Co-op Live curse as brand new Manchester arena hit by cancellations and delays just weeks after opening

Co-op Live curse as Nicki Minaj is 7th cancellation just weeks after opening in Manchester

Nicki Minaj is the seventh artist to cancel a show at the brand new Co-op Live arena in Manchester after Peter Kay, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, The Black Keys, Olivia Rodrigo, Keane and Take That all cancel or postpone concerts

25 May 2024, 22:04 by Niamh Spence · Irish Mirror

The brand new Co-op Live arena in Manchester has faced its latest 'cursed' gig as the Nicki Minaj Pink Fridays concert was cancelled at the last minute, leaving thousands of concert goers disappointed.

The gig was thought to be running late after news emerged that Nicki Minaj had been 'arrested' in Amsterdam, but doors opened after 7pm and excited concert goers headed inside with no word of the gig being cancelled. Yet after two hours of waiting the gig was 'postponed' and the news given via a tannoy announcement that the performance would not go ahead.

With a capacity of 23,500, Co-op Live is the UK's latest indoor arena and it cost £365m to build. Yet it's been plagued with issues that have seen gigs cancelled, equipment falling from the ceiling and delays to getting music acts on stage to perform.

The doors opened after 7pm for the Nicki Minaj concert, but the gig was later cancelled leaving concert goers frustrated(Image: X)

Nicki Minaj was 'arrested' at the airport in Amsterdam and the subsequent delays left her unable to perform in Manchester(Image: PA Archive)

Earlier tonight fans were left fuming after the planned Nicki Minaj tour performance was cancelled after the star was 'arrested' in Amsterdam and unable to make her concert. Doubts had arisen on the night as to whether the show will go ahead after she was seemingly arrested for allegedly "carrying drugs" while travelling from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

Taking to social media, many have shared their frustration and disappointment as the news broke that the concert was being cancelled, leaving many of them waiting inside the arena for over two hours. One person wrote on Twitter /X: "@NICKIMINAJ near £700 spent on Airbnb, flights, tickets, backstage access also took time off work what happens now if I can’t make it when it’s rescheduled. Absolutely gutted."

Another angry concert goer wrote: ".@TheCoopLive fleeced everyone of their money spent on food and drink to have us stand around for 2 hours to postpone Nicki’s concert in Manchester."

Nicki Minaj fans were left fuming and disappointed after the star failed to make her Manchester tour date, and it was cancelled at the last minute(Image: PA Wire)

"I just want to say the co-op live @cooplive knew @NICKIMINAJ wouldn't make it in Manchester," said a third. "But they couldn't pass up making money off of drinks being bought & selling whatever merch. Disgusting."

One person pointed out the recent string of failed concerts at the newly opened Co-op Live as they shared one of the apology notices on twitter and wrote: "When it’s becoming standard protocol for a cancelled show at the Co-op Arena that they had these printed before Nicki Minaj cancelled tonight."

This latest cancellation is another unfortunate incident in a series of cancellations and delays that have led to the brand new arena being labelled as 'cursed'. The venue was initially due to fully open with two Peter Kay stand-up shows on 23 and 24 April, but these dates were pushed back when problems emerged at a test event headlined by Ricky Astley.

The brand new arena in Manchester has been plagued by problems in the run up to its opening, and in its first few weeks(Image: Getty Images)

Then when it was finally planned to open and excited concert goers were lining up to attend US act A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, the event was cancelled at the last minute. The gig was cancelled over safety concerns after part of the venue's ventilation and air conditioning system fell from the ceiling during a soundcheck.

Similar scenes followed as The Black Keys, Keane, Take That and Olivia Rodrigo's concerts were also cancelled and postponed. General manager Gary Roden resigned following the issues and his departure also came in the wake of a backlash against him claiming to the BBC that grassroots music venues were often "poorly run".

On 15 May, Manchester band Elbow took to the stage to officially open the venue but faced delays at the arena meaning they were late to perform.

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