AO Arena

The AO Arena (formerly Manchester Arena) opened in 1995 and is the main live entertainment venue in the city.

Entrance to the Manchester Arena
Entrance to the Manchester Arena

Events here range from rock and pop concerts to comedy, boxing and children’s shows.

It has previously been named after commercial sponsors. Former names include the NYNEX Arena, Manchester Evening News (MEN) Arena, and the Phones 4u Arena.

Events - What's On - AO Arena

A selection of upcoming shows and events at AO Arena are listed below. Tickets can be purchased here.

DateEvent
Friday 29th September 2023 6:00 pmMuse
Friday 29th September 2023 7:00 pmMuse - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Friday 29th September 2023 7:30 pmMuse - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Friday 29th September 2023 7:30 pmMuse - Premium Package - Suite 13B
Saturday 30th September 2023 7:00 pmBusted - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Saturday 30th September 2023 7:30 pmBusted
Saturday 30th September 2023 7:30 pmBUSTED
Wednesday 4th October 2023 7:00 pm5 Seconds of Summer - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Wednesday 4th October 2023 7:30 pm5 Seconds of Summer
Wednesday 4th October 2023 7:30 pm5 SECONDS OF SUMMER
Wednesday 4th October 2023 7:30 pm5 Seconds of Summer - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Friday 6th October 2023 7:30 pmvery best of
Friday 6th October 2023 8:00 pmAll The Old 45s - The Very Best of Deacon Blue
Saturday 7th October 2023 8:00 pmRUPAUL'S
Thursday 12th October 2023 6:00 pmS Club - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Thursday 12th October 2023 7:00 pmS Club - Champagne Experience
Thursday 12th October 2023 7:30 pmS Club
Thursday 12th October 2023 7:30 pmS Club - Premium Package - Suite 13B
Saturday 14th October 2023 5:00 pmMisfits Boxing - Champagne Experience + FAST TRACK PLUS
Sunday 15th October 2023 6:30 pmBlink-182 - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Sunday 15th October 2023 7:00 pmBlink-182 - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Sunday 15th October 2023 7:30 pmblink-182
Sunday 15th October 2023 7:30 pmblink-182 - Tour 2023
Monday 16th October 2023 6:30 pmBlink-182 - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Monday 16th October 2023 7:00 pmBlink-182 - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Monday 16th October 2023 7:30 pmblink-182
Monday 16th October 2023 7:30 pmblink-182 - Tour 2023
Tuesday 17th October 2023 7:30 pmLuke Combs
Tuesday 17th October 2023 7:30 pmLUKE COMBS
Wednesday 18th October 2023 7:30 pm30 YEARS OF
Wednesday 18th October 2023 7:30 pmJurassic Park 30th Anniversary
Thursday 19th October 2023 7:30 pmPeter Kay - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Thursday 19th October 2023 7:30 pmPETER KAY LIVE
Thursday 19th October 2023 8:00 pmPeter Kay Live
Thursday 19th October 2023 8:00 pmPeter Kay Live - Premium Package - Gallery Boxes
Friday 20th October 2023 7:30 pmPeter Kay - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Friday 20th October 2023 7:30 pmPETER KAY LIVE
Friday 20th October 2023 8:00 pmPeter Kay - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Friday 20th October 2023 8:00 pmPeter Kay Live
Friday 20th October 2023 8:00 pmPeter Kay Live - Premium Package - Gallery Boxes
Saturday 21st October 2023 6:00 pmS Club - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Saturday 21st October 2023 7:00 pmS Club - Champagne Experience
Saturday 21st October 2023 7:30 pmS Club
Saturday 21st October 2023 7:30 pmS Club - Premium Package - Gallery Boxes
Saturday 21st October 2023 7:30 pmS Club - Premium Package - Suite 13B
Thursday 26th October 2023 12:00 amElvis In Concert - Private "In Conversation" Upgrade
Thursday 26th October 2023 7:00 pmElvis In Concert - Champagne Experience
Thursday 26th October 2023 7:30 pmThe Best of Elvis In Concert - Live On Screen
