Manchester’s Co-op Live arena has cancelled its opening show for the third time, leaving fans disappointed. The arena, the largest indoor venue in the UK, had already pushed its opening back twice last week. US rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was set to perform at the arena’s first official event, which was ultimately cancelled due to “technical reasons”. The venue then confirmed that Olivia Rodrigo’s upcoming shows on 4 and 5 May would not be going ahead either.
Fans queuing outside the arena were handed letters informing them of the cancellation due to technical issues. The arena made the official announcement on social media while fans were still outside waiting to go in and asked ticket-holders to leave the area, stating that they would receive more information in due course. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, whose real name is Julius Dubose, said an issue during the soundcheck before the show led to the cancellation.
Peter Kay had been scheduled to perform at the venue in April, but the show was postponed due to construction delays. Following the delays and criticism he received online for comments he made about smaller venues, Co-op Live manager Gary Roden resigned last week. The arena distanced itself from his remarks, stating that it did not share his sentiment.
Fan Katie Barnsley, who spent roughly £600 on tickets, accommodations, and gasoline, travelled from Kent for the concert before discovering it had been cancelled. Following the earlier cancellations, she had been apprehensive about travelling to Manchester but was reassured by recent tweets from Co-op Live that other shows would go ahead.
Despite the setbacks, the venue is working on rescheduling the cancelled events and intends for them to take place in the near future
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More