Co-op arena Manchester

[forrestfrankfan]

Hi everyone

Im due to attend an event at Co-Op, but I've never been there before and to be honest it's been a while since I've been to anything like this.

Start time is 1930, what time should we get there?

Is it a long wait in the queues to get inside?
Is it worth going earlier or closer to the start time?
Any advice welcome!! Thank you x

Go an hour earlier than you would normally! The traffic around the arena is shocking. The car park is chaotic and the car park staff are equally chaotic. The arena is ok inside, if you want to eat/get a drink, don’t go to the serviced food queues, go to the help yourself food queues, much much quicker and they sell pretty much the same stuff. It’s easy to find your way around, but it’s massive inside. I am hard of hearing and found the audio wasn’t great, although that is likely to be my ears. Frankly, it will be a cold day in hell before I go back, I missed 30 minutes of the show, had a row with DH because he was grumpy after the horrible traffic jams and couldn’t hear or see that well because I was in the gods. I’d gone to see a comedian and all through I just kept thinking I should have waited for the dvd and stayed at home. Never again. 😭

Thanks so much for getting back to me! I'm travelling to Manchester by train so hopefully no car park dramas, more likely a punch up for a taxi 😂
Appreciate the advice x

If you are using the train, get the tram to Etihad Campus. It takes 10 minutes from Piccadilly. I've not been to an event at Co-op Arena but I do go to the Etihad Stadium and on match days, the tram situation is really well-organised. Much cheaper than a taxi too!

I echo @Malbecfan, get the tram there, it’s very easy.
We went not long after it opened and there were a few teething problems, so it felt we were queuing for ages outside. It is a big venue with lots of people to get through the doors. And once in, people appeared to go to the nearest food/ drink outlet, when the queues were smaller further in and as@Tinklebinklesays, the self- service queues are much better. I did think the drinks were expensive, but probably no more so than most large venues.

Bella Darling sounds fab to me. Bella Julia doesn’t work though - how about Bella Juliet?

We're staying in a hotel near Victoria station for a Co-op gig.
Anyone know the best way to get there?

Tram from Victoria to Piccadilly Gardens or to Piccadilly Station then change to Etihad Campus. Have a look at the tfgm tram map. But Victoria is the easiest one to start from

Tram from Victoria to Piccadilly, change there for the Ashton line/Etihad and get off at Etihad campus, you can use contactless to tap in/out on the platform, or you can buy physical tickets from a machine. It’s really straightforward, for the most part. Manchester has a lot of event days with the MEN, Co-op, and two football teams so it’s usually pretty good.

Thanks very much for info.
In a flap already as I've never been on a tram 😅

I’ve not been to coop I refuse to go as I think it’s the worse idea ever

I’ve been to a gig at the Etihad and got there an hour late even though we'd mistakenly queue jumped and didn’t see the queue running all the way around Piccadilly gardens

took well over an hour and a half to walk the 30 min walk back to Piccadilly just due to the number of people

get there as early as you can,not a lot to do around the stadium but it’s worth it to get there early. Don’t stress about getting back as you've got your hotel. If there’s a bus going from there to town jump on it.

Hope you have a great time

Just seen you are going back by train, missed that bit

do check last train times and how long it might take to get you back it's really not a 10 min tram time or a 30 min walk

I’ve been twice in recent months to the CoOp arena and it’s been really organised and very straightforward both times.

There is a very well signed walking route which had musicians, street acts etc and is well lit, but the best way is probably to get the Tram. There is a CoOp inside if you want a sandwich! There is airport-style security on the way in but it’s very well managed so even with a long queue it will move quickly.

We went to Manchester for first time last year.

The tram system is brilliant and dead easy to use. The Arena is a two minute walk from the Etihad stadium stop.

Did you go to a gig at the coop or the Etihad on your trip?

You can tap on and tap off on tapping things at all the stations. Dead easy.
We went to a gig a couple of nights ago and walked back into town as the trams were very busy only took about 30 mins and loads of other people doing the same.

I've been to both several times!

And it was a dead easy trip both times!

I live 5 miles from the stadium and have seen acts in Sheffield and Cardiff before coop

how do you manage to avoid the hassle? I'd honestly like to know.

Get a 216 bus to Etihad.... 2 pound!!!
From Piccadilly - the bus stand outside nandos/Travelodge
( Don't tell my husband I told you it will make his bus busy 🤣🤣)

Any advice about parking? £25 to park sounds excessive!
I have tried to work out the park and ride places, but the 2 closest ones (20 mins tram ride awy) only appear to have 180ish spaces each which doesn't sound many for a stadium.
Any other suggestions?
(We will be coming down from the North- M6)

IME it was easy. Trams are ace - I was staying at the hotel Indigo next to Victoria station so Victoria to Piccadilly is v quick and easy- tap in and out like on the Tube in London. Got on a rammed Tram at Piccadilly to the arena and walked back to Piccadily and jumped in a black cab because it was Midnight and we were knackered. Loved the venue sound quality was excellent and far better then the arena in town. Off again in June this year!

@OnTheBoardwalk No we were going to football but walked passed the arena.

@PrepParent33you can book a parking space in the asda directly opposite. I'm sure it was only £5 or something like that. Easy to get to and loads of spaces.

What wasn't so easy was getting out. Make sure you park in a space that you can drive forwards out of into the queue. We needed to reverse out of our space, it was pitch black, cars everywhere and noone would let us out.

I always get the tram in (getting on before Piccadilly gardens anywhere) though even for the football it is OK from PGs just usually have to wait for a couple.
Then walk back along the canal into town. Go for a pint and then get a tram or taxi. Or park in the side streets off the canal or near Piccadilly and walk there and back. It's only about 30 min walk to Piccadilly station and there is always 100s of people so it's not scary!

Ah ok @Middleagedstriker that does sound a nice journey there and back

my issue with the coop arena is it ends at what, 10.30/11 pm and everyone is chucked out with no where to go. As you know if you go to the AO arena there’s loads of places to sit and wait out the rush

It is annoying for that I agree but some nice bars and pubs near Piccadilly!