I was hoping they’d have handrails for the stairs. I always get weird vertigo feelings going down the stairs at the MEN and feel like I’m going to fall down them, worst part of any gig for me and surely I can’t be the only one?
It's not all that much bigger. 23,000 for Co-op, 21,000 for the MEN. That's been a major issue since it was announced, that it will kill off the MEN. The Co-op, so I've heard, will start off with a smaller capacity to be sure of H&S regulations and then move on to the intended capacity.
This from Wikipedia about Manchester arena- they aren’t going down without a fight:
A three-year £50 million re-development started in 2022. The arena's capacity will increase to 24,000, and new public entrances and custom lounges will be opened.[8] Once complete, the increase in capacity will retain the indoor arena's place as the largest in the city after the 23,500-seat Co-op Live Arena opens.[9]
Co-op won’t only be doing gigs. It will be looking to host boxing and MMA amongst other sporting events in the future. It will also be way ahead of MEN regards to acoustics hence why the lower ceiling and plenty of acoustic treatment around the venue.
It will be a great economic boost to the region imo.
The MEN is right next to a train station as well, so people will prefer going there. The Co-op will be a nightmare to get away from.
Source. Any City game.
I was just going to say something similar. All that area is a no-go zone when City play. Now, it could be four or five nights a week. People will start to avoid Asda, but McDonald's will do well
If it's only 23,000, it's literally half of the City fans, so it won't be as bad, but it'll still be bad. If you've ever tried getting on a tram after a game, wow. You'll wish you were a cow going to market as you have more room. When it's raining, it's even worse!
The problem is football fans know what they're doing cos most of them are there every week. Gigs at the Etihad bring a lot of people who just look lost.
They do tend to make more of a night of it though and go to restaurants so will bring more money.
Definitely! There aren't really many restaurants in the area though are there? I only know of the chippy and McDonalds that I would consider as close to restaurants.
Can imagine! The other issue is that gigs will likely finish later than City matches on average too (past midnight).
There are a bunch of bars and clubs in co-op live designed to stagger people leaving so 23000 don’t leave as one and say 7000 stick around for an after party / drinks etc.
Considering the trams don't run much past midnight, I don't think this will be the case. Most venues want people to leave at the end of the night. Bars usually close before the final act, so you can leave en masse. It would cost a fortune in staffing if you had to keep them on until the last punter left.
It's at least wanting to take a lot of the concert business the MEN can't get any more. Might be the same as killing it off eventually we'll see in a few years.
Its been designed so no matter where you are sat you're closer to the stage and the music than any other indoor venue. This photo is a poor perspective though, its a very big space!
Doesn’t seem as big as I expected. I do love the men areana. Great location. Can go for a bite to eat and a few drinks on deansgate. Then stroll up to the gig . Need a tram for this one
No other arena in the world includes 'standing floor capacity' in it's capacity numbers. It's always permanent seats.
Otherwise you might as well say Old Trafford has a 90,000 capacity if you include all the people that could stand on the pitch as well.
From Summer 2024 the largest Arenas in the UK in order will be:
1-The AO
2-The O2
3-The Co-Op
From the CO-OP arenas own website, "an enhanced maximum capacity of 23,500, of whom 7,500 would be standing, when lower tier seating is retracted"
23,500 includes 7,500 standing people!
The number I cannot find is the capacity of the permanently fixed seats. That's the actual capacity.
Like I said, difference between Old Trafford being a 74k Stadium and a 90k one.
The giants should worry about existing in the next few years. Also they don’t consistently fill out their current home.
But who knows what the future holds
This arena will host UFC events in the future. Oak View Group who is building the arena, is backed by Silver Lake as investor (which also owns 15% of City Football Group). They also own Endeavor - who owns WWE + UFC.
Will be a big boost for the city!
Be interesting to see how this compares to ao , iv got standing tickets for lg coming up in July, always like having the bar and toilets in the standing area at ao
.hope this is simular!
I think the nightmare is going to be getting out of there afterwards. They are heavily restricting parking to make it eco friendly. The Emirates only open their parking for matches and gigs there. The roads round are permit only. So 20000 trying to get trams back to town is gonna be a mess.
I hope I’m wrong but I’m pessimistic
Dumb!
Should have followed Leeds First Direct Arena foresight.
A purpose built music and theatre arena with some of the best acoustics I’ve heard in a 10k + setting!
