The 'drivers license' hitmaker was supposed to take stage at Manchester's new Co-op Live arena but the venue's ongoing technical issues have forced her to back out.
- May 3, 2024
AceShowbiz - Manchester's latest addition to its entertainment landscape, the £365 million Co-op Live arena, has hit a major snag in its grand unveiling, resulting in the cancellation of US pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo's impending gigs.
The venue, billed as the UK's largest indoor arena and a future contender with London's O2 Arena for top billing events, has faced a string of postponements and cancellations of its calendar events, signaling a rocky start.
Scheduled to grace the Co-op Live stage on May 3 and 4, Rodrigo's shows were part of her European Guts World Tour, which had previously seen successful stops in Dublin among other cities.
Expressing her frustration and disappointment over the cancellation on her social media, Rodrigo stated she was "sooooo disappointed" that technical issues at the venue had forced the decision. She reassured fans that her team was working on rescheduling the shows and urged them to hold onto their tickets or seek refunds.
The technical glitches plaguing Co-op Live aren't isolated to Rodrigo's shows; they follow a series of setbacks including the last-minute cancellation of a performance by US rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie when a component of the venue's heating and ventilation system incidentally detached during soundcheck.
Concert-goers were left in the lurch, and the venue's credibility took a hit with fans expressing their outrage and disappointment online.
Adding to the venue's woes, early tests intended to showcase the arena's readiness saw reduced attendance and highlighted the operational challenges, ranging from power issues impacting safety systems to incomplete construction work. The departure of Gary Roden, the venue's general manager, amidst these tribulations underscores the significant hurdles that Co-op Live faces as it aims to establish itself as a premium destination for live entertainment.
Despite these setbacks, the replacement of the general manager with Rebecca Kane Burton, an experienced figure in the arena management industry, and assurances from the Co-op Live team about addressing the technical and structural issues, the mix of excitement and skepticism continues to surround the venue. As it gears up for a lineup of renowned artists and events in the coming weeks, all eyes will be on Co-op Live, hoping for a swift resolution to its teething problems.
Olivia Rodrigo fans, while understandably disheartened, are holding out hope for new dates and a chance to see their icon perform, as Manchester's burgeoning venue works around the clock to turn its fortunes around and deliver on its promise of world-class entertainment experiences.
