ASM Global’s AO Arena in Manchester Unveils Dramatic Multimillion Dollar Three-Year Reimagination of Legendary Venue
27.4.2022 20:05:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
ASM Global, the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences, venue management and event strategy, has announced a $63 million plan beginning this summer to transform the AO Arena in Manchester. This plan is set to dramatically enhance the venue’s premier position for live entertainment experiences through state-of-the-art infrastructure expansion and innovative guest features as the iconic arena looks to the future.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220427005883/en/
AO Arena, Manchester (Photo: Business Wire)
AO Arena in Manchester, located in the heart of the city, is one of the busiest indoor arenas in the world. Through its near 30-year history, the venue has firmly established itself as a beloved and iconic Manchester landmark, a must-play for artists, and a fan-favorite destination for world-class live entertainment. Officials from the AO Arena will be releasing more detailed plans in coming months.
Chris Bray, EVP Europe at ASM Global, said, “AO Arena is one of the world’s iconic venues and a much-loved part of Manchester’s rich culture and history. It has been delivering world-class entertainment experiences for over two decades. As we approach our 30th anniversary, this ambitious endeavor will not only reinforce its position as a leading destination for live entertainment but will extend its market leadership for ‘live’ and fan experiences for the next 30 years. We’re proud to be further investing into the heart of Manchester.
“The first phase will enhance and increase our standing floor capacity to share this historic arena with even more of our guests, and we will also be adding new hospitality lounges and investing in delivering an upgraded concourse experience. Our performers will be immersed in an all-new, back-of-house artists’ campus, unparalleled anywhere.”
Additional major developments include new arena entrances welcoming guests to the venue and new premium seating, which will transform the venue to an elevated experience.
AO Arena’s back-of-house campus dramatic upgrade will include a complete overhaul of the backstage experience for artists, production and crew. This includes new artist dressing rooms and production areas, a world-class green room with meet-and-greet facilities, an overhaul of crew catering, and first-class connectivity and technology.
Plans have already been jump started by the venue’s rapid scheduling of major sell-out 2022 events, including Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Diana Ross, Alicia Keys, Swedish House Mafia, Snoop Dogg, George Ezra and more.
Jen Mitchell, general manager at the AO Arena, said, “This is a really exciting time for AO Arena. Not only are we able to welcome guests back after a challenging two years with a program packed full of world-class acts and entertainment, now we can reveal the first phase of ASM Global’s plans for the arena’s redevelopment. This will enhance the experience for everyone who sets foot in the venue, including artists, production, crew and our staff who work so hard to make the magic happen right here in Manchester.”
Unveiled in 1995, the arena was the first indoor venue in the U.K. to be built with a layout of 360-degree seating. Attracting over 1 million visitors yearly, the 21,000-capacity arena is a winner of the Stadium Business Awards’ prestigious ‘Venue of the Year’ award. There has been a host of musical talent that has performed at the venue, from Led Zeppelin legends Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, The Rolling Stones and Pavarotti to Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga as well as Manchester’s homegrown artists including Take That, Oasis, Elbow, New Order and The Courteeners. The venue has hosted everything from the 2002 Commonwealth Games, 2008 FINA World Swimming Championships and international boxing bouts by Mike Tyson, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, David Haye, Joe Calzaghe and local champions Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan and Anthony Crolla.
