performances from Peter Kay on April 23 and 24. However, following a test event with Rick Astley, the comedian’s gigs were moved to April 29 and 30 due to a failed power test.
23.04.2024 - 17:45 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Police and fire chiefs have remained silent on why they raised safety concerns about Manchester's new Co-op Live arena before venue bosses were forced to postpone Peter Kay's two launch gigs.
The 23,500-capacity venue was due to officially open tonight (Tuesday, April 23) with a homecoming show from the Bolton comedian. He was set to perform again on Wednesday, but both shows were cancelled and rescheduled - to next week - as work at the site is not yet complete.
It came after a test event at the £365m arena on Saturday evening featuring performances from Rick Astley and Everything Everything. Co-op Live bosses reduced capacity just hours before the show, leading to frustration from fans who had already started making their way to the Eastlands venue.
READ MORE: Co-op Live was days from opening, then it all went wrong
The council's building control is yet to sign the building off. Co-op Live bosses have confirmed the Peter Kay shows will be rescheduled for next Monday (April 29) and Tuesday (April 30).
Problems with power at the site are believed to have affected fire safety and emergency services communication systems. Insiders claimed 'everything was run down to the wire' ahead of the test show starring Rick Astley.
Co-op Live bosses say the venue will host The Black Keys on April 27 in the lower bowl - with 10,000 fans - as planned, and that they 'will continue to test the resilience of the venue and its operations'.
The Manchester Evening News has been told morale among workers at the venue 'is at an all time low', with some having allegedly walked off site as they 'can't deal with the pressure'.
It is understood various offers of overtime have been made to catch up. But on the ground, warnings were been made
performances from Peter Kay on April 23 and 24. However, following a test event with Rick Astley, the comedian’s gigs were moved to April 29 and 30 due to a failed power test.
stand-up performances from Peter Kay on April 23 and 24. Following a test event with Rick Astley, however, the comedian’s gigs were postponed until April 29 and 30 due to a failed power test.A Black Keys gig that was scheduled for April 27 later had to be pushed back to May 15, and the Kay dates were delayed for the second time.Last night (May 1), A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s concert was cancelled at the last minute because of a “venue-related technical issue” before it was confirmed that Olivia Rodrigo’s shows at the Co-Op Live this Friday and Saturday (May 3, 4) had been postponed.
NME, dubbing the situation “just a joke at this point”.Yesterday (May 1) thousands of people made their way, again, to Manchester’s new Co-Op Live, the recently-built “largest in-door arena” in the UK. With a grand opening that’s been marred by pushbacks, reschedules, controversial comments about grassroots venues being “poorly run”, and the executive director resigning: the new gig space has been beleaguered by a series of chaotic issues.Aside from a test event featuring Rick Astley for which some tickets were cancelled, reducing the audience to 11,000, the venue has yet to run a show successfully on the day it was originally scheduled.It was supposed to open with performances from Peter Kay on April 23 and 24, but the shows were moved to April 29 and 30 due to the venue’s power testing falling “a few days” behind schedule.
Olivia Rodrigo has spoken out about her upcoming shows at Manchester’s Co-Op Live being postponed at the last minute, saying that she is “so disappointed” by the news.The pop star was set to perform at the new arena in Manchester tomorrow night (May 3) and Saturday (4) as part of her ongoing ‘GUTS World Tour’.However, just two days before the shows were set to go ahead, an update was shared from the venue organisers, confirming that the dates had been pushed back due to ongoing technical issues at the arena.It marked the latest in a series of shows that have been delayed due to ongoing issues with the opening week for Co-Op Live. Originally, the 23,500-capacity arena, located opposite the Etihad Stadium, was supposed to open with performances from Peter Kay on April 23 and 24.
a performance by rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie last minute due to a “venue-related technical issue”.The venue announced just 10 minutes after doors had opened that the show could no longer go ahead due to technical problems. “We kindly ask fans to leave the area.
BBC, Mark Davyd (CEO of the Music Venue Trust) said he was to meet with the Co-Op Live once the venue was up and running. The meeting comes amongst the furore with Co-Op Live’s executive director Gary Roden, who suggested some grassroots venues were “poorly run” whilst discussing the case for a £1 ticket levy to preserve them.Davyd later criticised Roden’s comments, pointing out the average age of the artists booked to play at the venue was 52: “The average length of time it takes for a British artist to be booked to headline the Coop Live Arena from the date of the release of their first album is 30 (THIRTY) years.
marred by issues ahead of its launch, with both Peter Kay and The Black Keys being forced to postpone their shows at the last minute.The 23,500-capacity venue – now the largest arena in the UK – has faced numerous controversies and teething problems in recent weeks, including arena boss Gary Roden’s own resignation.Speaking to The Telegraph, Leiweke said it could be up to a year before plans become official. As for location, the investor said: “If you guessed Hammersmith, it would be a good guess.“We’re pretty focused on a particular site.
