Co-op Live
 | |
| Location | Manchester, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°29′11.41″N 2°11′58.82″W / 53.4865028°N 2.1996722°W |
| Public transit |  Etihad Campus |
| Operator | Oak View Group |
| Capacity | 20,500 (all-seated) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | May 2021 |
| Opened | 2023 (proposed) |
| Website | |
| www | |
Co-op Live is an indoor arena currently under construction in Manchester, England. Due to open in 2023, it is proposed to have the largest maximum capacity (as seats plus standing spaces) of any indoor arena in the United Kingdom; greater than the existing Manchester Arena which is under 2 miles away.[1]
Developers are planning to include up to 32 bars, a number of restaurants and clubs as part of the complex.[2] The scheme is being developed by Oak View Group in partnership with The Co-operative Group.[3]
Arena design
The arena envisages hosting live music, sports, comedy acts, and family entertainment events, with an all seated maximum capacity of 20,500 (for a centre-stage concert, extending the retractable seating in the lower tier); but with an enhanced maximum capacity of 23,500, of whom 7,500 would be standing, when lower tier seating is retracted.[4][5][6] The main ground floor public entrances to the arena will be from the North West with additional access to Level 1 from the canalside to the South East. The stage-end will be to the East.
The audience bowl will be approximately square with retractable seating on Level 0, 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; and the configuration of the auditorium is intended to be optimised for larger-scale touring music performances with a relatively low ceiling (to enhance acoustic experience), an extensive potential flat floor area for standing, and minimised distances from the upper tiers to the stage. Compared to a more conventional arena bowl of equivalent size, the tiered seats on the Western side of the Co-op Arena are claimed to be around 20m closer to the performance stage. The promoters state that the interior of the bowl "has been designed to feel like the UK’s largest nightclub".[7]
In addition to live music and entertainment, the developers propose basketball, netball, tennis, Esports and gymnastics as sports that could be hosted within the dimensions of the arena floor, and for which there was not, at the time, an appropriate larger venue in Manchester capable of hosting championship events. With lower tier seating retracted, the floor would accommodate a standard ice-hockey pad. For events configured with a centre-stage or using the arena floor, there will be additional upper tier seating on the East side; above and behind the normal end-stage position.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Manchester's Co-op Live to become UK's first all-electric arena". NME. 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Pictures show east Manchester's new £350m music venue taking shape". Manchester Evening News. 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Partners - Co-op Live". www.cooplive.com.
- ^ "Design and Access Statement". Manchester City Council. 31 March 2020. pp. 39 and 115.
- ^ "Erection of a multi-use arena" (PDF). Manchester City Council. 31 March 2020.
- ^ "Plans revealed for UK's largest indoor arena". 28 February 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Bosses of huge new arena next to the Etihad issue update ahead of grand opening". NME. 26 April 2022.
- ^ "Erection of a multi-use arena" (PDF). Manchester City Council. 31 March 2020.