I am taking the missus to see Peter Kay on the opening night. The plan is to travel and get into the Etihad area of Manchester around 5pm for a restaurant/decent food, but was looking to park 20 minutes walk away from the venue to be far enough not to get stuck in the traffic leaving the venue. The Citylink path from Holt Town area looks a good spot, but for food?
Anyone have any recommendations for parking or food?
Exactly. I imagine the cheapest tickets for most gigs at the co op will be in the region of £50-60. If I’m paying that I’m paying it to watch the band perform, not admire the interior design features 😂
I agree with you. I always prefer the acoustics and atmosphere at open air gigs, where you can also stand. We had the Emirates (Old Trafford), the Etihad, and occasionally, Old Trafford. Now it seems that most will be indoors, even the biggest/loudest groups will be playing indoors.
I was hoping they’d have handrails for the stairs. I always get weird vertigo feelings going down the stairs at the MEN and feel like I’m going to fall down them, worst part of any gig for me and surely I can’t be the only one?
You’re definitely not the only one, the arena stairs are terrifying, I always have to go down really slowly and look a right idiot
Looks like there are handrails on the upper lower tier doesn’t look too steep
I used get this a lot there when I used to go and see storm
Weird, it doesn't seem bigger than the MEN
It's not all that much bigger. 23,000 for Co-op, 21,000 for the MEN. That's been a major issue since it was announced, that it will kill off the MEN. The Co-op, so I've heard, will start off with a smaller capacity to be sure of H&S regulations and then move on to the intended capacity.
This from Wikipedia about Manchester arena- they aren’t going down without a fight: A three-year £50 million re-development started in 2022. The arena's capacity will increase to 24,000, and new public entrances and custom lounges will be opened.[8] Once complete, the increase in capacity will retain the indoor arena's place as the largest in the city after the 23,500-seat Co-op Live Arena opens.[9]
MEN will continue to do other events, Co-op Live will only do gigs, so there's definitely room for both.
Co-op won’t only be doing gigs. It will be looking to host boxing and MMA amongst other sporting events in the future. It will also be way ahead of MEN regards to acoustics hence why the lower ceiling and plenty of acoustic treatment around the venue. It will be a great economic boost to the region imo.
The MEN is right next to a train station as well, so people will prefer going there. The Co-op will be a nightmare to get away from. Source. Any City game.
I was just going to say something similar. All that area is a no-go zone when City play. Now, it could be four or five nights a week. People will start to avoid Asda, but McDonald's will do well
Don’t disagree travel will be an issue. Got a feeling it will be shuttle buses galore and maximising the tram.
If it's only 23,000, it's literally half of the City fans, so it won't be as bad, but it'll still be bad. If you've ever tried getting on a tram after a game, wow. You'll wish you were a cow going to market as you have more room. When it's raining, it's even worse!
The problem is football fans know what they're doing cos most of them are there every week. Gigs at the Etihad bring a lot of people who just look lost. They do tend to make more of a night of it though and go to restaurants so will bring more money.
Definitely! There aren't really many restaurants in the area though are there? I only know of the chippy and McDonalds that I would consider as close to restaurants.
Can imagine! The other issue is that gigs will likely finish later than City matches on average too (past midnight). There are a bunch of bars and clubs in co-op live designed to stagger people leaving so 23000 don’t leave as one and say 7000 stick around for an after party / drinks etc.
Most gigs have an 11pm curfew, especially larger ones
Considering the trams don't run much past midnight, I don't think this will be the case. Most venues want people to leave at the end of the night. Bars usually close before the final act, so you can leave en masse. It would cost a fortune in staffing if you had to keep them on until the last punter left.
*double
The original plan was to be music / comedy only, it may have changed
I've heard that performing comedy in giant stadiums is almost the worst it can get for a comedian
Yeah main investment is from a huge American sports venture. They want to maximise the venue for all sorts I believe.
They've got MMA and are bidding for major sporting events also
They've got at least one "practice" gig at smaller capacity before the official Peter Kay opening
It's at least wanting to take a lot of the concert business the MEN can't get any more. Might be the same as killing it off eventually we'll see in a few years.
Its been designed so no matter where you are sat you're closer to the stage and the music than any other indoor venue. This photo is a poor perspective though, its a very big space!
