The arena is one of the world's busiest indoor arenas, hosting music and sporting events such as boxing and swimming.[4] The arena was a key part of Manchester's bids to host the Olympic Games in 1996 and 2000 and was eventually used for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
The arena was temporarily closed following a terror attack on 22 May 2017, in which suicide bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people, and injured 500 more, at the end of an Ariana Grande concert during her Dangerous Woman Tour. Shows and events that were scheduled to take place at the arena were either moved to alternative venues, or cancelled completely. The arena was reopened on 9 September with a special benefit concert headlined by Manchester-born singer Noel Gallagher.[5]
Arena design
Steps leading to southern entrance from Hunts BankPanorama of the arena, facing the main stage
First proposed during the regeneration of Manchester city centre during the 1980s, the structure was designed by DLA Ellerbe Beckett, Ove Arup & Partners, and Austin-Smith:Lord. The arena is sited in air rights space over the Manchester Victoria railway station and was constructed without disrupting use of the station. The original plans included a glass tower which was not built. It originally hosted a seven-screen multiplex cinema, a multi-purpose arena and multi-storey parking. The former multiplex cinema, which opened in 1996, closed after just four years and is now a call centre. Following the bombing, the foyer underwent renovation.
A large truss measuring 105 metres (344ft) spans the roof. Reinforced concrete is used to increase sound insulation. The upper parts of the building are clad in purple-grey with green glass.[6] The arena was opened on 15 July 1995.[7]
A three-year £50million re-development started in 2022. The arena's capacity will increase to 24,000, and new public entrances and custom lounges will be opened.[8] Once complete, the increase in capacity will retain the indoor arena's place as the largest in the city after the 23,500-seat Co-op Live Arena opened.[9]
Background
The arena during sponsorship by Manchester Evening NewsPhones 4u Arena logo used from 2013 to 2015
The arena was constructed as part of the city's unsuccessful bid for the 2000 Summer Olympics.[10] Construction cost £52million of which £35.5m was provided by government grants and £2.5m from the European Regional Development Fund. Although built as an American style sports arena, it has been more successful hosting large music events.[11]
The arena opened in July 1995, sponsored by NYNEX CableComms as NYNEX Arena. In July 1998, it was renamed the Manchester Evening News Arena, or just the MEN Arena, when it was sponsored by the Manchester Evening News newspaper. In December 2011, the newspaper ended its 13 year sponsorship, and the arena was renamed Manchester Arena in January 2012.[12] In July 2013, the arena was renamed Phones 4u Arena after the mobile phone company Phones 4u,[13] but this deal ended in January 2015 after Phones 4u went out of business, renaming the arena back to Manchester Arena.[14] In September 2020, the arena was rebranded as the AO Arena as part of a five year sponsorship deal by the online electricals retailer AO.[15]
On the opening night, 15,000 spectators watched Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean perform. The crowd was a record for an ice event.[16] Attendance records were set in 1997 when 17,425 people watched Manchester Storm play Sheffield Steelers, a record for an ice hockey match in Europe at that time. When 14,151 people watched Manchester Giants play London Leopards, it set a British record for attendance at a basketball match.[16] The venue attracts over a million customers each year for concerts and family shows, making it one of the world's busiest indoor arenas, and was named "International Venue Of The Year" in 2002 in the 'Pollstar' awards, and was nominated in the same category from 2002 to 2009. The arena was named "Busiest Arena Venue In The World", based on ticket sales for concerts from 2003 to 2007, ahead of other indoor arenas including Madison Square Garden and Wembley Arena. The arena was the 'World's Busiest Arena' from 2001 until 2007 based on ticket sales for concerts, attracting five and a half million customers. It was voted 'Europe's Favourite Arena' at the TPi Awards in 2008 by the touring companies that bring the shows to the venue.
On the evening of 27 May 1999, a reception was held at the arena to celebrate Manchester United'sUEFA Champions League triumph in Barcelona 24 hours earlier, following the victorious side's parade around Manchester at the end of the season in which they became the first English team to win the treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season, which remained the case until Manchester City achieved the same feat in 2022-23.[17]
In 2008, the arena was the world's third busiest arena behind London's The O2 Arena and New York's Madison Square Garden. In 2009, it was the world's second busiest arena behind The O2, and ahead of the Sportpaleis in Antwerp and Madison Square Garden in New York City. Although second to London's The O2, Manchester's arena had its busiest year with over 1,500,000 people attending concerts and family shows. The arena hosts over 250 events annually including comedy, live music and tours, sporting events, and occasionally musicals.[18]
As one of the largest venues in the UK, the arena has hosted music concerts since opening in 1995.
