Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
The opening of the UK’s biggest indoor arena has been a failure. After a chaotic trial event that highlighted a litany of problems, Co-Op Live in Manchester was forced to postpone launch events and on Wednesday a concert by the rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was cancelled as fans queued outside to enter. That show will now take place tomorrow, but across the city at a rival arena. The frustrated performer told fans he was “heated about the situation”. He’s not the only one. Smaller venues were frustrated when Co-Op Live (part-owned by the global superstar Harry Styles) chose not to sign up to a £1-a-ticket levy to support UK grassroot music venues. A “perfect storm” of surging inflation and energy cost rises has buffeted music venues after Covid and lockdowns. The UK lost 125 such facilities in 2023. Gary Roden, Co-Op Live’s general manager, said at the time the levy would not filter out venues that were “poorly run”. The member-owned Co-Operative Group, which sponsors the venue, is frustrated and seeking answers but won’t get any from Roden. He resigned last week.
