The AO arena is putting up a fight - they have some big plans this year.
I am sure Manchester can support 2 fantastic venues .
They have made zero investment in the place since it was built. It's crumbling, with dated concession outlets, dark manky feeling concourses. Notorious from day one in having terrible acoustics for all gigs (Unless you are front and centre of the stage, in the most expensive seats)
And yet no attempt has ever been made to improve them .... I know a few sound engineers who have almost thrown the towel in doing the desks there, lol.
Sadly, the owners care not a jot about any of that. As long as they were puling in punters at £daft prices, they couldn't give a flying one.
Only now they finally have competition for those punters, are they prepared to delve into their vast profits and be seen to do something.
Though going off the design, quality modern aspects and acoustics
purposed for live music, I doubt there will be any real competition. The central location is the only plus it may have over the new arena, but that gets less and less as the 'centre' grows outward.
I personally will laugh if the Nynex/MEN/AO/AOR/FCUK /Whatever Arena closes it's doors, gets levelled and we see yet more apartments spring up on it's ashes.
Rant over. ;-)
