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Co-op Live, Manchester
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Arena Manchester, EnglandUpdated Jul 2026

Co-op Live Seating Plan

Your seating map and chart: where to sit, the best seats and the view from your seat

Capacity23,500
Opened2024
LocationManchester, England
Gallery

Co-op Live in photos

4 outside · 2 inside the venue

At a glance

Where to sit at Co-op Live

The best seats at Co-op Live are Lower Tier blocks facing the stage for the view. For value, choose Lower rows of the Upper Tier facing the stage. Avoid Upper Tier blocks behind or beside an end stage. Co-op Live seats 23,500.

Overview

About Co-op Live

Co-op Live holds up to 23,500 with a standing floor, or about 20,500 fully seated, making it the largest indoor arena in the UK. The steep, tightly wrapped bowl has a lower tier, an upper tier and an unusually deep offering of premium clubs and boxes, with the best concert views from the lower blocks facing an end stage and the front of the floor. As a purpose-built music venue, the upper tier still climbs high, so the very back rows sit well above the stage. It is used for major concerts, comedy and live events, and hosted the BRIT Awards after its 2024 opening.

Opened in May 2024, Co-op Live is the UK's largest indoor arena and its first purpose-built, music-first venue, designed by Populous with acoustics and sightlines as the priority. The bowl is unusually steep and pulled in tight around the stage, with the seating decks bought closer to the floor than at older arenas, and it is packed with premium clubs, bars and lounges.

Seat map

Seating plan & map

This is the map used for ticket sales at Co-op Live. Exact configuration varies by event.

Layout

How the venue is set up

End-stage concert

Stage at one end with a standing floor and the full bowl; behind- and beside-stage upper blocks are usually cut from sale.

In-the-round concert

Central stage opening up the whole 360-degree bowl for the highest capacity.

Reduced / seated

Seated floor or a curtained-down configuration for smaller shows, lowering the capacity.

Sections

Seating levels explained

Floor / General AdmissionStanding or floor blocks

The flat floor in front of an end stage, standing for most concerts.

Pros: Closest to the stage and the centre of the atmosphere.

Cons: Flat floor restricts views behind a tall standing crowd.

Lower TierLower blocks (100s)

The first ring of seating pulled in close and low around the floor.

Pros: Excellent, close sightlines, especially blocks facing the stage.

Cons: Side blocks lose part of an end stage; premium areas take many prime seats.

Upper TierUpper blocks (200s)

The steep upper ring wrapping the top of the bowl.

Pros: Elevated overview of the stage and production at lower prices.

Cons: High rake and a distant view from the very back rows.

Premium clubs and boxesLoft boxes, clubs and hospitality

An extensive band of premium seating, private boxes and club lounges, a signature of the venue.

Pros: Superb central views, comfort and exclusive bar and food access.

Cons: Significantly higher prices.

Recommendations

Best seats at Co-op Live

Best overall for concerts

Lower Tier blocks facing the stage

Close, low and head-on to an end stage with the venue's strong acoustics.

Closest to the stage / floor

Front of the standing floor

At the barrier for the most immersive experience.

Best value

Lower rows of the Upper Tier facing the stage

Affordable elevated seats before the highest back rows.

Seated with a full view

Central Lower Tier, a few rows up

Elevated just enough to clear the floor crowd with a front-on angle.

Best for premium comfort

Premium club seats or loft boxes near centre

Prime central views with lounge, bar and dining access.

Heads up

Seats to avoid & obstructed views

Upper Tier blocks behind or beside an end stage: Little or no view of the stage front; often withheld for concerts.

Back rows of the Upper Tier: High above the stage and reliant on the screens for detail.

Lower Tier blocks directly beside the stage: Steep side-on angle with possible obstruction from staging and speakers.

Rear of a standing floor: Flat floor limits sightlines behind a tall crowd.

Premium

Premium & hospitality

Loft boxes and clubs

A large collection of private boxes and members-style club lounges ringing the bowl.

Premium seats and bars

Upgraded seating tied to exclusive bars, restaurants and lounges, central to the venue's design.

Access

Accessibility & companion seating

As a new build, Co-op Live was designed with accessibility throughout, offering wheelchair spaces and easy-access seating across multiple levels, accessible toilets, lifts and a Changing Places facility. Accessible tickets, including a personal assistant space for eligible guests, are booked through the venue's dedicated access team.

Where: Accessible viewing positions are distributed across the lower and upper levels and around the floor, giving a range of price points and angles.

