Co-op Live reveals unique ‘smart bowl’ design as opening moves closer

New images reveal the interior of Co-op Live’s innovative ‘smart bowl’, taking inspiration from conversations with Bruce Springsteen and venue investor Harry Styles.

The bowl, designed with an intimate atmosphere in mind, will feature no corporate branding, ensuring both the fan and artist can fully immerse themselves in the show. The suites lining the edges of level 2 will also utilise soundproof black curtains to maximise the impact of the shows sound and lighting.

The UK’s only music-first arena will boast the largest floor space of any indoor venue, a significantly lower ceiling, and tiered seating that brings fans closer to the artist. Unlike venues designed primarily for sporting tournaments or public exhibitions, Co-op Live is the first of its kind to be built around concert acoustics. 

President of OVG International, Jessica Koravos, said:

Co-op Live is about the fan and the artist, it is specially designed to deliver the best sound, atmosphere and experience for everyone who walks through our doors. Innovative technology and design will bring a unique live entertainment experience to the UK.

Set to open in December 2023, the 23,500-capacity venue is currently under construction on Manchester’s Etihad Campus. The project is a joint venture between Oak View Group and City Football Group, alongside private investor Harry Styles who has been instrumental in the design, offering personal insight having visited major venues and arenas worldwide. 

Styles revealed in 2020:

I am incredibly happy to be partnering with OVG on their plans for Co-op Live. Manchester is an incredible city filled with incredible people and I couldn’t be happier to be involved in this project. It very much feels like coming home.

Co-op Live’s 330 tonnes of rigging capacity and 8 loading bays ensure the ability to bring some of the industry’s biggest live productions to Manchester.

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The fan experience will be further heightened by 32 bars, restaurants and lounges, including a locally sourced and sustainable food and drink offering. 

About Co-op Live

Oak View Group (OVG), City Football Group (CFG), Harry Styles, and Co-op are joining forces to create Co-op Live, the biggest and best arena in the UK. Based in Manchester, the project is injecting £365m of private investment into the Northwest.

Co-op Live will be one of the world’s premier music and entertainment venues, rivalling New York’s Madison Square Garden, The Forum in LA and The O2 in London, and is due to open in 2023.   

World class, planet friendly and at the heart of the local community, Co-op Live will deliver one of the world’s most pioneering, sustainable and socially responsible venues, delivering Co-op’s vision of a fairer world into the entertainment industry. The project will create 3,350 constructions jobs and 1,000 roles and apprenticeships on completion of the venue as well as giving over £1m back to national and local good causes. 

Co-op Live will be located on the Etihad Campus and will host live music, sport, comedy, award shows and family entertainment. Co-op Live’s smart ‘bowl’ design means it is big but intimate with cutting edge visual technology, incredible acoustics and 32 bars, restaurants, lounges and club spaces.

About Oak View Group

Oak View Group (OVG) is a global sports and entertainment company founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015. OVG is focused on being a positive disruption to business as usual in the sports and live entertainment industry and currently has eight divisions across global offices in Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Philadelphia and London.