Olivia Rodrigo's highly anticipated concerts at Manchester, England's brand-new Co-Op Live arena have hit a snag. The singer was all set to kick off her U.K. tour at the venue on May 3 and 4, following a gig in Dublin. However, Co-Op Live had to call off the shows, citing "technical issues" as the culprit. "I've been having such an amazing time in Europe so far, and I'm sooooo disappointed that we can't perform in Manchester due to ongoing technical issues," lamented Rodrigo on Instagram. She reassured fans, saying, "We're doing our best to reschedule the show. I'm so bummed and I really hope to see you all soon."
Co-Op Live, boasting a capacity of 23,500, has been making headlines ahead of its grand opening. However, it has faced setbacks, having to cancel or postpone several concerts recently. In a trial event, Rick Astley surprised around 11,000 arena workers, VIPs, and press in April, but about 4,000 tickets were canceled just before the show. The venue then rescheduled a makeup gig by the Black Keys and two shows by comedian Peter Kay, and canceled a performance by A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie earlier this week. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie's show was called off just 10 minutes after doors were supposed to open, leaving numerous fans disappointed. The rapper explained on social media that "something happened" during his soundcheck, leading to the cancellation. "I'm heated about the situation too, but safety first. Manchester, I got you, just stay tuned for further info," he assured his fans.
The venue's operators, Oak View Group, attributed the last-minute cancellation to an incident during the soundcheck. They explained that "a component of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, used to direct air, separated from the ductwork," due to a "factory defect" with a nozzle used to direct air. Oak View Group's chief executive, Tim Leiweke, emphasized, "The safety and security of all visiting and working on Co-Op Live is our utmost priority, and we could not and will not run any event until it is absolutely safe to do so."
Co-Op Live, situated next to the Manchester City football ground, is now the largest indoor arena in the U.K., with a construction cost of £365 million. Despite the setbacks, it has a star-studded lineup scheduled, including Keane, Take That, the Killers, Eric Clapton, and Barry Manilow. Plans are also in place to host the MTV Europe Music Awards at the venue in November, according to The Guardian.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo continues her Guts World Tour in Europe, with upcoming stops in London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Madrid. Fans in North America can catch her on tour starting in July, with dates running through August 17.
Login