Name of city’s new arena is revealed
DEVELOPERS SAY CONSTRUCTION OF £350M VENUE COULD BEGIN AS SOON AS NOVEMBER
THE new £350 million arena in east Manchester will be called Co-op Live, it can be revealed.
Plans for the ‘world class’ indoor music and sports venue next to the Etihad Stadium were given the green light by the council’s planning committee on Thursday.
And pending final confirmation from the national planning authorities the American firm behind it hope to start work as early as November, creating over 3,350 jobs during the three year construction phase.
A further 1,000 jobs will be created once it opens, currently projected to be in 2023, the Oak View Group (OVG) say. And the new venue will be called Co-Op Live as part of a sponsorship deal between OVG and the member-owned, Manchester-based Co-Operative Group, founded in the city in 1863.
After talks – which began over a year ago – the firms say they have agreed a 15-year deal which they say will ‘define the ethos of the venue’ with OVG claiming it will be ‘one of the most sustainable and socially responsible buildings of its type in Europe’.
As part of the sponsorship agreement, The Co-Op will offer its members a whole host of exclusive benefits including pre-sale tickets up to seven days before general release.
They will also offer discounts on food and drinks at the venue, hospitality experiences, the chance to win free tickets and backstage VIP experiences plus priority entryaccess to the venue.
The arena, to be built on 4.4 hectares of land bordered by the Alan Turing Way, Joe Mercery Way and the Ashton Canal in Bradford, will also sell Co-op food products inside. The firm’s food brand has in recent years opened pop-up shops at festivals across the country such as Glastonbury. Around £1m a year will go to good causes across the UK – distributed by their charitable arm the Co-op Foundation as part of the deal.
Steve Murrells, the Co-Op Group’s CEO said: “The entertainment arena brings to life the cooperative difference and our vision to co-operate for a fairer world, from its sustainable construction, support for communities, zero food waste and member only exclusive benefits.
“It will not only enthral audiences, but every time people watch a live act they’ll be doing good in local communities across the UK.”
Tim Leiweke, Chief Executive Officer, Oak View Group, said: “I’ve said from the beginning of this project that this arena will be of Manchester, for Manchester and by Manchester, and this partnership with one of the city’s most iconic brands is a critical part of that.
“We can’t wait to work together to bring amazing live event experiences, in one of the world’s best arenas, to Manchester.”
We can’t wait to bring amazing live event experiences to Manchester
Tim Lieweke, Oak View Group CEO