About ASM Global
ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management—delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. asmglobal.com
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220427005883/en/
Contact information
Jim Yeager
breakwhitelight (for ASM Global)
jim@breakwhitelight.com
Mobile: 1-818-264-6812
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
NEURA Robotics Announces Record Series C of up to $1.4 Billion to Accelerate the World’s Leading Physical AI Platform10.6.2026 18:26:00 EEST | Press release
NEURA Robotics (“NEURA”), the pioneer in cognitive robotics and creator of the Neuraverse, today announced a landmark Series C financing with a total round size of up to $1.4 billion to accelerate its mission of building the world’s leading Physical AI platform. The financing brings together global leaders across AI, robotics, compute, manufacturing and industrial infrastructure, including Tether, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Amazon, NVIDIA, imec.xpand, Bosch, Schaeffler, European Investment Bank, Lingotto Horizon, InterAlpen Partners and others. NEURA is building a new category of AI infrastructure where cognitive robots continuously learn, collaborate and operate across real world environments through a shared intelligence ecosystem called the Neuraverse. Unlike traditional robotics companies focused on isolated machines or narrow industrial automation, NEURA combines robotics, AI, sensors, edge compute and large scale learning infrastructure into one unified platform architecture de
ees Europe: Green Hydrogen: Opportunities and Production Ramp Up10.6.2026 17:13:00 EEST | Press release
For the major economies, the transformation towards a climate-neutral industry is one of the central tasks for the coming decades. While the European Union has pledged climate neutrality by 2050, China’s goal is to be climate-neutral by 2060. Hydrogen is a key to transforming their manufacturing and energy industry. However, the actual market development is lagging behind these ambitious objectives: According to the Global Energy Report 2025, only 11 percent of hydrogen projects announced since the start of the decade are now in operation or have been secured by investment decisions. This is why ees Europe, Europe’s largest and most international exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems, is putting a spotlight on hydrogen. The newly aligned exhibition segment Hydrogen Dialogue Forum & Expo in hall B2 will be giving in-depth information about the opportunities for hydrogen technology, technological innovation, savings potential and ground-breaking projects from June 23–25. Th
Info-Tech Research Group Recognizes Laserfiche as a Champion in the 2026 Enterprise Content Management – Enterprise Emotional Footprint Report10.6.2026 17:00:00 EEST | Press release
Laserfiche has been named a Champion for the enterprise category in the Enterprise Content Management Emotional Footprint 2026 Report by Info-Tech Research Group. Laserfiche — the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management — was recognized based on reviews provided by end users. Laserfiche was recognized as a Champion for delivering significant business value, continued product innovation, and strong customer experience. “We are honored to be named a Champion by Info-Tech Research Group, which we believe underscores our relationships with our customers and commitment to their long-term success,” said Thomas Phelps, CIO and SVP of corporate strategy at Laserfiche. “We are grateful to our customers for partnering with us as we support their needs for AI-driven information management solutions. Of the 285 customers who completed an Info-Tech survey this year, 99% said they plan to renew.” Info-Tech Research Group’s Emotional Footprint report quantifies the end-user experience
BTG Pactual TIG Acquires Jamestown’s Timberland Platform10.6.2026 16:30:00 EEST | Press release
BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (BTG Pactual TIG), one of the world’s largest timberland investment managers, today announced the acquisition of approximately 90,000 acres of U.S. timberland formerly managed by Jamestown, a global design-focused real estate investment and management firm. The Jamestown timberland platform will be integrated into BTG Pactual TIG’s core U.S. timberland strategy’s portfolio. The portfolio of high-quality timberland spans five U.S. states, including approximately 50,000 acres of pine timberland in Georgia and Alabama and approximately 40,000 acres of diversified hardwood timberland across Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New York. All properties are certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). The acquisition increases BTG Pactual TIG’s core U.S. timberland strategy’s portfolio to more than 1.7 million acres. The firm manages 3.3 million acres globally. The transaction creates further opportunities for BTG Pactual TIG to scale positive cons
Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Scheduled to Launch on October 9, 2026!10.6.2026 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
Capcom Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:9697) today announced that Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, which includes an expansion for Dragon’s Dogma 2, is scheduled to be released on October 9, 2026. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260610422753/en/ Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen logo The Dragon’s Dogma series consists of action games in a fantasy setting where players adventure in an expansive open world of swords and magic. Since the release of the first game in 2012, the series garnered praise worldwide for gameplay features such as its “pawn” adventure companions who can carry out actions on their own, leading the series to over 14 million* units sold cumulatively. Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is a paid expansion title that adds a new story to Dragon’s Dogma 2, which was released in March 2024. Based on the wide range of feedback received following the release of the main game, this expansion is being developed to offer greate
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom