Harry Styles is among the backers for a new £365m arena that will become the UK’s largest indoor venue when it opens in Manchester. Co-op Live, which has a capacity of 23,500, is built next to Manchester City’s football ground and is part of a development in that area. It will officially open with a concert on Tuesday, and will host a range of events including the MTV Europe Music Awards in November.
The arena has been built by City Football Group, which is owned by UAE royal and deputy prime minister Sheikh Mansour, and by Oakview Music Group, co-founded by US music mogul Irving Azoff. Jeff Azoff, Irving’s son and business partner, manages Harry Styles and U2, among other acts. The Eagles will perform their farewell tour at Co-op Live but are not visiting any other UK location.
Co-op Live’s executive director and general manager Gary Roden said that the arena aims to be the “centre of combat sports in the UK”, and wants to attract more major awards ceremonies, concerts and sporting events away from London. Roden also highlighted the arena’s acoustic and environmental credentials, as well as its different food and drink options on multiple levels.
Small music venues have appealed for arenas to support them, with the Music Venue Trust (MVT) calling for £1 from every arena ticket to be donated to grassroots venues. Roden argued against such an approach, suggesting that the government should offer more help to small venues, and that many artists now make their names on social media or TV. Co-op Live will donate £1m per year to the Co-op Foundation charity and will work with smaller venues to provide training.
Co-op Live’s opening follows the launch of a £240m venue, Aviva Studios, in Manchester six months ago. The city already has the 23,000-capacity AO Arena, which has responded to the competition by undergoing a £50m renovation and expansion. A spokesperson for AO said that the new venue had encouraged them to raise their own game, but added that their arena had a strong track record and had recently improved its facilities and acoustics
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