From shaky start to the top building of the year

'World class' Co-op Live venue wins annual Chamber of Commerce gong

- By ADAM MAIDMENT

WHEN Co-op Live's opening season came around in April last year, it was plagued with technical issues and a number of delays.

Its initial opening test event, of 11,000 invited guests, had to have its capacity reduced due to power outage issues and work being 'run down to the wire, with a number of other early shows rescheduled to allow time to complete work.

Then, a concert from American rapper A Boogie Wiv Da Hoodie was also postponed just moments before doors opened after part of an air conditioning unit fell from the gantry inside during a soundcheck.

The rapper's show was then relocated to the AO Arena, alongside shows from boyband Take That.

It led publication MusicRadar to describe it as 'the most disastrous venue launch of all time! But fewer than 12 months later, the huge £400m venue in Eastlands has now earned the converted title of Building of the Year.