Peter Kay postpones shows at Co-op Live Arena for second time after safety fears
Tim Scott reporting from the Co-op Live Arena
Peter Kay has been forced to postpone the 'opening night' performance at the UK's largest and newest arena for a second time - due to safety fears.
Co-op Live Arena, in Manchester, had been slated to open 23 April with the comedian officially opening the landmark entertainment venue.
But, less than 24 hours before the performance, the £365 million arena was postponed the 23 April and 24 April shows by a week.
The 23,500 capacity arena said a test event on Saturday 19 April had found issues with the power supply in certain parts of the venue.
Despite promising it would be ready for the postponed event, now the comedian says he is "very disappointed" to have to reschedule his gigs again - moving them by a month.
It follows a turbulent 24 hours for the arena, after Co-op Live's General Manager, Gary Roden, quit after 12 months in the job after a slew of issues at what will be the UK’s biggest indoor arena.
The emergency services said outstanding issues, which had not been resolved, and meant the arena could not open, included a "fully tested emergency services communication system, some remaining internal security systems, and fire safety measures."
The two Peter Kay gigs will take place on Thursday, 23 May and Friday, 24 May.
The Black Keys, who were meant to be performing on 27 May to a reduced capacity crowd in the lower bowl have also been pushed back to Wednesday, 15 May.
The first gig at the 23,500 venue will be A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie on Wednesday, 1 May.
Poking fun at the rescheduling, Kay re-released his advertising poster to say he was now "The ninth artist in the world to perform at Manchester Co-op Arena live".
In a statement he said: "To everybody with tickets, my apologies once again but unfortunately the Co-op Live still isn't ready and so, as yet, remains untested for a large-scale audience.
"Consequently, they are having to reschedule my two shows yet again (I know I can't believe it either)."
He added: "It's very disappointing but your safety is important, and I won't compromise."
Confirming the rescheduling Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group, who own the venue, said: "We continue to work with the city, police, fire, council, live safety and there are still systems that we either are working on or had to test in particular.
"So in an abundance of extra caution, we're making sure that we can reschedule again."
The venue added: “Rescheduling Peter Kay and The Black Keys will give us the extra time we need to continue testing enhanced emergency communications thoroughly,” the venue also said.
“This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size to ensure that our fans, artists and staff have the safest experience possible.”
Speaking about the event opening the building, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Mr Leiweke said: "I never thought A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie is going to open the building, but A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie is going to open the building. God bless him. They will be the first.
"Could we do an event in the building tomorrow? Probably, but we haven't tested everything."
In a joint Manchester City Council and the emergency services said they "supported the decision" to postpone events and said it could not "compromise on public safety.
Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service said: "As a whole group we support the decision of Co-op Live to step down the event tomorrow, and we will continue to work together as they move to completion.
"We have discussed with the Co-op Live venue this week the actions that they needed to take ahead of their planned public opening and while a considerable amount of work has taken place, and learning taken from last week’s test event, we all agree that there is more to complete before the venue can welcome audiences safely.
“Whilst we understand this will be disappointing, we cannot compromise on public safety.
"Our focus is, and always will be, the wellbeing of residents and visitors to our city. Following last Saturday’s test event, where temporary mitigations were put in place, we were assured that our concerns about the venue would be addressed before a public opening.
"That work is continuing as they move to welcoming events with larger audience numbers.
“The elements outstanding include a fully tested emergency services communication system, and some remaining internal security systems, and fire safety measures.
“Work is progressing quickly in all of these areas, and all partners involved look forward to the venue being open and able to welcome guests safely once they are completed.”
Gary Roden had said the venue 'would open on time' only to delay it within hours
The original delay to opening was due to work not yet being complete on the Eastlands venue, which sits opposite the Manchester City Football ground.
Problems with power at the site are believed to have affected fire safety and emergency services communication systems.
Insiders have claimed that "everything was run down to the wire" ahead of the test show.
Gary Roden, resigned after the issues, on Thursday 25 April, and after also coming under fire in particular for his comments about grassroots music venues, arguing some of them were “poorly run” and insisting a proposed £1 ticket levy to preserve their future was “too simplistic”.
On the eve of a test show at the venue with Rick Astley headlining, Mr Roden confidently told ITV Granada Reports the arena would open on time - only to be forced to postpone the opening less than 24 hours later.