As of 2019, British pop group Take That, who were formed in Manchester, hold the record for the most performances, with 46. During the five-concert Manchester leg of their 2019 tour, the arena was temporarily renamed after the band to honour their 30-year career.[19] Irish pop group Westlife previously held the record with 33 performances.[20]
Led Zeppelin legends Jimmy Page and Robert Plant performed a sell out concert at the arena on 3 November 1998 as part of their Walking into Clarksdale tour.
On 26 March 2000, English boy band Five performed at this venue as part of their Invincible Tour. The show was also filmed for a concert special called Five Live that was released on DVD and VHS later that same year.[21]
Janet Jackson performed here on 31 May 1998 as part of her The Velvet Rope Tour. Jackson was scheduled to perform during her All for You Tour on 5 December 2001, but the show was cancelled with the rest of her European tour because of possible terrorist threats.[22] Her 2016 Unbreakable World Tour was also cancelled, this time because of scheduling conflicts.
U2 performed at the arena on 11 and 12 August 2001, for their Elevation Tour. The band came back in 2018 during their Experience + Innocence Tour for two shows on 19 and 20 October.
Kylie Minogue previously held the record for the most performances at the arena
In 2002, Kylie Minogue performed for six shows as part of her KylieFever2002 tour. She returned for five sold-out shows in April 2005 as part of her Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour. In 2007, she performed for seven sold-out shows in January as part of her Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour. In 2008, she returned for six sold-out shows in July as part of her KylieX2008 tour. Minogue performed for four shows in April 2011 as part of her Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour. Minogue performed again at the arena on 26 September 2014. The performance marked the 30th time Minogue has performed at the arena.[23] It is a record for Minogue as the venue she has played to most in the world; she has played to 400,000 fans in total in the Manchester Arena.[24]
Barbadian singer Rihanna would perform her first concert in England here, as part of her worldwide Good Girl Gone Bad Tour that ran September 2006 to January 2009, starting and ending in North America. The full concert, named Good Girl Gone Bad Live was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 9 June 2008, by Def Jam Recordings. The concert promoted the songs from the album of the same name, however, also featured songs by Rihanna's two previous albums Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl like Me (2006).
Madonna performed twice on her Re-Invention World Tour in Summer 2004, returning in 2009, on the second leg of the Sticky & Sweet Tour. Two shows were planned but one was cancelled due to unknown reasons. Madonna was late on stage in 2015 on the Rebel Heart Tour due to problems with the screen visuals resulting in a shortened set. In October 2023 the singer booked this arena to perform the final rehearsals prior to the kick-off of her Celebration Tour, set to begin in London on 14 October the same year.[25]
Shawn Mendes performed at the arena on 18 April 2017 as the second date of the Illuminate World Tour. He also performed on 7 April 2019 as part of his self-titled tour.[35]
On 16 December 2017, Liam Gallagher performed here as part of his UK tour to celebrate the release of his debut album As You Were.
On 10 February 2018, Kendrick Lamar performed the 3rd date of the European leg of The Damn Tour. This was his first time performing in Manchester since 2013.
Six time Grammy award-winning artist Christina Aguilera performed her 14th date of The X Tour to full attendance on 12 November 2019.
On 15 April 2022, Dua Lipa performed the 1st date of the European leg of highly anticipated Future Nostalgia Tour. This was her first time performing in Manchester since 2016.[36]
On 7 and 8 May 2022, Little Mix performed 3 shows here. 2 evening shows and 1 Matinée, one of their 3 Matinée shows on The Confetti Tour.
Panic! at the Disco performed the final date of the project's Viva Las Vengeance Tour on 10 March 2023. It was its farewell concert, as leader Brendon Urie will subsequently disband the name to focus on family. Panic! at the Disco had previously performed at the arena on 30 March 2019 for its Pray for the Wicked Tour.
On 5 and 6 April 2023, Celine Dion was supposed to perform here during her Courage World Tour due to a neurological disease, she had to cancel the remainder of her tour including these 2 shows.. During her 2017 tour, Dion planned to perform two concerts here, but the shows were moved to Leeds following the arena closure in May 2017. She had previously performed at the arena on 14 November 1996 during her Falling into You: Around the World tour and on 2 and 3 May 2008 during her Taking Chances World Tour.
