Getting to concerts at Co-op Live and the AO Arena

Big concerts are some of our busiest nights of the year. Thousands of people arrive in the same hour and leave in the same few minutes, and the roads around the venues fill up. With a bit of planning, though, a pre-booked car can make the night a lot easier, especially if you are coming from outside the city or getting home late. Here is how it works at Manchester's two big arenas.

The two arenas

Co-op Live

Co-op Live is the newer of the two. It opened in 2024 on the Etihad Campus in east Manchester, next to the Etihad Stadium. It is one of the largest indoor arenas in the UK. Because it shares the area with the football stadium, nights when there is a match and a concert at the same time are especially busy.

AO Arena

The AO Arena is in the city centre, built over Manchester Victoria station. It has been one of the country's busiest arenas for years. Being in the centre means it is close to restaurants, bars and hotels, but the streets around it are tight and get very crowded when a show finishes.

Before the show

Check the venue's website and your ticket for door times and the start time. Plan to be dropped off well before the main act. Queues for security and bag checks can be long, and most venues have rules about bag sizes. Check those too.

Near both arenas, there are restrictions on where cars can stop, especially close to the doors. Our drivers will drop you at the nearest safe point, which is usually a short walk away. At the Etihad Campus, that may be on one of the main roads around the area rather than right outside the arena.

Dinner before the gig

A lot of people make a night of it with food before the show. We can drop you at a restaurant in the city centre or in Ancoats, which is close to both venues, and you walk to the arena from there. Tell us the address when you book.

After the show

This is where planning pays off. When a show ends, everyone leaves at once. Phone signal can be patchy with so many people in one place, and the roads near the venue slow right down.

• Agree a meeting point before the show. Pick somewhere a few minutes' walk from the venue, away from the main crowd. We will suggest one when you book.
• Agree a rough time. Shows often finish a little earlier or later than expected. Tell the driver roughly when you expect to be out, and message them when you leave.
• Be ready for a short wait. The car might need a few minutes to get to you through the traffic.
• Stay together. If you are in a group, agree to meet at the pickup point, not inside the venue.

Some people deliberately wait 20 or 30 minutes after a show before they leave, perhaps with a drink nearby. The roads clear quickly and the drive home is much faster.

Coming from outside Manchester

If you live in Cheshire, Lancashire or out towards the Pennines, getting home after a late show by train can be hard. The last trains can be very busy, or gone. A pre-booked car means you are not watching the clock during the encore. Book a return journey with a pickup time after the show, and the price is fixed.

Staying overnight

If you are staying in a hotel after the show, we can take you from home to the hotel, then on to the arena, and back to your hotel afterwards. In the morning, we can take you home or to the station. Just book each leg.

Groups and celebrations

Concerts are often group nights out: birthdays, hen parties, families going together. One vehicle for everyone is easier than coordinating several cars after the show. Our 8 seater and 16 seater buses suit bigger groups, and our people carrier takes five. For a special occasion, the Mercedes V-Class executive people carrier (or similar) is a comfortable option.

Please remember that drivers can refuse to carry anyone who is very drunk or abusive. We want everyone to have a good night and get home safely.

Children and young people

If your children are going to a show and you are not, a pre-booked car home is a good way to know they are getting back safely. Book the journey in your name and add notes with their names and phone numbers. Child and booster seats are free if the younger ones need them.

Paying

We take card only. You pay online by card when you book. There is no need to carry cash on a night out.

Other venues

We also cover the other big event venues in and around Manchester, including the Etihad Stadium and Emirates Old Trafford for summer concerts, Manchester Central for conferences and shows, and the theatres in the city centre. The approach is the same: book ahead, agree a pickup point and allow some time.

When there is more than one event

Manchester often has several big events on the same night. A football match at the Etihad and a show at Co-op Live, a concert at the AO Arena and a busy night in the city centre, or a cricket match and a gig. On those nights, every road into the centre and east Manchester is busier than normal. If you know there is more than one event, leave earlier than you would otherwise, and agree your pickup point with even more care. We will tell you if we expect it to be particularly busy.

Book your concert car

Enter your pickup address and the venue, add a return with a time after the show, and you will see a fixed price. Online bookings need at least eight hours' notice, so book early for big shows. Book your concert transport online, or call 0161 660 4006 to arrange a group.