2 weeks ago
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Manchester's troubled new £350million Co-op Live arena has cancelled its opening gig tonight for a third time with some fans queuing outside.
US rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie's show had already been postponed twice this week and it was pulled again at the last minute due to 'technical issues'.
Hundreds of fans looked in disbelief as they made a quick exit after being told the gig would not be going ahead.
Co-op Live had hours earlier published instructions of how to get the arena in an attempt to reassure fans after Peter Kay was last week forced to cancel yet another show at the plush arena.
Doors were scheduled to open tonight at 6.30pm, but just 10 minutes later the venue embarrassingly posted on its X account asking fans to 'leave the area'.
Footage filmed outside the arena today just hours before showed the area looking like a construction site, with a digger and dumper parked up outside among building materials.
Manchester's troubled new £350million Co-op Live arena has cancelled its opening gig tonight for a third time with some fans queuing outside
US rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie's show had already been postponed twice this week and fans reacted in disbelief as they were told to leave the area
A statement by Co-op Live on its X page read: 'Due to a venue-related technical issue, tonight's A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie show will no longer go ahead.
'We kindly ask fans to leave the area. Tickets holders will receive further information in due course.
'We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.'
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, real name Julius Dubose, later told fans 'something happened with the venue during a soundcheck'.
He wrote on X: 'Something happened with the venue while I was at soundcheck today that caused cancellation of the show.
'We are working on rescheduling in the next few days.
'I'm heated about the situation too, but safety first Manchester, I got you, just stay tuned for further info.'
The venue had reassured fans that performances from A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and US singer Olivia Rodrigo would be going ahead this week.
It is not yet known if this will affect Rodrigo's scheduled appearances on May 3 and 4.
Co-op Live Arena had been due to open on April 23 and is expected to compete with the 02 Arena for the some of the world's biggest sporting and music events.
The ongoing issues have seen Gary Roden, general manager of the venue, quit after a slew of problems led to a delay in opening.
Rebecca Kane Burton, an ex-boss of London's O2 Arena, has stepped in as interim general manager.
The Co-op Live had to embarrassingly tell fans to 'leave the area' as there were 'venue-related technical issues'
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie later told fans in a message on X something happened with the venue during soundcheck
Fans reacted with fury to the news the gig had been cancelled with people queuing outside
Footage filmed earlier today showed the area still looking like a construction site with a digger and dumper parked up outside
It comes after problems with power at the site, which are believed to have affected the fire safety and emergency services communication systems led to bosses slashing attendance from around 11,000 to 4,000 at a test event
Headaches for the arena, which is next door to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium, became patently clear after capacity for a test event two weeks ago was reduced with just hours' notice due to power issues.
Comedian Peter Kay's huge gig at Manchester's brand new Co-op Live arena was cancelled, just hours before he was due to take to the stage at the 23,500-capacity venue.
The comedian's second show at the venue set for Wednesday evening was also cancelled.
The highly-anticipated show would have been the grand opening for the city's flagship new venue, the largest in the UK.
But just a day before the show was due to take place, it was announced that both shows had been cancelled, as work is still to be completed on the venue, which is yet to be signed off by the council's building control.
Co-op Live confirmed that both shows would be rescheduled, and will instead would take place on the 29th and 30th April.
Mr Kay said in a statement he was 'gutted' the shows were cancelled.
'I'm truly gutted as I know how disappointing this will be for everyone with tickets, but obviously it's a brand-new venue and it's important that everything is finished and safe for full capacity audiences,' he said.
It comes after problems with power at the site, which are believed to have affected the fire safety and emergency services communication systems, led to bosses slashing attendance from around 11,000 to 4,000 at a test event - less than two hours before it was due to start.
Peter Kay has also been forced to cancel yet another show at Manchester's new £350m arena amid the ongoing chaos
Announcing the news in an update, the comedian confirmed: 'My apologies once again but unfortunately the Co-op Live still isn’t ready'
Gary Roden, general manager of the venue, has quit after a slew of issues led to a delay in opening
The Co-op Live arena could rival The 02 Arena for the world's biggest boxing and UFC events (Photo: Artist impressions when the plans for the venue were unveiled)
Insiders claimed 'everything was run down to the wire' ahead of the test show starring Rick Astley.
Manchester City Council's building control department cannot issue a completion certificate while work is still ongoing at the site, which is understood last week to include corridors and wiring.
The venue could still operate without this certificate after presenting council bosses with a mitigation strategy to manage potential risks, although details of this plan have not been made public.
Previously, bosses at Co-op Live said teams were on-site 'throwing everything at it' to prepare for the venue's grand opening.
