Co-op Live, the UK’s largest arena, faced backlash for cancelling tickets just hours prior to a test show featuring Rick Astley. Organizers said the cancellation was due to a need to cut capacity in order to test the 23,500-seater venue. About 11,000 people were scheduled to attend the event.
A spokesperson for Co-op Live said that the decision to cancel the tickets came as a “difficult decision” and had been made to ensure that they could test the spaces effectively. Those affected have been invited to attend the Black Keys show at the arena the following week. The spokesperson noted that full refunds will be offered to anyone who booked parking.
Comedian Peter Kay is set to officially open Co-op Live this week. While the venue has received a number of criticisms, many fans are still looking forward to attending future events at the venue. Co-op Live cost £365m to build and is the largest arena in the UK.
BBC arts and entertainment correspondent Ian Youngs attended the preview concert. Youngs said that the venue was still not fully ready, with some areas not yet open and others experiencing teething problems. He expressed hope that these issues would be resolved by the time the venue officially opens
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