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
CyrusOne Names John Hatem Chief Executive Officer to Accelerate its Global Digital Infrastructure Strategy30.7.2026 16:30:00 EEST | Press release
CyrusOne (the “Company”), a leading global data center owner, developer and operator, today announced the appointment of John Hatem as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Company’s Board, effective immediately. As part of the Company’s long-term succession planning, Eric Schwartz, who successfully led CyrusOne through a period of significant expansion, is stepping down as CEO and will work together with Hatem to ensure a smooth transition. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260730005910/en/ John Hatem Hatem joined CyrusOne in 2011 and has held a series of increasingly senior roles across the business. He most recently served as President, responsible for global sales, global procurement, and design, engineering, and construction in the United States. His deep experience in data center design, development, and operations has helped transform CyrusOne into one of the world’s leading digital infrastructure p
Mary Kay Releases 2026 Sustainability Report Highlighting Transformative Progress Across Social, Economic, and Environmental Impact Globally30.7.2026 15:03:00 EEST | Press release
Mary Kay Inc., a leading global beauty company committed to sustainability and women’s empowerment, today released its 2026 Sustainability Report, outlining progress toward its 2030 goals and celebrating the 2025 and latest achievements that continue to drive positive change globally. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260730240667/en/ Mary Kay's annual 2026 Sustainability Report highlights the company's decades-long dedication to social, economic, and environmental sustainability - core pillars central to its business strategy and its purpose-driven legacy rooted in Mary Kay's mission of “enriching women’s lives” around the world. (Image Credit: Mary Kay Inc.) The annual report highlights Mary Kay’s decades-long dedication to social, economic, and environmental sustainability - core pillars central to its business strategy and its purpose-driven legacy rooted in the company’s mission of “enriching women’s lives”
Veracode Launches “Veracode Marketplace”: A Curated Ecosystem of Elite Security Integrations Built for the AI-Powered Software Development Era30.7.2026 15:00:00 EEST | Press release
Veracode, the global leader in application risk management, today announced the launch of the Veracode Marketplace, a curated ecosystem that gives customers a single, trusted destination to discover, evaluate, and deploy third-party security integrations as an extension of the Veracode platform. The marketplace debuts with DryRun Security as its inaugural partner, delivering AI-native contextual analysis and verification to Veracode customers on day one. A New Standard for the AppSec Ecosystem The Veracode Marketplace enables security and engineering teams to extend their existing Veracode investment with validated, best-in-class integrations. Every partner is vetted for technical depth, product quality, and workflow fit. Integrations are anchored to Veracode findings for a unified audit trail, and every purchase goes through a single procurement path on a single contract, with a personalized support experience. “Application security has entered a new era, and no single vendor will sol
INNIO Awarded EcoVadis Platinum Medal for Fifth Consecutive Year30.7.2026 15:00:00 EEST | Press release
INNIO N.V. (Nasdaq: INIO) has been awarded the EcoVadis Platinum Medal, the highest recognition granted by the globally trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. This marks the fifth consecutive year that INNIO has achieved Platinum status since 2022. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260730309718/en/ INNIO N.V. Awarded EcoVadis Platinum Medal for Fifth Consecutive Year In the latest assessment cycle, INNIO further improved its overall EcoVadis score compared to the previous year by introducing additional policies and further strengthening its sustainability management system. “This recognition is a strong validation of our sustainability strategy,” said Marcin Kawa, Vice President Sustainability at INNIO. “Achieving EcoVadis Platinum status for the fifth consecutive year shows that we have consistently delivered on our sustainability commitments and embedded responsible business practices throughout
Reply S.p.A: The Board of Directors Approves the Half-year Financial Report as of 30 June 202630.7.2026 14:52:00 EEST | Press release
Today, the Board of Directors of Reply S.p.A. [EXM, STAR: REY] approved the results as at 30 June 2026. Since the start of the year, the Group has recorded a consolidated turnover of €1,311.9 million which is an increase of 7.4% compared to the same period in 2025. All indicators are positive for the period. In the first half of 2026 consolidated EBITDA of €233.2 million compared to the €223.7 million recorded in 2025 and corresponds to 17.8% of turnover. EBIT, from January to June, was €189.7 million (€188.4 million in 2025), corresponding to 14.5% of turnover. Pre-tax profit, from January to June 2026, was €194.1 million (€179.4 million in 2025), corresponding to 14.8% of turnover. As regards the second quarter of 2026, the Group's performance was also positive, with consolidated turnover for the period of €667.0 million, up by 8.7% compared to 2025. EBITDA, from April to June 2026, amounted to €121.2 million, with EBIT of €94.6 and pre-tax profit of €94.3 million. As at 30 June 2026
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