Barry Manilow fears the chaos-hit Co-op Live arena may not be able to cope with his concert.
The Copacabana singer is due to perform at the Manchester concert hall – set to be the biggest arena in the UK with a capacity of around 23,500 – on May 19. However, Barry has said his team has reserved the rival AO Arena in the city as a back-up plan, amid ongoing technical issues.
The 80-year-old crooner is the latest music star to be affected after Take That and US rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie announced a switch to the AO for their concerts. Oasis star Liam Gallagher is also due to play at Co-op Live next month. Yesterday, he posted: “Surely they’ll have it sorted by then.”
If not, he joked he would play at Lidl instead. Co-op Live is billed as a rival to London’s O2. But since a test event on April 20, when 4,000 people were turned away, the £365million venue has run into a host of problems. Gigs by Peter Kay, Keane and Olivia Rodrigo were cancelled after building delays as well as air conditioning and electrical problems.
Barry is due to play on May 19 (Getty Images)
Liam made a few jokes about his upcoming gig (Samir Hussein/WireImage)Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce said the knock-on effect of the cancellations is hitting the local hospitality sector. The Co-operative Group, naming rights sponsor, said it is “disappointed” and wants people to receive proper redress, such as compensation for hotels.
I was scammed out of £380 after paying for fake Peter Kay tickets
Oak View Group, which runs Co-op Live, apologised and CEO Tim Leiweke said: “The team is working incredibly hard to get the building up and running.” Elbow are due to play Co-op Live, on May 14.
American pop star Olivia Rodrigo's sold-out gigs were axed earlier this week, while iconic bandTake Thatrevealed they're shifting their May shows from Co-op Live to AO Arena in Manchester. Rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie's gig was delayed just over an hour before the rapper was due on stage on Wednesday night and will now take place at AO Arena, with The Black Keys and Keane's upcoming performances also impacted.
The new music venue, which has postponed its opening numerous times, said it will be taking "a short pause to events" before welcoming members of the public to the arena from May 14. A statement from Co-op Live said this is to "fully ensure the safety and security of fans and artists" and allow for an "independent inspection of all elements of the arena ceiling" following an issue with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
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