Friday 27th October 2023 6:00 pmChemical Brothers - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Friday 27th October 2023 7:00 pmChemical Brothers - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Friday 27th October 2023 7:30 pmChemical Brothers
Friday 27th October 2023 7:30 pmTHE CHEMICAL BROTHERS
Friday 27th October 2023 7:30 pmThe Chemical Brothers - Premium Package - Gallery Boxes
Saturday 28th October 2023 4:00 pm90s Baby Pop - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Saturday 28th October 2023 4:30 pm90s Baby Pop - Champagne Experience
Saturday 28th October 2023 5:00 pm90's BABY POP
Saturday 28th October 2023 5:00 pm90'S Baby Pop - Premium Package - Gallery Boxes
Saturday 28th October 2023 5:00 pm90s Baby Pop
Sunday 29th October 2023 6:00 pmFall Out Boy - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Sunday 29th October 2023 7:00 pmFall Out Boy - Champagne Experience
Sunday 29th October 2023 7:30 pmFALL OUT BOY
Sunday 29th October 2023 7:30 pmFall Out Boy - Premium Package - Suite 13B
Sunday 29th October 2023 7:30 pmFall Out Boy - So Much for (Tour) Dust Uk/Europe Arena Tour
Wednesday 1st November 2023 7:00 pmJ Hus - Champagne Experience
Wednesday 1st November 2023 7:30 pmJ Hus - Beautiful and Brutal Yards Tour
Wednesday 1st November 2023 7:30 pmJ HUS - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Wednesday 1st November 2023 7:30 pmJ Hus - Premium Package - Gallery Boxes
Thursday 2nd November 2023 6:00 pmJLS - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Thursday 2nd November 2023 7:00 pmJLS - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Thursday 2nd November 2023 7:30 pmJLS
Thursday 2nd November 2023 7:30 pmJLS
Thursday 2nd November 2023 7:30 pmJLS - Premium Package - Gallery Boxes
Thursday 2nd November 2023 7:30 pmJLS - Premium Package - Suite 13B
Saturday 4th November 2023 5:00 pmOKTAGON 48
Saturday 4th November 2023 5:00 pmOKTAGON MMA
Sunday 5th November 2023 7:30 pmPeter Kay - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Sunday 5th November 2023 7:30 pmPETER KAY LIVE
Sunday 5th November 2023 8:00 pmPeter Kay - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Sunday 5th November 2023 8:00 pmPeter Kay - Premium Package - Gallery Boxes
Sunday 5th November 2023 8:00 pmPeter Kay Live
Monday 6th November 2023 7:30 pmPeter Kay - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Monday 6th November 2023 7:30 pmPETER KAY LIVE
Monday 6th November 2023 8:00 pmPeter Kay - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Monday 6th November 2023 8:00 pmPeter Kay - Premium Package - Gallery Boxes
Monday 6th November 2023 8:00 pmPeter Kay Live
Friday 10th November 2023 6:00 pm50 Cent - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Friday 10th November 2023 6:30 pm50 Cent - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Friday 10th November 2023 7:00 pm50 Cent
Friday 10th November 2023 7:00 pm50 CENT
Saturday 11th November 2023 6:00 pmLouis Tomlinson - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Saturday 11th November 2023 7:00 pmLouis Tomlinson - Champagne Experience
Saturday 11th November 2023 7:30 pmLouis Tomlinson
Saturday 11th November 2023 7:30 pmLOUIS TOMLINSON
Saturday 11th November 2023 7:30 pmLouis Tomlinson - Premium Package - Gallery Boxes
Saturday 11th November 2023 7:30 pmLouis Tomlinson - Premium Package - Suite 13B
Tuesday 14th November 2023 6:00 pmQueens of the Stone Age - Premium Package - Beautiful North
Tuesday 14th November 2023 7:00 pmQueens of the Stone Age - Champagne Experience + Fast Track Plus
Tuesday 14th November 2023 7:30 pmQueens of the Stone Age
Tuesday 14th November 2023 7:30 pmQueens of the Stone Age - Premium Package - Gallery Boxes
Tuesday 14th November 2023 7:30 pmQueens of the Stone Age - Premium Package - Suite 13B

More events may be listed on the official AO Arena website (see the information section at the end of this page).

