Co-op Live, the new 23,500 capacity and £365m entertainment venue opening in Manchester, will be the biggest in the UK and attract some of the largest global events and fans to the city.
Backed by investors, Oak View Group, City Football Group and international superstar Harry Styles, the venue will announce its first acts in September this year and deliver an unparalleled entertainment experience once it opens its doors in 2023.
Designed to transform the live music experience for both artists and fans, Co-op Live will cement Manchester as one of the world’s largest live entertainment markets, bringing an additional 120 events and 1.3 million visitors annually into the city’s already thriving calendar. Boasting a flexible layout, the venue will host everything from superstar concerts to sports events and award shows, meeting the needs of local and global fans.
While Co-op Live will be the UK’s largest arena, it’s uniquely designed to make artists and fans experience performances feel like an intimate nightclub.
The purpose-built music venue will have a ‘black box’ bowl design that brings fans closer to the stage than ever before and a low ceiling height to improve acoustics and create intimacy. The black box design also offers a unique black canvas for artists and its large standing space will be able to house up to 7,500 fans.
There’ll also be 32 bars and restaurants, 28 premium suites and 12 lounges and club spaces for people to make the most of before and after the shows, too. The arena plans to work alongside local businesses and chefs, to create a personalised dining experience with various options available depending on which performance is being hosted.
Sustainability is at the core of Co-op Live’s design and its future operations. The building will be fully powered by electricity, with a solar powered roof, rainwater harvesting, heat source technologies, and LED lighting.
Construction materials are also locally sourced where possible and the venue is committed to zero waste to landfill and reduced packaging. When it opens, Co-op Live will be the most sustainable entertainment venue in Europe. The team behind the venue is currently working in partnership with Coldplay’s sustainability consultants, Hope Solutions, to ensure it’s on track to deliver its net zero carbon goals.
A range of world-leading brands, led by Co-op as naming rights partner, have joined the project as official partners and sponsors. These include official drinks supplier Diageo and official motor retailer Bristol Street Motors, as well as Britvic, Elavon, Unilever, and Schneider Electric.
Co-op Live is pioneering gigs that give back with a commitment that over £1m will be donated to local and national good causes each year, and all partners have agreed to make annual donations.
The construction project, the single-largest in the city, is generating a significant boost to the regional economy and over the next 20 years will create an additional impact of £1.5bn in the local area. The construction phase is supporting thousands of jobs, including apprenticeships for local people, and the venue will support a further 1,000 roles once open.
