Bosses of huge new arena next to the Etihad issue update ahead of grand opening

Bosses at the new arena next to the Etihad Stadium say they are now in the process of booking the first acts to perform at the new venue.

Co-op Live say they are now officially open for bookings and in talks with promoters over the first wave of shows for when it throws open its door at the end of next year. The venue, which with a capacity of 23,500 is set to become the biggest indoor arena in the UK, say there has already been "enormous interest" and that the first dates are expected to be booked up quickly.

Announcements of who will be the first artists to grace its stage are set to be made this summer. The £350 million project is the brainchild of American entertainment firm The Oak View Group (OVG) and is a joint venture with Manchester City owners the City Football Group.

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Pop heartthrob Harry Styles, who hails from Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, is also a minority investor. Building work, overseen by contractor BAM Construction, began in late 2020. It is set to be completed by December next year with the first shows taking place at the end of 2023 and early 2024.

In total, once opened, it will host 120 events a year, bringing an estimated 1.3 million visitors to the city. Bosses say "these extra events would mean Manchester will rival London as the music capital of the UK on annual attendances at events in major music arenas."

It would also mean annual attendance at music events in the city would be higher than that for football. Those behind Co-op Live say it has been designed to be "a music-first venue" but that it will have "a uniquely flexible layout" with the capacity and seating arrangements being