After weeks of chaos, the new Co-op Live arena in Manchester finally has a date and an act for its opening gig.
The troubled new venue has said it has completed an inspection that should mean it can finally open its doors after a series of delays.
Having now postponed its launch three times at the last minute when part of the ventilation system became detached, a statement has been released.
The venue said it was ‘satisfied’ with the result of the inspection, which found it was an ‘isolated’ fault.
Rock band Elbow will now open the £365million arena on Tuesday (May 14).
Comedian Peter Kay was originally due to open the UK’s largest entertainment venue on April 23.
His gigs were postponed twice because the building, which will hold up to 23,500 people, wasn’t ready.
Previous issues included the power supply and emergency communications.
More carnage followed as US rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie had his concert scrapped on May 1.
Thousands of fans waited outside the arena due to an incident during soundcheck when ‘a component of HVAC [heating, ventilation and air conditioning] system, used to direct air, separated from the ductwork’.
Consequently, Take That jumped ship to the rival AO Arena with their five gigs, Olivia Rodrigo apologised to fans when she rescheduled her two Manchester tour dates, and band Keane also postponed a show.
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