Liam Gallagher compares Manchester’s Co-Op Live to Madison Square Garden

nme.com:

Liam Gallagher has compared Manchester’s new Co-Op Live arena to New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden – despite the venue’s recent problems.The venue in Gallagher’s hometown has had its fair share of teething problems this year, mired in controversy after myriad delays.

It was due to open on April 23 with a show from comedian Peter Kay, but after power supply issues at a test event featuring Rick Astley, Kay’s show was first postponed by a week and then for a second time as the venue “wasn’t ready“.Shows by The Black Keys, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Olivia Rodrigo and Keane were all postponed, too, while Take That decided to move their five concert dates to the AO Arena instead.

The last-minute cancellation of A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s show was due to part of the ventilation system falling from the ceiling during the rapper’s soundcheck – something that venue operators said could have been “catastrophic“.The slew of issues facing the arena led to music lovers coming forward to express their frustration at the postponements, and branded the venue as “Manchester’s own Fyre Festival”.

Finally, hometown indie giants Elbow later opened Co-Op Live on May 14, with frontman Guy Garvey “christening” it as “an amazing room” and a “beautiful new venue”.Now, it seems that Liam Gallagher agrees, having played the 23,500- capacity biggest indoor venue in the UK twice over the weekend before comparing it to New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden – one of the most iconic and popular gig spaces on the planet.Posting to Twitter/X, he wrote: “That new MCR arena is up there with NY MSG in my opinion as you were LG x.”That new MCR arena is up there with NY MSG in my opinion as you were LG x— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) June 17,.