The Co-op Live arena in Manchester is scheduled to open on Tuesday with a performance by Elbow, despite previous delays caused by a critical incident involving its ventilation and air conditioning system. This facility, proclaimed as the UK's largest indoor arena, faced multiple postponements after a section of this system detached and fell during a soundcheck in early May. Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group, which operates the arena, described the incident as potentially catastrophic had it occurred only 15 minutes later. He reassured the public that the issue, attributed to an installation error, has been thoroughly addressed, terming the venue as "the safest building in the world."
The events leading to the opening saw the rescheduling of several performances, including shows by Peter Kay, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Olivia Rodrigo, Keane, and Take That. The Co-op Live confirmed Elbow’s performance after declaring the event as a result of an "isolated manufacturing defect." The upcoming events now include a performance by Travis Scott on July 13.
The arena is a joint venture between Oak View Group, co-founded by Leiweke and music mogul Irving Azoff, and City Football Group, owned by Sheikh Mansour. Notable investor Harry Styles has also been actively engaged with the arena's development.