- Co-op Live, the UK’s biggest indoor arena, delayed its opening for the third time
- American singer Olivia Rodrigo’s concert was canceled at the last minute
- A technical issue caused part of the air conditioning unit to fall from the ceiling
Have you been looking forward to attending a big event at Manchester’s new £365 million arena? Well, you may have to wait a little longer. The highly-anticipated opening of Co-op Live has been postponed due to a last-minute technical problem.
Concert Chaos and Confusion
On Wednesday night, fans were left queuing outside the huge venue as Olivia Rodrigo’s concert was suddenly called off. The Grammy-winning singer was scheduled to perform as part of her “SOUR” world tour.
Just an hour before Rodrigo was set to take the stage, the disappointing announcement came that the show could not go on. A piece of the air conditioning system had fallen from the ceiling after the American rapper Boogie Wit Da Hoodie completed his soundcheck earlier.
Eventgoers were handed notes apologizing for the “significant inconvenience” and asked to leave the area immediately. Many expressed frustration at being left out of pocket for travel and accommodation costs.
Opening Night Woes Continue
This is now the third time the opening of Co-op Live has been postponed. The 23,500-capacity venue was initially due to open back in December 2023 but faced delays.
Previously scheduled performances by comedian Peter Kay have already had to be rearranged twice. Event organizers OVG have stated they will only host concerts once they know audience safety.
Co-op, the company sponsoring and naming the £365 million arena, has requested an explanation from OVG about the repeated setbacks and technical issues.
A Logistical Headache
Sarah Rogers, a reporter at the scene, described the area as still resembling “a building site” with construction crews continuing to work onsite. This latest delay creates a logistical nightmare, with tens of thousands of tickets needing rescheduled or refunded.
It remains unclear whether upcoming events planned for this weekend and next week will also be impacted. Fans hope Co-op Live’s opening night troubles can finally be resolved soon.
What are your thoughts on these ongoing delays for the UK’s new largest arena? Have you been affected by a postponed event there?
