Comedian Peter Kay will be the first act at a massive new arena which is now the largest indoor venue in the UK.
Kay is currently on his 'Better Late Than Never' tour across the UK.
The comedy legend has been confirmed as the opening act at the highly-anticipated arena when it opens its doors in April.
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The Boltonian's record breaking tour has been going on since December 2022, with 110 arena shows taking place across the UK for his first tour in 12 years.
The initial tour announcement brought an unprecedented level of demand for tickets, as new dates have continued to be added to the tour as fans are still eager to see the Northern comedian.
Kay is still on the road, with dates currently going into 2025.
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The new record-breaking arena was originally set to open its doors in December 2023 and aims to host roughly 120 events a year, featuring a futuristic bowl design that puts fans closer to performers compared to similar arenas.
Kay will take to the stage at the brand new Co-op Live Arena on Tuesday, 23 April.
The 23,500 capacity arena is set to play host to several artists in the weeks following, with the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Take That, Eric Clapton, Nicki Minaj and Eagles coming to the arena.
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Gary Roden, Executive Director and General Manager, Co-op Live, commented: "When you think of Manchester, it’s hard not to think of Peter Kay. He embodies what this city is about, and to have him headlining Co-op Live is tremendously exciting."
The entertainment venue will feature 32 bars and restaurants, and cost a whopping £365 million.
The people behind the project have sights on becoming one of the world's iconic and premier entertainment venues, among the likes of the O2 in London and Madison Square Garden in New York.
It also aims to become the continent's most sustainable arena, with the goal of being carbon-neutral by 2038.
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The venue will be fully electric, also incorporating features such as rainwater recycling technology and reusable cups.
Co-op Members will gain first-in-line access to Peter Kay tickets through a designated presale from 10am on 21 February 2024.
General sale tickets for other customers will be available through Co-op Live from 10am on 23 February 2024 here, with tickets available on Ticketmaster here at the same time.
Joshua Nair