Co-op live arena

[Former_Antelopee]

Has anyone been to this venue yet?
I hate driving and especially parking but I'm going alone. I do have the option of parking outside a relatives house and getting a lift there and Uber back. Just wondering what the parking was like I would probably get there early so it wouldn't be as busy.
The other option is the train. So wondering how long the queue for the team would take. I've been the Etihad for football and once we were waiting for the team but decided to walk to the station but I wouldn't do that alone at 11pmish. The last train home is half 12 so it would give me probably about 1.5 hours to get the tram there. I'd prefer the train option as it's a bit cheaper and means I won't have to drive at all

 

[Rocknrolla]

I’ve not been yet, we are due in June. Apparently the trams are free of charge if going to the arena so is it an option to park and get the tram in?

 

[Former_Antelopee]

I’ve not been yet, we are due in June. Apparently the trams are free of charge if going to the arena so is it an option to park and get the tram in?

Yeh I read that until a certain date they are 4 hours before and after?
Although I did read that once people got out the arena it was already 11:10pm and the queue was long for trams so I ended up booking a parking space on someone's drive 5min walk away, was half the price of the arena parking and I shouldn't have any stress parking then

 

[Bianca Del Rio]

I was there 2 weeks ago to see Barry Manilow. The tram to the venue was free, we just had to produce our concert tickets. The tram back to Manchester would have been free too, but the queue was enormous, so we decided to do the walking route back to the city centre, which took about half an hour.

A few trams passed us while we were walking and they were absolutely rammed. TfGM don’t seem to have put additional trams or additional carriages on to account for the people leaving the venue, so I feel sorry for anyone who would have been trying to get on at a later stop. They were also doing free shuttle buses from the venue back to the city centre.

One word of advice - I would eat before you get there. They were giving out tokens for a free drink to each person on the way in, which was a really nice touch, but food options were minimal. I paid £14 for a gin & tonic for my mum later in the evening. I thought I’d misheard the price at first, my head nearly fell off. They also don’t sell bottled water and wouldn’t give me tap water. All they had was carbonated water in a can which I found really odd.

 

[Former_Antelopee]

I was there 2 weeks ago to see Barry Manilow. The tram to the venue was free, we just had to produce our concert tickets. The tram back to Manchester would have been free too, but the queue was enormous, so we decided to do the walking route back to the city centre, which took about half an hour.

A few trams passed us while we were walking and they were absolutely rammed. TfGM don’t seem to have put additional trams or additional carriages on to account for the people leaving the venue, so I feel sorry for anyone who would have been trying to get on at a later stop. They were also doing free shuttle buses from the venue back to the city centre.

One word of advice - I would eat before you get there. They were giving out tokens for a free drink to each person on the way in, which was a really nice touch, but food options were minimal. I paid £14 for a gin & tonic for my mum later in the evening. I thought I’d misheard the price at first, my head nearly fell off. They also don’t sell bottled water and wouldn’t give me tap water. All they had was carbonated water in a can which I found really odd.

Thank you. Not sure what day you went on but I think I possibly read on Fridays/Saturdays there are more trams than usual they put on from the arena but only to the city centre.
I'll probably get a McDonald's on the way then thank you. That's annoying as I usually only drink water so don't know what I'll have if there isn't any

 

[Bianca Del Rio]

Thank you. Not sure what day you went on but I think I possibly read on Fridays/Saturdays there are more trams than usual they put on from the arena but only to the city centre.
I'll probably get a McDonald's on the way then thank you. That's annoying as I usually only drink water so don't know what I'll have if there isn't any

Barry was on Sunday which happened to be the same day Manchester City were busy winning the Premier League right next door. To give them their due, they had plenty of staff on helping people and guiding them where to go both on the tram platform on the way there and then again on the way back.

The bottled water thing was really odd. Especially as you can’t take your own into the venue. You never know, it might have just been a one off when we were there and they’ve stocked up by the time you’re at your show. The bar staff were inexperienced, to put it politely. I’m not convinced the lad serving me understood what I was asking for when I said tap water. I ended up with a can of 7up in the end.

 

[bubbadabut]

Could anyone who has been to a music event let me know what the sound is like please? I'm wanting to go to Smashing Pumpkins and this is the nearest venue for me. It's still going to be a 4 hour round trip though, so I don't want to go if the sound isn't great. I'll probably be near the back somewhere, so if it's going to be poor I will look at London instead.

 

[Former_Antelopee]

Could anyone who has been to a music event let me know what the sound is like please? I'm wanting to go to Smashing Pumpkins and this is the nearest venue for me. It's still going to be a 4 hour round trip though, so I don't want to go if the sound isn't great. I'll probably be near the back somewhere, so if it's going to be poor I will look at London instead.

I went tonight and the sound was great but I was near the front.
I ended up driving and parking ok someone's drive if anyone wants a recommendation for a drive to park on let me know as it was a street across from the Etihad Stadium. Didn't have to wait in traffic either, w as more traffic on the way than the way home
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I was standing and it was very hot, the most sweaty I have gotten from a concert and I wasn't jumping around either

 

[Ashlgr]

We are wanting to come from Liverpool via train, how easy is it to get back in time for the last train to Lime Street, does anyone know?

 

[Former_Antelopee]

We are wanting to come from Liverpool via train, how easy is it to get back in time for the last train to Lime Street, does anyone know?

Was hard to tell how long the queues were for the metro but I've walked from the Etihad to Piccadilly station before and it took about 30mins

 

[Rocknrolla]

We ended up walking into town after too because it was so busy, took around 25/30 mins, loads of taxis outside charging astronomical prices