Music fans hit out after Manchester's Co-op Live arena stopped shows by Olivia ... trends now
Music fans are raging after Manchester's Co-op Live arena stopped shows by Olivia Rodrigo and others are worried that the upcoming Take That and Keane gigs could be postponed too.
Those queuing outside the troubled new £350million arena for US rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie last night were shocked when they were told to 'leave the area'.
Fans slammed the move as 'unprofessional' and unorganised after staff told them the gig was cancelled over 'technical reasons' - as they were standing in line.
The venue posted on social media that the show would not go ahead 10 minutes after the doors were due to open at 6.40pm.
The gig had already been postponed twice this week but it was pulled again at the last minute due to a 'ventilation defect'.
Just a few hours later, the Co-op Live Arena postponed three-time Grammy winner Olivia Rodrigo's shows due to take place on Friday and Saturday as part of her Guts World Tour.
The venue cited 'ongoing venue-related technical issues' as the reason.
Now, fans of Take That and rock band Keane have expressed fears that their upcoming gigs will be postponed too.
Singer Olivia Rodrigo was scheduled to perform at the venue, but her gigs were postponed
The pop star posted on her Instagram story to express her disappointment last night
The Co-op Live arena could rival The 02 Arena for the world's biggest boxing and UFC events (Photo: Artist impressions when the plans for the venue were unveiled)
Pictured is the rock band Keane, which includes Tom Chaplin, Tim Rice-Oxley, Richard Hughes, and Jesse Quin. They are due to play at the arena on Sunday
The new venue has been hit by a wave of cancelled shows, including by Peter Kay, amid a chaotic opening as general manager Gary Roden quit just 12 months into the job after criticising smaller grassroots venues.
Bosses said the concerts would be rescheduled and fans could either hang onto their tickets or claim refunds.
Footage filmed outside the arena, just hours before, showed the area looking like a construction site, with a digger and dumper parked up outside among building materials.
Worried fans are speculating as to whether their favourite bands' gigs will also be postponed.
Lesley Hart, a Keane fan from Glasgow, told MailOnline: 'My partner and I are travelling down from Glasgow to see Keane on Sunday.
'We have accommodation, travel and restaurants booked. The lack of information from the Co-op Group is appalling.
'The cost involved is hundreds of pounds and what's happens if they cancel at the last minute?
'I am more than sure there are thousands of people sitting waiting just like we are. Not enough is being done.'
Keane is due to play on Sunday, and Take that on Tuesday, May 7, Wednesday, May 8, Friday, May 10, Saturday, May 11, Sunday, May 12.
Music fan Liz Huby had tickets to see the Black Keys last Saturday.
But she told MailOnline that the day before the gig, it was changed to May 15 'without warning'.
She said: 'I got an email later saying the concert was being postponed. I live in Leeds so it was not convenient for me to go to Manchester on a Wednesday evening when I work full-time so I opted for a refund.
'The refund was processed very quickly but it doesn't really take away the disappointment of not getting to see a band I was really looking forward to see.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, real name Julius Dubose, earlier told fans 'something happened with the venue during a soundcheck'. He spoke out today about the cancellation
Fans of Take That, made up of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen, are worried about the possibility of their upcoming shows being postponed too
Fans of Take That and Keane have expressed fears that their upcoming gigs will be postponed
Footage filmed yesterday showed the area still looking like a construction site
It comes after problems with power at the site, which are believed to have affected the fire safety and emergency services communication systems
The Co-op Live had to embarrassingly tell fans to 'leave the area' as there were 'venue-related technical issues'
Devastated fans posted on social media to vent their frustration over the issues
Others slammed the venue - which cost £350million - for the technical faults
Frustrated fans needing to book time off for the show are agitation over a lack of information
'My daughter was supposed to see Olivia Rodrigo tomorrow evening so obviously isn't going to that either.
'She was fully expecting it to be cancelled but what was upsetting for her is that they were still promising earlier in the week that the concerts would go ahead. Empty promises and empty
