The behemoth is a joint venture between OVG, which runs 450 arenas around the world and was co-founded by music mogul and long-time Eagles manager Irving Azoff, and City Football Group, the Manchester City owner controlled by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and frustrated suitor of Telegraph Media Group. It tells you all you need to know about Co-op Live’s ambitions that The Eagles, one of the biggest bands in the world, have shunned London entirely to play a run of five shows – their last ever in the UK – at the venue, starting at the end of May.
Delays in the project have been clear for a while. In a recent interview, Leiweke blamed Brexit, Covid and a record amount of rainfall for the delays to the construction. But the Telegraph has been told that as far back as February it was known that Co-op Live was 35 weeks behind schedule.
The OVG spokesman would not comment on this specific figure. But delays in construction led to delays in the finishing details, according to someone who has closely observed the project. The next 10 days are “truly going to be a night and day project,” says this person.
Concertgoers’ plans aren’t the only things that have been damaged. The Co-op’s reputation is also taking a battering, as those nasty online nicknames suggest. But despite the vast Co-op logos around the venue, the supermarket had nothing to do with the building work – it is simply the venue’s “naming rights sponsor”, the equivalent of having its logo on a team’s football shirt or stadium.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