Hong Kong boy group MIRROR performed their second UK arena concert on 14 March 2024 as part of the FEEL THE PASSION CONCERT TOUR 2024[38]
Queens of the Stone Age played here as part of their The End Is Nero tour on 14 November 2023.
Sports
The arena in ice skating configuration
The arena has been the home of three sports teams: the Manchester Storm and Manchester Phoenixice hockey teams, and the Manchester Giantsbasketball team with limited success, as it is no longer used by sports teams but is used for one-off sporting events such as boxing and football masters.
Many boxers have had bouts in the arena, such as Amir Khan, Jermaine Johnson, Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe, Mike Tyson, and David Haye. Hatton, from Manchester, became a regular and favourite at the arena. American professional wrestling promotion WWE have regularly hosted both live events and TV tapings at the Arena, including Mayhem in Manchester in 1998, pay-per-view events such as the UK version of No Mercy in 1999, and Rebellion in 2001 and 2002.
The arena hosted mixed martial arts events. UFC 70 on 21 April 2007, and UFC 105 on 14 November 2009 for which it set the European record attendance for the largest UFC event outside the US with 16,000 spectators. The arena also hosted UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Munoz on 26 October 2013 as well as UFC 204 on 8 October 2016, headlining was a middleweight championship match between Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping. The World Taekwondo Qualification Event for the Beijing Olympic Games was held there on 28–30 September 2007 when 103 countries competed for 24places at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. In April 2008, the arena hosted the FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships, the first time the event has been held in the UK. The arena was transformed with two 25m swimming pools constructed in 18 days and seating provided for 17,250 spectators.[39] On 26 February 2011, it played host to BAMMA 5.
Monster truck racing events have been staged but the floor space has to be extended and the front section of seating in the lower tier removed.[40]
Since 2008, it has played host to a week of the Premier League Darts.
On 14 October 2023, KSI and Logan Paul returned to the arena fighting a double main event, with KSI taking on the brother of Tyson Fury and WBC Diriyah Champion, Tommy Fury, and Logan Paul taking on Dillon Danis.
The first stand-up comedy performance was Peter Kay's final performance of his Mum wants a bungalow Tour in July 2003. He worked at the arena when it opened in 1995 and the performance was filmed for DVD release as Peter Kay at the Manchester Arena.[44] In 2005, Lee Evans set a world record for performing to the biggest audience in front of a crowd of 10,108.[45]Peter Kay's The Tour That Doesn't Tour Tour...Now On Tour ran for 20 consecutive nights and 20 nights at the end of the tour – a record for the venue.[46]Alan Carr filmed the DVD for Spexy Beast in Manchester.
Other
In 1998, the game show Ice Warriors was filmed on the arena's ice rink.
On 19 July 2011, (with a final dress rehearsal in front of an audience on 16 July 2011) the arena hosted the world premiere of Batman Live, a touring stage show, including theatrical, circus and stage-magic elements, that focuses on the DC ComicssuperheroBatman.[47]
The arena also hosted the annual convention of Jehovah's Witnesses. In 2014, this was held on 22–24 August.
The arena also hosted Ant & Dec's Takeaway on Tour: Live on 15–16 August 2014. Over the two days, about more than 120,000 people attended both matinee and evening shows.
The American league Monster Jam attended the venue for the first time in 2005 during the European Tour. They would not attend again for over ten years until 2019 when a second show took place.
Following the Dangerous Woman Tour concert by American pop singer Ariana Grande on 22 May 2017, a suicide bombing occurred in the arena's foyer area. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that twenty-three adults and children were killed, including the bomber, and 500 were injured.[48][49] The terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack.[50]
Reopening
The 'City Room' foyer of the Manchester Arena. Photo taken in 2020 after the completion of the renovation works.
On 14 June 2017, it was confirmed that the arena would remain closed until September, with scheduled concerts either cancelled or moved to other venues.[51] On 9 September 2017, the arena re-opened with a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other acts associated with the North West.[52] This was broadcast live on BBC Radio Manchester, Key 103 and Radio X.[53]
↑ Temporarily closed for forensic investigation and repair work due to the Manchester Arena bombing. Events scheduled to take place were either cancelled or moved to alternative venues.
Footnotes
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Inglis, Simon (2004), Played in Manchester: The architectural heritage of a city at play, English Heritage and Manchester City Council, ISBN1-873592-78-7
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