The Manchester’s £365 million venue is bidding to become the new home of UFC & Boxing in the UK. When it opens on April 23, the Co-op Live arena will be the largest indoor entertainment venue in the UK boasting 23,5000 seats.
City Football Group and Oak View Group (OVG) is funding the project and it’s within a walking distance from Manchester City’s home ground, Etihad Arena.
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Harry Styles Partners with Oak View Group for Co-op Live Arena in Manchester
Manchester United fan Harry Styles is shelling out his pockets to fund the cauldron, which could seek to rival the 02 Arena for the world’s biggest bouts even though it will be a music-first destination.
The Greater Manchester conurbation has manufactured some of the best boxing talents around, including Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan and Tyson Fury.
The Co-op Live Arena is supposed to surpass the AO Arena’s capacity of 21,000, which means that Manchester will possess the two biggest indoor venues in the UK.
Harry Styles when asked about the topic said that he’s incredibly proud to have partnered with Oak View Group for their plans with the Co-op Live.
Styles said: “I am incredibly proud to be partnering with OVG on their plans for Co-op Live.”
He thinks that Manchester is a very vibrant city with lovely people and that he he is very happy to have been involved in this project. This project feels like a homecoming for him.
“Manchester is an incredible city, filled with incredible people and I couldn’t be happier being involved in this project. It very much feels like coming home.”
“I was drawn to this project on every level, from the opportunities it brings, to the contribution it will make to the city, and most importantly, that it will allow even more live music to thrive in Manchester.”
Harry Styles, The former One Directioner was also spotted for Manchester United’s 2-1 win against Luton on Sunday at Kenilworth Road but escaped reporters after the game.
Co-op Live Arena Launches Alongside Ambitious Old Trafford Renovation Plans
The opening of the Co-op Live arena coincides with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £2 billion vision to renovate Old Trafford into a 90,000-capacity venue resembling Wembley Stadium in the North, utilizing public funds.
Any attempt to engage with the central government could occur against the backdrop of Westminster’s promises to promote regional equality and development. However, according to reports, government sources have expressed that a simple injection of taxpayer cash to a Premier League giant is highly unlikely.
On the contrary, support might take the shape of tax incentives and eased planning regulations, potentially incorporating the new venue into an extensive redevelopment area that extends to the Manchester Ship Canal, connecting Old Trafford with BBC HQ MediaCity.
Peter Kay has been announced as the opening act, for the Co-op Live arena, while Liam Gallagher, Olivia Rodrigo and Take That will follow with concerts.
Co-op Live Arena: A Versatile Venue with Unique Features
It is expected to host 120 events annually, with 100 of them focusing on music. The venue features a distinctive bowl design and will also house 32 bars and restaurants alongside the arena.
The arena is planning to host live music, family entertainment events, sports, and comedy acts. The Co-op Live Arena will have an all-seated maximum capacity of 20,500 however, with an increased maximum capacity of 23,500, including 7,500 standing positions when lower-tier seating is retracted. The main ground floor public entrances will be from the North West to the arena with additional access to level 1 from the canal side to the South East as the stage-end will be to the East.
The audience bowl will be roughly square with retractable seating on level 0 and level 1, premium seating on level 2, upper tier seating on level 3, and hospitality lounges overlooking the stage at level 4 from the North and South sides. The auditorium’s layout is designed to be ideal for larger-scale touring music shows, featuring a relatively low ceiling to improve acoustics. Additionally, there is a spacious flat floor area at Level 0 for standing, and the distance from the upper tiers to the stage is minimized.
The tiered seats on the Western side of the Co-op Arena are claimed to be around 20 metres (70 ft) closer to the performance stage, compared to a more conventional arena bowl of equivalent size. According to the promoters, the interior of the bowl has been crafted to evoke the atmosphere of the UK’s largest nightclub.
