As per reports, the Co-op Live arena in Manchester is set to face-off against the AO Arena in a licensing debate. The upcoming 23,500-capacity venue Co-op Live Arena in Manchester postponed its opening and the shows of comedian Peter Kay and band The Black Keys. Issues with the power on site were cited as affecting fire safety and emergency service communication systems. Following controversies, various scheduled events were postponed, and the general manager Gary Roden resigned.
In the meantime, Tim Leiweke, the CEO of Oak View Group, has announced plans for a new venue in London, and it is set to be “the greatest arena in the world.” It is expected that it would be a year before they are officially revealed. Leiweke teased a potential location while speaking with The Telegraph and said that if people guess Hammersmith, they would be right. He also expressed his admiration for London’s live entertainment and said that they “deserve to have the greatest arena in the world.”
Leiweke also mentioned that they are excited about the site, but he understands there’s a need for communication with the community, neighbours, the business leaders and political leaders before they officially present their ideas. He also said that they are going to follow their rules and not try to get ahead of them.
In conclusion, the Co-op Live arena faces backlash due to issues with their power supply system; on the other hand, The Oak View Group CEO is planning to build the greatest arena in the world in London, and there are chances that it could be in Hammersmith. They are expected to announce it next year, but Leiweke mentioned that there are rules to follow and that they need to consult with business and political leaders, neighbours, and the community before revealing the site
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