Box Office & Tickets

Tickets can be purchased online from Ticketmaster or Eventim, the Manchester Arena’s official booking agent. Booking fees apply.

Capacity

The maximum capacity of the Manchester Arena is 21,000, making it the biggest indoor arena in the UK.

The layout and capacity varies with the event being staged. For example, at a boxing match all the seats in both the upper and lower tiers can be available. At a music concert no seats are offered behind the stage.

Other major indoor arenas in the UK include the Echo Arena Liverpool (11,000), the O2 Arena in London (20,000), and Genting Arena (NEC) in Birmingham (15,700).

Location, Directions & Parking

The Manchester Arena is situated at the northern end of Manchester city centre, right next to Manchester Victoria Train Station.

Train & Metrolink

There’s a direct link to the Manchester Arena from Manchester Victoria Train Station and Victoria Metrolink Station. Visitors arriving at Manchester Piccadilly Train Station can walk or catch the Metrolink tram to Manchester Victoria.

Bus & Coach

The Shudehill Interchange is just 400 yards from the Manchester Arena.

Car

To get to the Manchester Arena by car leave the M60 motorway at Junction 17. Then follow the A56 directly to the venue.

Visitors with satellite navigation systems should note that the postcode for the MEN Arena is M3 1AR.

The official onsite car park is operated by NCP. It is a manned, 24-hour multi-storey car park with over 950 spaces. The entrance is on New Bridge Street (turn left from the A56 just before the arena).

Other NCP car parks nearby include Manchester Printworks and the Manchester Arndale.

For details of charges visit the NCP website and search for parking spaces. Use the postcode for the Manchester Arena M3 1AR.

Other Information

Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the Manchester Arena. Furthermore, visitors are not permitted to leave the building to smoke and re-enter. Electronic cigarettes are also prohibited.

Professional cameras with interchangeable lenses are prohibited. Small digital cameras are permitted by most promoters.

Small bags are allowed but may be searched. Large bags and backpacks are strictly forbidden. Patrons are not permitted to bring food, drink, golf umbrellas and banners into the venue.

Nearby Attractions

Tourist attractions and things to do near AO Arena include:

  • The Printworks (0.2 miles) - State-of-the-art entertainment complex. Cinema, bars, restaurants and more.
  • Royal Exchange Theatre (0.4 miles) - Home of Manchester’s leading theatre company.

Nearby Cinemas

Cinemas near AO Arena include:

Nearby Shopping

Places to shop near AO Arena include:

  • Corn Exchange (0.2 miles) - Dining destination in Manchester city centre.
  • Manchester Arndale (0.4 miles) - Large shopping centre in Manchester city centre.

Nearby Restaurants

Restaurants and places to eat and drink near AO Arena include:

Nearby Hotels

Hotels near AO Arena include:

  • Park Inn by Radisson Manchester City Centre (0.2 miles)
  • Hotel Indigo Manchester - Victoria Station (0.2 miles)
  • The Mitre Hotel (0.2 miles)
  • Renaissance Manchester City Centre Hotel (0.3 miles)
  • Holiday Inn Express Manchester City Centre - Arena (0.4 miles)

Nearby Transport Links

Transport links near AO Arena include:

Nearby Train Stations

Train stations near AO Arena include:

Nearby Metrolink Stations

Metrolink stations near AO Arena include:

Map

Map showing location of AO Arena.

Map showing location of AO Arena

Details

AO Arena

Address and postcode
Victoria Station
Manchester
Greater Manchester
United Kingdom
M3 1AR

Visit AO Arena Website

Reviews and Additional Information

  1. I have tickets for disney on ice block 103 row T seats 15-19 are these good seats for disney on ice?

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  2. I just been to see barry manalow who was fantastic.I am disabled and would like to say the service was awfull .the staff didnt help me at all we were left to find our own way around .When seated they took my wheelchair away and then pointed out were the toilets and bar was but HOW could i get there because they hed taken my chair.after the show the que for the lifts was awfull there where abled pepole getting the lifts bear in mind they had just been DANCING AND JUMPING AROUND and they are now letting wheelchair users line up fpr alift after the first lift there was no staff to tell us how to get out the building it took myself and other wheelchair useers twenty minutes to get out the building i would not recommend wheelcair users to go there I WILL NOT USE THIS VENUE AGAIN

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  3. I’ve been to the MEN Arena twice and have never left disappointed. I think the floor seats are good. I sat in block f in the floor seats and had the perfect view. I’m going again soon and sitting in block f, but even closer than before.

