Manchester Arena facts for kids
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Exterior of the arena in 2019, seen from the north
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| Former names | NYNEX Arena (1995–1998) Manchester Evening News Arena (1998–2011) Phones 4u Arena (2013–2015) Manchester Arena (2015–2020) |
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| Address | Victoria Station Manchester M3 1AR |
| Location | Manchester, England |
| Coordinates | 53°29′17″N 2°14′38″W / 53.48806°N 2.24389°W |
| Public transit |   Manchester Victoria |
| Owner | Mansford |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Capacity | 21,000 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | March 1993 |
| Opened | 15 July 1995 |
| Closed | 22 May 2017 |
| Reopened | 9 September 2017 |
| Construction cost | £52 million (£76.3 million in 2021 pounds ) |
| Architect | DLA Design, Austin-Smith:Lord and Ellerbe Becket |
| Structural engineer | Arup Group Limited |
| Tenants | |
| Manchester Giants (BBL) (1995–2001) Manchester Storm (BISL, BJL) (1995–2002) Manchester Phoenix (EIHL) (2003–2004) |
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The Manchester Arena, also known as the AO Arena for sponsorship reasons, is a huge indoor stadium in Manchester, England. It's located just north of the city centre, right above Manchester Victoria station. With space for 21,000 people, it's one of the biggest indoor arenas in the UK and Europe.
This arena is famous for hosting many exciting events, from big music concerts to thrilling sports matches like boxing and swimming. It even played a part in Manchester's attempts to host the Olympic Games and was used for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
On 22 May 2017, a very sad event happened in the arena's entrance area after an Ariana Grande concert. This event caused many injuries and the loss of 22 lives. The arena was closed for a while but later reopened to continue bringing entertainment to people.
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Designing the Manchester Arena
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The idea for the arena came about in the 1980s as Manchester city centre was being rebuilt. It was designed by several companies, including DLA Ellerbe Beckett and Ove Arup & Partners. A cool fact is that the arena was built right over the Manchester Victoria station without stopping the trains!
The arena first opened its doors on 15 July 1995. It's special because it's the only indoor venue in the UK where you can sit all the way around the stage in a 360-degree circle, on both the upper and lower levels. This means everyone gets a great view!
In 2022, a big project started to make the arena even better. This £50 million renovation will increase the seating capacity to 24,000. It will also add new entrances and special lounge areas for visitors.
History of the Arena's Names
The arena was first built as part of Manchester's bid to host the 2000 Summer Olympics. It cost £52 million to build. Even though it was designed for sports, it became very popular for music concerts.
When it first opened in July 1995, it was called the NYNEX Arena. Then, in 1998, it changed its name to the Manchester Evening News Arena (or MEN Arena) because of a sponsorship deal with a local newspaper. After that, it was simply called the Manchester Arena in 2012. For a short time in 2013, it became the Phones 4u Arena, but it went back to being the Manchester Arena in 2015. Since September 2020, it has been known as the AO Arena due to a sponsorship deal with an online electrical store.
The arena has seen many record-breaking moments. On its opening night, 15,000 people watched Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean perform on ice. It also set records for ice hockey and basketball attendance in Europe and Britain. The arena welcomes over a million visitors every year for concerts and family shows, making it one of the busiest indoor venues in the world. It has won awards like "International Venue Of The Year" and was named the "World's Busiest Arena" for several years.
Exciting Events at the Arena
Music Concerts and Shows
Since 1995, the AO Arena has hosted countless music concerts with some of the biggest stars.
- The British pop group Take That, who started in Manchester, holds the record for the most performances here, with 46 shows!
- Many other famous artists have performed, including Spice Girls, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, U2, Kylie Minogue, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Adele, Shawn Mendes, Metallica, Mariah Carey, Liam Gallagher, Kendrick Lamar, Blackpink, Christina Aguilera, Dua Lipa, and Little Mix.
- The arena also hosted the final concert for the band Panic! at the Disco in March 2023.
- In October 2023, Madonna used the arena for her final rehearsals before starting her "Celebration Tour."
- Recently, in March 2024, the Hong Kong boy group Mirror performed their second UK arena concert here.
Sports Competitions
The arena has been home to ice hockey and basketball teams in the past. Today, it hosts many one-off sporting events.
- Boxing: Famous boxers like Amir Khan, Ricky Hatton, and Mike Tyson have fought here.
- Wrestling: The American professional wrestling company WWE often holds live shows and TV tapings at the arena.
- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA): The arena has hosted big UFC events, setting attendance records for MMA outside the US.
- Swimming: In 2008, the arena was transformed with two swimming pools in just 18 days to host the FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships!
- Monster Trucks: Exciting Monster Jam events have also taken place, where the arena floor is made bigger for the huge trucks.
- Basketball: The arena has hosted international basketball games, including a match between the Great Britain team and the USA team.
- Taekwondo: It has also hosted major Taekwondo championships, including the World Taekwondo Qualification Event for the Beijing Olympics.
- Tennis: In September 2023 and 2024, the arena hosted matches for the Davis Cup Finals.
- YouTube Boxing: In August 2018 and October 2023, the arena hosted popular boxing matches between YouTube stars KSI and Logan Paul.
Comedy Shows
The arena is also a popular spot for stand-up comedy.
- Comedians like Peter Kay and Lee Evans have performed here, with Lee Evans even setting a world record for the biggest comedy audience.
Other Fun Events
- The arena has hosted unique shows like Batman Live, a touring stage show with theatrical and circus elements.
- It also hosted Ant & Dec's Takeaway on Tour: Live and Fast & Furious: Live.
The 2017 Event
After an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017, a very sad event occurred in the arena's entrance area. This event caused many people to be injured and 22 lives were lost. The arena was closed for a period of time to allow for recovery and renovations.
On 9 September 2017, the arena proudly reopened with a special concert called "We Are Manchester." This event featured local stars like Noel Gallagher and Peter Kay, celebrating the community and showing strength.
Getting to the Arena
The AO Arena is very easy to get to because it's right next to Manchester Victoria station. This station is served by trains and the Metrolink tram system, making it simple for people to travel to and from events. There's also a car park available for those who drive.
See also
In Spanish: Manchester Arena para niños
- List of Commonwealth Games venues
- Manchester Central Convention Complex
- Co-op Live
- List of indoor arenas by capacity
