Fans 'fuming' after Co-op Live tickets cancelled 'less than an hour' before start of first event

Ticket holders for the first show at the new Co-op Live arena were turned away 'less than an hour' before it was due to start.

The 23,500 capacity arena is holding its test event tonight (April 20) with a headline performance from Newton-le-Willows' Rick Astley. 11,000 fans were meant to attend the test event, but the capacity was reduced at the last minute.

Attendees have told the Manchester Evening News that they received emails shortly before the show was due to start saying their tickets had been cancelled so spaces at the arena can be tested properly. Visitors to the new £365m venue - located next to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium in East Manchester - were set to be a mixture of paying fans, press, VIPs and staff who helped build the new venue.

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Some fans were able to get tickets for just £5 for the show. The KTNA will be first to open the show followed by Manchester's Everything Everything before Rick Astley takes to the stage as a headline act.

The test show comes before huge acts including Peter Kay, Barry Manilow, The Killers, Eagles, Liam Gallagher, Olivia Rodrigo and Take That perform in the coming weeks.

Byron Edwards took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say: “Invitational tickets to the test event tonight cancelled just 90 minutes before doors open. What kind of sh** show is this?

Alison Stafford-Bentley said: “Thanks for cancelling tickets for tonight less than an hour before event is due to start. Absolutely fuming.”

Matt Lawton added: “We’ve been at football first but paid extra for our bus and train tickets to take into account going into Manchester. And got the email less