Co-op Live  Omdömen 

I've been to Co-Op live twice for gigs (Sleep Token in November 2024, and now Architects in October 2025), and overall I don't think its too bad as a venue.

There's quite a few bars and food places, as well as a co-op shop on the ground floor. But the prices are a bit much, especially for the drinks. The sound quality/acoustics also sounded very good for both events. Queuing for both events wasn't too bad either as I got in quickly, and with time to visit merchandise, bars and have a look around. Leaving also was pretty alright too as there are regular trams to and from the venue.

I do think the pricing of food and drinks coukd be improved upon though. It could also have improved signage.

Used the seat unique suite for the first time tonight as the accessible part was sold out so booked with seat unique so I could sit at the bar. I have a crutch and the normal seats aren’t good for me at the min. All the way through I had someone standing straight infront of me asked him to politely move so I can see and staff member was very rude said we should be in our seats but he was ok to stand. Very bad for disabled people will not use again

I have never had more fun at an arena than the CoOp. Maybe it was the crowd itself, but it felt so safe. Backstage Club was such a blessing. I would go back in a heartbeat. The staff were LOVELY - both me and my husband had separate floors and it really stood out how helpful they were.

I couldn’t complain about one thing for my own experience but I will say something - those wires from ceiling to the mixer- they block views and I don’t think it’s acceptable those seats are sold at the same cost, and I definitely don’t think hospitality/box seats should be sold as such behind them either. I would be gutted.

This is the second time ive been to this venue. The first time was ridiculous, the queuing went on for well over an hour and it was a warm evening in summer. This last time we weren't queuing for as long. The venue have good security were everyone's bags are checked and your body scanned which is a good thing.
The food is extortionate, we got a chicken burger that was already cooked but kept warm and it was bloody awful, the fillet was nice but the filling had fallen to the bottom of the carton and the bread was soggy yack £13 the carbon of chips were nice but again nearly £6. I bought 3 cans of captain morgans with coke in the shop to take to the hotel for £6.50 they were £9.50 for one there. A bag of Maltesers £4.50 can of pop £3.50 30 quid down the pan.
The seating is the worst I've ever sat in, like sardines. You are that close you are touching legs and shoulders with a complete stranger. They have cupholders on the chairs 😂 are you kidding me.
I hate going when your second row from the front of the balcony and the people in front with the best view are dancing and waving their arms around and blocking your view, no consideration for us smaller people. T**ts!

Awful venue. Queued for nearly an hour just to get in. Nearly missed start of show. No time to get a drink. It was so busy we were herded to a different gate (total opposite corner of venue) as our gate was too busy apparently.
Seats inside tiny with very little space in front of you. Very tricky to get out if you need the loo. I popped out for drinks and bars were closed! Nearest one open miles away so grabbed water from the water fountain instead. Toilets disgusting. When we came out, biggest queue ever for the tram. Managed to find random taxi and paid £35 to get back to deansgate! Would not recommend this venue…..

We attended the John Bishop gig on Sunday 5th October and while we loved his show we have mixed comments about Co-op Live.

Getting there by tram was okay but we went early and we got the first tram back to Manchester post gig BUT we had to almost run to catch it. Had we missed it we would not have caught our last tram home from Manchester. A shuttle bus service could be an option to avoid such a problem. Better still an arrangement should be made with Metrolink to have trams queuing at Etihad Campus to get concert goers back to Manchester centre speedily.

Our seats inside the venue were in C2, which when booking appeared to be on a raised level but we found ourselves on a flat level with poor visibility of the stage. This is a poor design issue. Why was the venue not constructed with a slope towards the rear of the ground level so as to avoid poor sight lines?

Food and drink prices within the venue are very expensive so we declined the option to purchase. Lots of others though were happy to purchase food and drink in the venue but this resulted in almost constant toing and froing to the toilets and kiosks further hampering our view and interrupting our enjoyment.

Positive aspects at the venue were the large number of staff around to help customers along with an adequate number of male and female toilets helping to keep queues to a minimum.

Would we go to Co-op Live again? We think yes but considering our issues this visit we'll be more wary about when to go and who to see.

Great John Bishop Gig. However car park charge of £25 excessive and unbelievably painful experience to vacate the car park. This surely can be improved took in excess of 40 minutes to get out of the car park with no supervisory or signage direction. For an iconic UK national indoor venue this is not good enough.

Something needs to be sorted with transport links. Queued for an hour + to get on the metro link for it then to stop at Trafford bar because it goes past cut off. If an event is on run the trams the full track slightly later than a normal evening.
To be told you can walk into Manchester for 25 minutes by stewards is an insult. Shuttle buses could be provided into Manchester to help disperse the crowd and take the pressure off the metro station at the venue. 2 concerts Iv attended there and twice it’s been awful to get away from. Wouldn’t book again.

We had to queue 50 minutes in the rain just to get in, the price of the drinks is a rip off , a can of tango was £3.40 and then the seats are tiny , I am a small person can only just get in them. We won’t be going back

2 visits Lionel Richie and Simply Red. Both times after the shows it poured down with rain and despite having umbrellas we got soaked WHY you may ask ?. Trying to get transport away from this venue was an absolute nightmare on Both occasions. Taxis and Uber have no dedicated areas to pick up. There are plenty of unused aggregate surfaced areas that could be used. We walked for ages getting soaked . Second visit we were told by Uber to walk to the McDonald’s where Uber would pick up. We tried but had cancellations as the area outside was totally gridlocked to and from. Has NOBODY yes NOBODY had the common sense to appraise this. Signs inside the venue re taxis trams buses etc or advice on line would be, one would think, a sensible way to advise. In addition to being charged £20 YES £20 by a taxi for the 2 mile journey from central Manchester this is a Venue I Very Much intend Never to return to. If they aren’t performing at the AO ARENA I Ain’t going full stop.

