- Manchester's Co-op Live is finally set to open tonight with British band Elbow
- The £365m venue's first event comes after three opening shows were postponed
- A May 1 gig was cancelled as part of the air-con system fell down as fans arrived
By Matthew Cox
Published: | Updated:
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30 View commentsManchester's troubled Co-op Live arena is finally set to open with hometown band Elbow tonight after over a month of setbacks.
It will be the first event in the £365million arena built to compete withLondon's O2 to host the UK's biggest musical shows with a 23,500 capacity.
The Co-op Live postponed its opening show three times - most recently after part of its ventilation and air conditioning system fell to the ground from the ceiling as fans queued outside.
Rock band Elbow are now set to open the venue on Tuesday after it announced it was 'satisfied' the issue was an 'isolated manufacturing default' following an inspection.
Peter Kaywas supposed to be the Co-op Live's opener on April 23 but problems had already shown themselves in earlier test events, leading to that being postponed.
The venue then planned for US rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie to open the arena on May 1, however it was called off just over an hour before his performance with fans queuing outside, due to the ventilation system becoming detached during a soundcheck.
The issue also meant scheduled performances from US pop star Olivia Rodrigo and British band Keane were postponed, while a slew of shows by Take That were moved to the AO Arena across town.
Manchester's Co-op Live arena - the UK's biggest venue of its kind with a 23,500 capacity - is finally set to open tonight
Hometown band Elbow (frontman Guy Garvey pictured) are going to be opening the venue, after three previous opening shows had to be postponed
Most recently, a gig had to be cancelled as fans queued outside (seen) because part of the arena's ventilation system fell from the ceiling during a soundcheck
Kay, who was meant to be the 'first artist in the world to perform at Manchester Co-op Live' according to promotional posters, then had a second show postponed as the venue was still not ready to open six days later.
The problems also led to the venue rescheduling a Black Keys gig.
The venue then planned for US rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie to open the arena on May 1, however it was called off just over an hour before his performance with fans queuing outside, due to the ventilation system becoming detached during a soundcheck.
Co-op Live said an inspection would need to take place to ensure it was a one-time default.
At a Rick Astley test event on April 20, attendance was slashed from 11,000 to just 4,000 less than two hours before the start due to problems with the arena's power -believed to have affected the fire safety and emergency services communication systems.
Insiders claimed 'everything was run down to the wire' ahead of that show and general manager Gary Roden quit that week.
Work being done outside the arena on May 2
The Co-op Live pictured on April 23 - the day it was originally meant to be opened by Bolton comedian Peter Kay
Last week, despite the chaos, the venue announced a headline performance fromUS rapper Travis Scott on July 13
A clip shared to social media showed the Co-op Live bar area appears to be up and running
East Sussex rock band Keane announced last week that their postponed gig is rescheduled for October 19, while new dates are yet to be announced for Rodrigo.
Bolton comedian Kay is due to make his pair of appearances next week on May 23 and 24, while The Black Keys' rescheduled gig is tomorrow.
Last week, the venue confirmed Elbow would be opening the arena on Tuesday and added a headline performance from US rapper Travis Scott - who will be bringing his Circus Maximus Tour on July 13.
LondonOlivia RodrigoPeter KayManchester
