The heads of the UK’s largest arena have issued an apology for the last-minute cancellation of tickets to a test show just hours before its scheduled commencement.
This move follows the announcement by Co-op Live in Manchester that they had to reduce capacity for a preview concert featuring Rick Astley in order to conduct effective testing of the 23,500-seater venue.
Affected ticket holders have been extended invitations to attend the upcoming Black Keys show at the £365 million arena as an alternative.
The official opening of Co-op Live, to be inaugurated by comedian Peter Kay on Tuesday, is eagerly anticipated. Originally, approximately 11,000 fans were slated to attend the test event adjacent to Manchester City’s football ground.
A spokesperson for the venue explained that the “difficult decision” to cancel some tickets at short notice was made “to enable us to test the spaces effectively.” They also expressed regret for any inconvenience caused.
Efforts have been made to mitigate the inconvenience, with affected individuals receiving communication from both the venue and ticket sellers. Additionally, those who booked parking are in line to receive automatic refunds.
As a gesture of appreciation, tickets to the Black Keys performance next week have been offered as an alternative by the Co-op Live spokesperson.