public opinion of Co-op Live.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.