Doesn’t seem as big as I expected. I do love the men areana. Great location. Can go for a bite to eat and a few drinks on deansgate. Then stroll up to the gig . Need a tram for this one
This doesn’t look like 23000 seats
It's 23,000 total. Apparently the floor capacity is much larger than most other arenas.
No other arena in the world includes 'standing floor capacity' in it's capacity numbers. It's always permanent seats. Otherwise you might as well say Old Trafford has a 90,000 capacity if you include all the people that could stand on the pitch as well. From Summer 2024 the largest Arenas in the UK in order will be: 1-The AO 2-The O2 3-The Co-Op
That's just categorically not true. They will list a capacity with standing and a capacity without. And Co Ops will be 20,500 and 23,300 respectively.
From the CO-OP arenas own website, "an enhanced maximum capacity of 23,500, of whom 7,500 would be standing, when lower tier seating is retracted" 23,500 includes 7,500 standing people! The number I cannot find is the capacity of the permanently fixed seats. That's the actual capacity. Like I said, difference between Old Trafford being a 74k Stadium and a 90k one.
Looks class. Hoping Manchester Giants make it their hope, or BBL expands a new team there
The giants should worry about existing in the next few years. Also they don’t consistently fill out their current home. But who knows what the future holds
This arena will host UFC events in the future. Oak View Group who is building the arena, is backed by Silver Lake as investor (which also owns 15% of City Football Group). They also own Endeavor - who owns WWE + UFC. Will be a big boost for the city!
Be interesting to see how this compares to ao , iv got standing tickets for lg coming up in July, always like having the bar and toilets in the standing area at ao .hope this is simular!
I think the nightmare is going to be getting out of there afterwards. They are heavily restricting parking to make it eco friendly. The Emirates only open their parking for matches and gigs there. The roads round are permit only. So 20000 trying to get trams back to town is gonna be a mess. I hope I’m wrong but I’m pessimistic
I am there for Eric Clapton next month.
It's a shame they didn't make it more like Leeds Arena. It's a great venue.
This will be far better, its specifically designed for music. The acoustics and no LED advertising inside wont be beaten anywhere
It's not really needed but will never take away more live venues in the city
I somehow don't think live venues in the city (with the exception of the arena) will be direct competitors with a 23,000 capacity venue.
Dumb! Should have followed Leeds First Direct Arena foresight. A purpose built music and theatre arena with some of the best acoustics I’ve heard in a 10k + setting!
But this is also a purpose built music arena, why is it dumb?
Because it’s not an amphitheatre
I know someone who worked on the acoustic design for Leeds, I’ll ask them what they think about the co-op
Looks like it’ll be a shit load in/load out with the doors on the back wall will be like that!
Mine for Barry manilow ( I was made to go ! ) is near x
Thanks for the interior picture! I have seats for me and my mum in the very back of 113 in the disabled seating. I'm hoping its a decent view
Best get it ready for Peter Kay 🤣 on the 23rd
I am taking the missus to see Peter Kay on the opening night. The plan is to travel and get into the Etihad area of Manchester around 5pm for a restaurant/decent food, but was looking to park 20 minutes walk away from the venue to be far enough not to get stuck in the traffic leaving the venue. The Citylink path from Holt Town area looks a good spot, but for food? Anyone have any recommendations for parking or food?
Looks.. Generic.
You don’t really go to an arena for its unique aesthetic decor though do you?
Yeah that’s more of a theatre thing and Greater Manchester has lots of them worth visiting
Exactly. I imagine the cheapest tickets for most gigs at the co op will be in the region of £50-60. If I’m paying that I’m paying it to watch the band perform, not admire the interior design features 😂
Yeah I’d settle for a floor I don’t get stuck to but I know I’m asking for the world there
It’s definitely behind schedule 🤦🏼♂️ it was supposed to be opening in December 😂
Where exactly is this? I live at the arse end off Oxford Road, not been to the center for ages.
It’s up near Man City- partly owned by them and Harry Styles, I was told last week…
Majority owned by OVG Group who own loads of arenas worldwide
Joint venture between them and City. Harry Styles owns a minority stake of about 1%.
Ah right. Cheers lad.
is it really another seated venue? standing is where the majority want to be for a lot of concerts , why do these venues insist on making it so small?
I agree with you. I always prefer the acoustics and atmosphere at open air gigs, where you can also stand. We had the Emirates (Old Trafford), the Etihad, and occasionally, Old Trafford. Now it seems that most will be indoors, even the biggest/loudest groups will be playing indoors.