Manchester City’s pursuit of a fourth consecutive Premier League title has been smooth sailing on the pitch, but their neighboring Co-op Live arena has encountered major delays and setbacks. The arena, partly funded by City’s owners, City Football Group (CFG), and singer Harry Styles, was scheduled to open on April 23 but has since been pushed back to May 14. Performances by Peter Kay, Olivia Rodrigo, and Take That were either canceled or rearranged due to the delays.
Despite the close proximity of the construction work to City’s infrastructure, the club has not provided any operational support to Co-op Live. City has been focused on their own development project, expanding the Etihad’s North Stand at a cost of £300 million. The club has had to coordinate with the arena to plan for their own events and ensure smooth operations on days when matches and concerts coincide.
City staff have been surprised by the scale of the delays and the string of cancellations and postponements. Co-op Live’s first test event, a Rick Astley concert, had its capacity reduced just hours before it was scheduled to start. This led to the postponement of Peter Kay’s shows, which were supposed to open the arena. A second test event was canceled with little notice, and U.S. rapper A Boogie Wit da Hoodie’s show was also canceled with fans already inside the venue.
Manchester City Council’s building control has yet to sign off on the Co-op Live building, and concerns have been raised by the police and fire services. Videos posted on TikTok have revealed problems inside the venue, including hanging wires and taped-up walls. Despite these setbacks, City remains an equal joint venture partner with Oak View Group (OVG), the U.S.-based company responsible for the project.
OVG, known for its sports and real estate ventures, awarded the construction contract for Co-op Live to BAM, the same company behind City’s Etihad Campus training complex. OVG operates numerous venues in North America, including baseball stadiums and convention centers. CEO Tim Leiweke had previously expressed confidence that Co-op Live would open on time, but the delays have caused significant disruption and frustration for fans.
City and Co-op Live have been holding meetings to address concerns about the coexistence of the Etihad Stadium and the arena once they are both operational. With the potential for over 50,000 people attending a City match while events take place at Co-op Live, transportation and logistics will need careful management. The only potential clash before the end of the Premier League season would be if a Barry Manilow concert on May 19 coincides with City’s match against West Ham. If City wins their remaining matches, they will secure the title once again.
While City’s pursuit of a fourth consecutive Premier League title looks promising, the immediate future of Co-op Live remains uncertain. The arena has faced significant challenges and will need to rebuild trust with fans who have been affected by the delays and cancellations.