In the shadow of Manchester's mammoth new arena, a sea of workers in hi-vis jackets and hard hats are rushing back and forth.
As construction work continues around him, Tim Leiweke's optimism is unwavering.
A Greater Manchester Police car has been taken off the road after having two windows smashed up in Salford. Images have been shared on social media today (April 26) of a Peugeot 308 in GMP livery, parked up on Woodland Grange, in Worsley.
Officers have returned to a Wigan house where the remains of a baby were found two weeks ago. Greater Manchester Police has reopened the crime scene, on Marsh Green, today (April 26).
A man who died when a motorbike crashed into a lamppost in the early hours has been named as 27-year-old Joshua Corless, as tributes to him flood in.
A manhunt is underway across Greater Manchester for a 42-year-old. Greater Manchester Police says Daniel Cloran is currently wanted by the force.
Peter Kay's fans have been hit with more disappointment as the comedian's shows at Manchester's Co-Op Live have been postponed for a second time.
Peter Kay has expressed his “disappointment” at having his shows at the new Co-Op Arena in Manchester postponed for the second time.The 23,500-capacity venue, which is now the largest arena in the UK, was supposed to open with performances from the comedian on April 23 and 24. However, in recent days it has seen multiple gigs cancelled following numerous rows, controversy and teething problems in the build-up to the launch.Kay’s shows – which were set to be the first official gigs held at the venue – were pushed back following a test gig with Rick Astley last weekend, with the organisers citing the arena’s power testing falling “a few days” behind schedule.It was then confirmed earlier this morning (April 26) that an upcoming gig from The Black Keys – set for tomorrow – had been postponed as well, and the rescheduled Kay dates would be moved once again.Kay’s gigs were set to be held on April 29 and 30 following the delay.
Peter Kay and The Black Keys being forced to postpone their shows.The 23,500-capacity venue, which is now the largest arena in the UK, has faced numerous rows, controversy and teething problems in the run-up to its official launch.It was supposed to open with performances from Peter Kay on April 23 and 24, However, following a test gig featuring Rick Astley at the weekend, the shows were moved to April 29 and 30 due to the venue’s power testing falling “a few days” behind schedule.Now, it has been confirmed that the upcoming gig from The Black Keys – set for tomorrow (April 27) – has also been postponed at the last minute, and the rescheduled shows by Peter Kay will be moved once again.“Since making the difficult decision to postpone the live shows at Co-op Live due to take place this week, we have been undertaking an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures to ensure all areas are ready for fans. To ensure that we can run all shows safely, regretfully we have now had to take the decision to reschedule the planned The Black Keys and Peter Kay shows,” read a new statement from the venue.It added that The Black Keys will now perform on May 15, and Peter Kay will now perform on May 23 and 24.
The man behind Co-op Live has revealed exactly why the opening of Manchester's new arena has been delayed again. In an exclusive interview with the Manchester Evening News, Tim Leiweke explained why the £365m venue has pushed back Peter Kay's two performances for a second time and rescheduled The Black Keys' show tomorrow (April 27).
Manchester's brand new Co-Op Live arena has dramatically pulled MORE shows at the last minute amid news that the building is not yet ready to fully open. Peter Kay's gigs had already been rescheduled, but now they've been moved again to May 23 and 24.
Co-op Live bosses have confirmed that the venue will not open this weekend - with The Black Keys and next week's Peter Kay's gigs rescheduled. The £365m venue was due to open on Saturday evening with The Black Keys performing, however the gig has now been moved to Wednesday, May 15.
performances from Peter Kay on April 23 and 24 but following a test gig featuring Rick Astley at the weekend, the shows were moved to April 29 and 30 due to the venue’s power testing falling “a few days” behind schedule.Organisers insisted they were “not embarrassed” by the postponements, saying they were now focused on “ensuring a consistent total power supply”.In an appearance on BBC North West Tonight, Managing Director Tim Leiweke echoed that sentiment (via Manchester Evening News). “I think it’s a source of commitment to safety and expectations and trying to make sure that when people come in the building we do it right.