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  4. Thankyou, but i have just bought Miley Cyrus tickets for the MEN, but due to difficult circumstances i had to resell and get some closer to home. I successfully resold, but as we live about five hundred miles away from Manchester, to go up and meet the buyer would be alot, and I recently checked Ticketmaster to see if this "credit card check" was a regular thing, but it seems it’s just a Miley Cyrus thing. It said that the buyer has to present the credit card it was bought with along with the tickets. Obviously, the buyer cannot do that. And some have said it’s just a thing and they won’t check 20,000 or however many tickets to credit cards, and what if the credit card holder cannot be there on the night? Does anyone have a helpful solution that would be appreciated. Thanks 🙂

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  5. I’ve been to 3 concerts and they’ve never asked to see my credit card. I suppose if you were picking the tickets up at the box office they would do. But if you’ve already got your ticket they don’t ask. If they did the touts wouldn’t be able to sell tickets outside. And there’s always a lot of them.

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  6. Can anyone tell me if they check your tickets at the door for proof that you bought them? Do they ask to see your credit card?

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  7. Just got back from the Kylie show and feel like I have just melted in the Arena. Kylie was great but it was far far too hot. The kids were sweating and I had to keep taking them out for air, so we missed some of the show.
    They seriously need to sort some kind of air con or if they’ve got it already they need to spend some money to improve it as the heat spoilt it for us all.
    Prices of soft drinks were a rip off but you need to buy them as you can’t take your own in. When there are 4 of you with 2 soft drinks each it’s a lot of money.

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  8. Saw Kylie on 12th July and it was just fab! We booked tickets in block 114 (lower tier, row B), and in my opinion the view could not have been any more perfect! If I go here again I would always try to get this block (or indeed the one opposite (103). I would never book in the upper tier it just looked too high up! The floor seats really are not worth it, as if someone tall is in front of you then you’re screwed. The upper and lower tiers however are not that great for the less mobile having steep steps with no hand rails. Also there is this funny business of people sitting down and standing up. Luckily I was in a block with lively concert goers so had a blast dancing like a looney! I did feel for some as they sat there with their arms folded – come on peeps it’s Kylie! You’ve paid a good deal of money to sit down? Yes it does get hot but then with thousands of people and the fact that most are dancing then you just accept that, just make sure you’ve got a drink handy!
    All in all had a great time, and the sound quality to me was great.

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  9. Normally I would relish the thought of sharing a sauna with Kylie. Last night, however, the experience was spoiled for me and the 18,999 other people in the MEN sauna, by the heat and the diabolical sound quality.
    Kylie darling: sack your sound engineer.
    MEN Arena: (definitely NOT darling) Sort out your air-conditioning. Better still, knock the place down and build a proper arena geared more to customer experience than money-grabbing.
    Take a lead from Liverpool’s Echo Arena and Glasgow’s SECC.
    Biggest really doesn’t mean best!

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  10. I recently saw Neil Diamond at the MEN Arena. Very good organisation and sound system excellent. Neil was fantastic! Great idea to have plastic bottles of wine.

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  11. I went to see Westlife last night 04/06/08. It was a great concert if you wanted to hear it clearly from Cheetham Hill. I love loud music, but the distortion was really bad. The girl group before were clear as a bell. I think the sound mixer needs either sacking or his ears testing.

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  12. I went with my granddaughter to see Celine Dion. The show was magnificent BUT as a disabled person the arena is dangerous and not disabled friendly at all. The men in yellow are not very good either. A fight broke out behind us after someone threw beer over the man behind and over me too. The container was plastic, thank goodness as it hit me. I tried to get the staff to come and stop the fight, one man was bleeding. The staff just sat looking at what was going on. All this was due to drink. WHY sell alcohol all through a show like that. You should not serve alcohol at all it always causes trouble. This ruined the most amazing night of my life and it’s a night I can never afford to repeat. All this through greed. You must make a huge profit on the tickets alone.