Simply Red September 2025

Mick and his band were AMAZING the venue definitely NOT amazing!

Terrible location

Extortionate bar prices - one mediocre bottle of wine, two ‘ok’ small tins of Prosecco and two 2pint cups of beer…. £101!

Far too steep and, God forbid, anyone tripped it would be a major catastrophe. People would fall to their death like dominoes!

Marshals were overwhelmed and couldn’t retain any sort of order for the queues trying to enter the event.

Leaving was even worse!
No cover. Herded like cattle through the barriers with hoards of people trying to push in. Then it was every man for himself getting on the tram. Everyone was drenched and it certainly took the shine off the whole evening 🤬 Outfits, gorgeous blow drys for what should have been a fabulous evening absolutely ruined 🤬

I’d NEVER return no matter how much I wanted to see a concert. It would be a different venue and if necessary a stay over! Everyone around us was saying the same!

Huge venue which definitely NEEDS a couple of big screens. The two they currently have aren’t worth having!

Simply Red …. The gig and the sound quality was exceptional. Entry, exit, transport, drink prices, health & safety NOT GOOD.

People were stood in the seated area for the full gig and wasn't told to sit, policy is to sit in seated area , if want to stand get a stand ticket. Not on for people who can't stand for long. Don't mind last 2 songs but not full hr n half

There is nothing accessable in regards to support for booking tickets for those with disabilities. I followed all the instructions to end up with tickets that they now tell me after a week they can not help me to move. Ticketmaster pa's you to the Co op and Co op pass you Ticketmaster. You can never book tickets at the lower stands they ask you to apply online and register your disabilities which I did and won't help to change them even though they said they good. Discrimination towards those with regsitered disabilities. Rwuested money back through my bank as refund.

i would have rated this 0 if i could. Terrible experience - we paid over £700 for 2 VIP tickets to see drake and we got nothing that was listed in the description, was meant to get in at 4;30pm but we got in 15 minutes before general tickets so there was no time to get a drink before thousands of people was coming in. The waiter was making up random prices for the drinks which we didn't realise until after, we didn't get any of the merch or lanyard and am still trying to follow up on that but doesnt seem like we will get it. the parking and taxis back into the centre was atrocious, waiting hours for one. i spoke to the people next to me and they paid £100 for their ticket and got the same experience as me. in my eyes its all just a big scam and they don't care for VIPS

Encouraged to use the self service drinks area, you scan your bank card choose your drink then apparently the camaras know how much to charge you (according to the staff) !
Didnt sound right to me but im not up with the tech !
Anyway i have got home after only buying 3 drinks!
£27.90 taken out of my account plus 2 £9 out of my account! When I only owe £21 !!!!
How many people are they robbing ! Thankfully we were not drunk or we probably wouldn’t have realised.

Excellent Lewis Capaldi gig but transport back to and from the hotel was abysmal. We were told at the hotel not to book a taxi as they take ages and often just don't turn up. After the gig we were amazed to find there was no taxi rank near the venue and ubers weren't allowed to stop near the venue because of numerous double yellow lines. We ended up walking back to the hotel in the pouring rain. Great venue awful transport links.

The sound was amazing, the organisation was great however we were sat at the back and the curtains completely restricted the view so that we couldn't see the screens at all. It's extremely cramped to where your legs arent even at a 90° angle so my knees started to hurt after a while. The cup holders are also really shallow so it doesn't feel like you can put your drink in and relax without knowing its not going to spill, the seats are that close you're practically touching the person next to you. I couldn't even clap and cheer because I had to hold my drink and our coats as you can't put your coats on the floor in front as theres a gap where it could drop down the seat below you. I wouldn't attend this arena again as it was just so uncomfortable and super expensive... £4.25 for a bag of squashies

We attended Tom Grennan on 19th September and we would just like to say we cannot fault the staff at Co Op Live. Our daughter is in a wheelchair and each and every one of the staff, particularly Michelle, Vicki and I didnt get the ladies name but she was the accessibility manager went out of their way to help us. Every single member of staff we encountered were extremely helpful and friendly. The are all a credit to the company. We had the best night.
We would also like to give credit to the Co Op Live for making a raised accessible platform near to the stage so that people with dissabilities have the option to be near the stage and be able to see even if people stand infront instead of high in the gods like they are usually put. Our daughter also has a visual impairment so being that close was amazing for her. Would highly recommend.

Overall great experience watching Tom Grennan at this venue. Parking expensive but well organised, easy to find, convenient access and helpful staff members. Location of entrances, blocks, rows and seats were pretty straight forward and easy to locate. Staff served customers quickly and efficiently making the queues move rapidly with minimal waiting times. Ticket system is efficient and effective, again no long waiting times to enter the premises. The venue itself is a good size, however my only complaint would be the last of room between seats which are positioned on steep stairs making it difficult to maneuver past. Overall a positive experience and wouldn't hesitate to return.