Eat & drink

Food & drink at Co-op Live

Co-op Live takes a food-hall approach rather than relying on standard kiosks. General admission ticket holders get Vertu Place, the venue's main food hall with a 22-metre bar and food markets on Level 0, plus named outlets spread across the levels, from fried chicken to a chip shop. Premium ticket holders have their own restaurants and lounges, including a steakhouse-style pre-show restaurant and a dining room curated by chef Simon Rimmer.

Worth seeking out

  • Vertu Place food hall with a 22-metre bar
  • Big Chicken fried-chicken outlets on Levels 0 and 3
  • Saucy Chips chip-shop stands
  • Encore steakhouse restaurant for Premium guests
  • Hideaway dining curated by chef Simon Rimmer

Book with Event Escapes

Going to Co-op Live? Tickets & hotels, sorted

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Fixtures & tickets at Co-op Live

All upcoming events at Co-op Live
Logistics

Getting there

Transport

The arena sits on the Etihad Campus in east Manchester, a short walk from the Etihad Campus Metrolink tram stop on the blue line from the city centre. Ashburys railway station is also within walking distance, and event parking is limited, so the tram is the recommended way in and out.

The area

Co-op Live is part of the Etihad Campus alongside the Etihad Stadium, a regeneration area east of the city centre rather than a bar district. Manchester city centre, a short tram ride away, is the natural place for pre- and post-show food and drinks.

Co-op Live · Manchester, England

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the capacity of Co-op Live?

Up to 23,500 with a standing floor, or about 20,500 fully seated, making it the largest indoor arena in the UK.

When did Co-op Live open?

It opened in May 2024 after a delayed launch, and has since hosted major concerts and the BRIT Awards.

What are the best seats for a concert?

Lower Tier blocks facing an end stage, or the front of the standing floor for immersion; the venue was designed for sightlines and sound.

How do I get there?

It is on the Etihad Campus, a short walk from the Etihad Campus Metrolink tram stop; Ashburys station is also nearby and parking is limited.

Which seats should I avoid?

Upper Tier blocks behind the stage and the very back rows, which sit high above the stage.

Is the floor standing or seated?

Most concerts use a standing general-admission floor, though some shows have a seated floor.

What is the bag policy?

Only small bags are permitted and all bags are searched; large bags and rucksacks are not allowed inside.

How do section numbers work at Co-op Live?

Section numbers at Co-op Live follow the seating tiers. Floor / General Admission: Standing or floor blocks; Lower Tier: Lower blocks (100s); Upper Tier: Upper blocks (200s); Premium clubs and boxes: Loft boxes, clubs and hospitality.

Does Co-op Live have a seating plan with seat numbers?

Yes. Co-op Live's seating plan is split into numbered sections across its tiers (Floor / General Admission Standing or floor blocks; Lower Tier Lower blocks (100s); Upper Tier Upper blocks (200s); Premium clubs and boxes Loft boxes, clubs and hospitality), with individual seat numbers running within each section. Check the seating plan on this page or the official chart for exact seat numbers.

What is the view like from the seats at Co-op Live?

The best views at Co-op Live are from Lower Tier blocks facing the stage — Close, low and head-on to an end stage with the venue's strong acoustics. The weakest are Upper Tier blocks behind or beside an end stage: Little or no view of the stage front; often withheld for concerts. For a seat-by-seat view, see the view-from-seat photos and the seating plan for Co-op Live.

Where are the wheelchair-accessible seats at Co-op Live?

As a new build, Co-op Live was designed with accessibility throughout, offering wheelchair spaces and easy-access seating across multiple levels, accessible toilets, lifts and a Changing Places facility. Accessible tickets, including a personal assistant space for eligible guests, are booked through the venue's dedicated access team. Locations: Accessible viewing positions are distributed across the lower and upper levels and around the floor, giving a range of price points and angles..

What are the stands at Co-op Live?

Co-op Live is made up of 2 main stands: Floor / General Admission; Premium clubs and boxes.

What is the view like from the seats at Co-op Live?

For the best view at Co-op Live, aim for Lower Tier blocks facing the stage (Close, low and head-on to an end stage with the venue's strong acoustics.); Front of the standing floor (At the barrier for the most immersive experience.). The view is most restricted from Upper Tier blocks behind or beside an end stage (Little or no view of the stage front; often withheld for concerts.).

Is Co-op Live covered, and does it have a roof?

Co op Live is a fully enclosed indoor arena with all seating and the floor under a fixed roof.

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Sources

Hero image: Anthony Parkes, CC BY-SA 2.0 — via Wikimedia Commons