THIS is the £365million state-of-the-art Co-op Live arena in Manchester which is set to officially open on April 23.
Based next to the Etihad Stadium it will become the UK’s largest indoor arena with an impressive capacity of 23,500, surpassing the 21,000 AO Arena also in Manchester.
And it looks set to challenge London’s O2 for the country’s biggest boxing bouts.
Co-op Live is funded by Oak View Group (OVG) and City Football Group (CFG), which owns Manchester City.
This led to the complex being built on the Etihad Campus, just a stroll away from the City’s Etihad Stadium.
And Manchester United fan pop star Harry Styles is also an investor with the arena to be a music-first venue.
Styles said: “I am incredibly proud to be partnering with OVG on their plans for Co-op Live.
“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.”
Music will be the centre for Co-op Live, as with most of the UK’s top indoor arenas, and it is planned to host around 120 events per year, 100 of which are expected to be concerts.
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But it will also host other events including sports and has ambitions to become home to boxing and UFC fight nights.
Manchester Arena was the birthplace of Jake Paul‘s boxing career after older brother Logan fought KSI.
The arena also hosted Mike Tyson‘s first fight in the UK.
And Michael Bisping defeated Dan Henderson for the middleweight title at UFC 204 in 2016.
Her SunSport take a look inside the new Co-op Live.
The venue will include 32 bars and restaurants plus 12 lounges.
With a unique bowl design, it has the largest floor space of any indoor arena with a much lower ceiling than many venues – with tiered seating also included.
Their website says: “Cutting edge visual technology, exceptional acoustics and innovative sound bowl design means the best show possible whether standing or seated.
“In a space designed to welcome the biggest and most exciting global artists.”
The arena will only use renewable electricity from the 10,500 solar panels on site.
With no gas, the venue will be powered, heated and cooled with zero carbon emissions.
It will produce no landfill waste and is also set to collect Manchester’s rainwater to flush its toilets and water its plants.
Co-op Live has been built using local suppliers, with a facade from Salford, steel from Bolton, and seats made in Britain.
It has been confirmed that the venue is set to open on April 23 with a headline act by comedian Peter Kay.