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  13. We just went to see Celion Dion and it was an amazing performance. The only problem was we had front row seats which were really good except the stairs down are so dangerous. There was no railing so my wife had to take her shoes off and many older people were being almost carried out. I am surprised no one has been killed trying to get down them.

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  14. Went to see Clubland Live at the men arena and it was brilliant.

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  15. Last night (22/12/07) I went to see Take That at the Arena. They were absolutely fantastic and put on an amazing show.
    The only problem was the seats in the upper tier. I had a brilliant view don’t get me wrong but it was like sitting on a cliff face. If you have any kind of phobia of heights do not book for these seats as they are really horrible. I don’t really have a height phobia (or so I thought) but I didn’t like these seats. The problem was that the people in front are level with your feet so it feels as though you are standing on a ledge a million feet up in the air. It doesn’t help that you can’t see the block below either as it looks as though there is just a sheer drop to the floor. Luckily customer services changed our seats as there were some restricted viewing seats left which were in the lower tier and were actually closer and not really restricted at all. It actually turned out that the majority of our new block had all been moved from various high seats around the arena so it wasn’t just us!
    Like I say if you have no fear of heights the view is brilliant you can see everything but be warned it is extra high and you may develop a sudden fear of heights like I did.

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  16. I went to see Take that at the Arena on Saturday night and it has to be the most spectacular pop concert I have ever been to. However, it was spoilt by loud mouthed yobs who were tripping backwards and forwards to the bar all night. Does the bar have to be open during the performance because all that happened was that they got louder and louder and more obnoctious with every drink.

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  17. I went to see Mcfly at the MEN on Friday and they were brilliant.

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  18. The Scissor Sisters gig was fantastic. Many of the crowd went dressed up special and it was a really good atmosphere.

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  19. i am going to see beyonce on the 7th june 2007 i was wondering if u are allowed to bring camera phones or any camera only i know that at other arenas ppl do take pictures plus i need to know how to get to the seats provided as im at the top floor of manchester evening news arena

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  20. Beware of bogus car park officials when you go to the MEN arena. On your way you’ll see lots of guys dressed up like official attendants trying to flag you into their car parks. They are just criminals who have taken over office car parks at night. Don’t give them your money.

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  21. Justin Timberlake was just awesome. Go if you can still get tickets!

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  22. Hi everyone – I have tickets to see Meat Loaf on the 10th of May. I’m very excited but also a nervous wreck as I have ground floor seats and I am worried about how to access them and the facilities available at the ground floor level. I have a very bad phobia heights and I am unable to walk down all of the stairs from the top of the first tier to the floor. I’ve been told to ask staff to point out a lift and I should be able to access the floor that way, though I am worried that the staff will see that I am not disabled and won’t let me use it. Also, once on the ground floor are there toliets and food stands outside in the hallway? I will be so relieved one in my seat but the thought of having to go back up on a higher level to use the toliet has me worried as well. Any information would be so greatly appreciated.
    Thanks

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  23. P.S Also I’d advise you to get there early as finding your seat can be pretty hectic with 19,000 people already there so get there earlier than the time suggested on your ticket enjoy! 🙂

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  24. I have to say I had never been to a concert before and I’m 16 but I went to see My Chemical Romance on the 24th of March this year and it was the best thing I’ve ever done! Since then I’m now going to 4 more events here. Seriously if you get the chance to go, definitely do it. Even if you don’t like who will be playing there the atmosphere is immense! It’s my favourite place to go! 🙂 I’m going again on Thursday night to see Lostprophets :).

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  25. Andy Rourke’s Versus Cancer concert the other night was one of the best concerts I have ever been to. Such a worthy cause. Thanks very much Andy and hope you can pull it off again next year.

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  26. It’s not a good idea to use the car park at the MEN arena. It is an absolute nightmare trying to get out at night. It’s better to use one a little further away (e.g. Chorlton Street) and walk.

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