That's the disaster Co-op Live Arena has been a huge blow Manchester's music scene as countless performances have been canceled.
Olivia Rodrigois resisting led to mass ridicule of the £365 million arena, which Harry Styles invested, as it was called 'Co-Flop' instead.
Take that then moved their show to a rival venue, the AO Arena The black keys rescheduled and Peter Kaij canceled its opening performance.
As music fans watched in disbelief – comparing the entire debacle to the infamous Fyre Fest – those working behind the scenes faced incredible tension.
One employee told how they went home and cried after everything came to a head before A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie's performance on Wednesday, May 1.
The show was canceled an hour before start time after part of the air conditioning system collapsed to the ground following 'technical problems'.
'Yesterday I went home and couldn't stop crying. It's not just me, it's a lot of the team, we put so much effort into it,” the anonymous employee said.
They noted that they were relieved that the performance was canceled, as thousands of fans may have walked into a venue that was not yet ready.
Another staff member, who was hired to receive the VIP ticket holders, had also mentioned it the BBC the location just wasn't ready for guests yet.
“I think we were very skeptical: that was my first time in the arena and it didn't look ready at all…” the woman shared. “They do everything with their fingers crossed: it's a bit chaotic.”
She explained that the VIP areas were still filled with cardboard boxes and construction workers were still completing checks.
'There were wires everywhere and visible lighting on the floor. It looked very messy. There were holes in the stairs… it looked like a work in progress,” the woman continued.
Co-Op Live ensured that everyone working that day would be paid in full while they were on site.
Tim Leiweke, chairman and CEO of Oak View Group, apologized on behalf of the venue as fans continue to wonder whether they will be able to see their favorite artists perform.
In a statement to Metro.nl previously a spokesperson for Co-op Live said: 'We understand the need to reassure fans about future shows. We are working with artist management and promoters to limit the impact on the opening season schedule.
“Where necessary, we will identify and continually reassess alternative dates to give fans adequate notice of upcoming shows. Should shows be canceled or rescheduled, fans will be contacted by their point of sale and offered a full refund if desired.”
They explained that during the sound check, “a portion of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, used to direct the air, is separated from the ductwork.
'No one was injured. While we believe this is an isolated incident caused by a manufacturer's defect, we have not been able to verify that all comparable nozzles were free of such defects.
'Working with wider stakeholders, Oak View Group has made the necessary appeal to ensure the full safety of all visitors to the venue and postpone the performance.
'In response, the installer, contractor and third party inspector will now test each nozzle to confirm it is free from defects.'
Artists love Stevie Nicks, Nicki Minaj, Jonas BrothersAnd The Kings of Leon will all take the stage later this year.
Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester's night-time economy adviser, said they were monitoring the situation closely.
Do you have a story?
If you have a celebrity story, video or photos, please contact the Metro.nl entertainment team by emailing us at [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by calling our Submit stuff page – we look forward to hearing from you.
MORE : Family pays tribute to man whose body parts were found in nature reserve
MORE : Car crashes 'into voters' after collision outside polling station
MORE : 'I flew 14 hours from Manchester to Milan because it's cheaper than a trip to London'
