Olivia Rodrigo’s Manchester shows called off due to venue’s technical woes

Photo from oliviarodrigo/Instagram

Manchester’s eagerly awaited Co-op Live Arena found itself in the middle of problems as its first official event faced cancellation due to unforeseen technical difficulties, leaving performers sidelined, including Filipino American singer Olivia Rodrigo.

Originally slated to kick off at 6:30 p.m on May 2, the venue’s opening night was supposed to feature American rapper and singer A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, with the Fil-Am Grammy award-winning artist’s performances scheduled for the following days.

However, a last-minute announcement shattered expectations as the arena cited technical issues, forcing the cancellation of the rapper’s event and Rodrigo’s upcoming shows.

“Due to an ongoing venue-related technical issue, the scheduled performances of Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts world tour on May 3 and 4 are being postponed,” the arena stated on X (formerly Twitter). “Ticket-holders can either hold on to their tickets or obtain a refund at point of purchase.”

Due to an on-going venue-related technical issue, the scheduled performances of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour on 3rd and 4th May are being postponed. Ticket holders can either hold onto their tickets or obtain a refund at point of purchase.

— Co-op Live (@TheCoopLive) May 1, 2024

The root cause of the disruption was traced back to a critical malfunction detected during a routine soundcheck, specifically within the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

In response, venue authorities swiftly issued statements expressing regret for the inconvenience caused and outlined options for ticket-holders, including refunds or retention of tickets for future rescheduled dates.

This latest setback marks the third instance of event cancellations or postponements at the 23,500-capacity arena in recent weeks, raising questions about its readiness for full-scale operation.

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, acknowledging the situation on his social media, emphasized the paramount importance of safety and assured fans of updates regarding rescheduled performances, saying “something happened with the venue while I was at soundcheck today that caused cancellation of the show.”

He added: “I’m heated about the situation too, but safety first.”

The “Vampire” songstress had been anticipated to grace the stage in Manchester as part of her “Guts” world tour, making the Co-op Live gigs pivotal stops on her UK itinerary. As fans eagerly await news of new dates, Rodrigo’s tour is set to continue in other UK cities before culminating in London.