MEN Arena / Mcr Central / Apollo / Bridgewater Hall

[heatonparkincakes]

20 x 12000 x £35, plus tee shirts, novelty cups and dvds.

Its not like he is putting on some big bucks fireworks and stonehenge show. Just the man and his humour on stage

Perhaps Peter Kay could buy the arena?

[spoonsbeatfish]

Originally Posted by heatonparkincakes

20 x 12000 x £35, plus tee shirts, novelty cups and dvds.

Its not like he is putting on some big bucks fireworks and stonehenge show. Just the man and his humour on stage

Perhaps Peter Kay could buy the arena?

I know the total capacity is around 23,000 but is that how much they set the capacity to for comic stand ups then - 12,000?

[heatonparkincakes]

I will revise my figures. I did think its was 12000 but I am wrong clearly.

so 20 x 35 x 23,000 (eye splitting what I am doing wrong, christ its only telling jokes blah blah...)

Thats £16m!!!!!!!

Given that they sold out in as quick as it takes Wigan to concede a goal, then he surely add dates and then come back every other year for the next decade.

Now it seems unlikely but will Mr Kay be the catalyst to revive Bolton and Farnworth??

The again will it all end in tragedy in some dwarf sex, 80 tv re-runs, coke and pizza disaster on the 9th floor of the Kansas City Hilton in 2019?

[flange]

Magical Cirque returns

November 30, 2009

CIRQUE du Soleil is back in the UK – and Manchester is to take centre stage.

The acrobatic spectacular is to return to these shores next year.

The British tour will kick off at the M.E.N Arena with a show called Saltimbanco, which has enjoyed widespread acclaim across the world.

Described as ‘gracefully athletic theatre’ and ‘myth meets magic’, the family-orientated presentation features ‘breathtaking acoustics and unbelievable athleticism’.

More than 50 artists from 20 countries will head to the city to take part in the blockbuster.

It is set to include gravity-defying bungee acts, jugglers, contortionists, crazy clowns and much more.

Shows start at the M.E.N. on 9 June and end on 14 June next year – and tickets are to go on sale on Friday.

Cirque du Soleil has grown from a team of 20 street performers in 1984 to become a global phenomenon.

The organisation, based in Quebec, now has more than 4,000 employees – including 1,000 artists – from more than 40 countries.

Translated, Saltimbanco means "to jump on a bench’ and takes an urban theme.

Phil Bowdery, from promoters Live Nation, said he was ‘thrilled’ to bring the show to the Britain. He added: "The show is a signature Cirque du Soleil sensation.

"It’s a vibrant, uplifting, colourful show, one of the most prolific in Cirque’s repertoire.

"Created as an antidote to the violence and despair, this phantasmagorical show proposes a new vision of urbanity, overflowing with optimism and happiness."

As if that was not enough, fans can have their appetites whetted by a separate show at the Trafford Centre. From 25 February until 21 March next year Varekai will be performed at the shopping mall.

The title ranslates as ‘Wherever’, and the show promises to take any viewer "wherever they dream". It follows a young man through forests and a world populated by ‘fantastical creatures’.

The show will be performed under a big top and will be the only UK performance outside London.

It is said to pay tribute to the nomadic soul, spirit and the art of circus tradition.

The Cirque du Soleil is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....cirque_returns

[markydeedrop]

http://www.duelinthepool.com/

American Swimming Stars to Take On European Select Team at the 2009 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool

Event to be held in Manchester, England, December 18-19, broadcast on NBC on December 27

Colorado Springs, Colo. – The top swimmers from three European nations will gather to take on Team USA in the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool, December 18-19 in Manchester, England. The bi-annual Duel in the Pool is a made-for-TV event, designed to showcase the sport’s most exciting swimmers in non-Olympic years. This year’s Duel takes on a new format with Team USA facing a team comprised of the top swimmers from Great Britain, Germany and Italy. The event will be held at the Manchester Aquatic Centre and a two-hour broadcast of the event will air on NBC on December 27 from 2 – 4 p.m. ET.. (+more)

[flange]

DevSecs on song for MEN arena

12:35 | 10.02.10

By Jennifer Rigby

Development Securities is in exclusive talks to buy Manchester Evening News Arena, which has hosted bands such as Take That and the Rolling Stones, for over £60m.

DevSecs has beaten competition from a number of institutions including Legal & General for the Manchester city centre venue.

It is thought to be buying the arena via a purchase of the corporate entity that holds the asset. A 30:70 joint venture between Capital & Regional and GE Real Estate is selling the arena and the price being paid by DevSecs is thought to reflect a yield of around 7.5%.

Capital & Regional and GE Real Estate bought the music and entertainment venue in 2006 from US entertainment group AEG for £61.75m. AEG had bought it in 2004.

The complex includes the 21,000-seat arena and 120,000 sq ft of office space.

http://www.propertyweek.com/story.as...de=3157828&c=1

[flange]

Lady Gaga anounces new Arena dates

Deborah Linton

March 01, 2010

Global pop sensation Lady Gaga will bring her sell-out tour back to Manchester this summer – leading a string of M.E.N Arena events.

The American superstar, who launched her Monster's Ball UK tour at the arena last month, has announced she is to play another gig at the venue on June 2. Tickets go on sale on Friday.

Award-winning comedian Jason Manford is to play his biggest show to date in his home town when he performs at the Arena next year.

The 8 Out of 10 Cats team captain will play his first arena date at the venue on April 23, with tickets already on sale.

The Salford-born comedian, who sold out Manchester Apollo last year, has won a string of awards and appeared in Shameless and Walk on the Wild Side.

A host of celebs have also been added to the bill for the Dancing On Ice tour which comes to the arena next month.

Bookies' favourite Hayley Tamaddon, Footballers Wives’ Gary Lucy, 2point4 Children actress Clare Buckfield, and Inbetweeners star Emily Atack will join former Coronation Street favourite Gaynor Faye, ex-Hollyoaks’ actor Chris Fountain, Boyzone’s Mikey Graham and former X Factor star Ray Quinn on the ice from April 22-25.

The tour is choreographed by former British Olympic champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean – who will also perform, 15 years after opening the venue in July 1995.

In September, monster trucks and freestyle motocross stunts will take centre stage when the Monster Jam tour stops in the city. Described as a 'high octane family show', tickets, priced £15, and pit party passes to meet thedrivers of the huge 9,000lb trucks, priced £5, are on sale for September 18 and 19.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....ew_arena_dates

[flange]

MEN Arena changes hands for £62.2m

Development Securities (LSE: DSC) is buying the Manchester Evening News Arena for £62.2m, it was revealed today.

The London-based property developer said it had exchanged contracts to acquire the 21,000-capacity arena, the largest indoor venue in Europe.

The vendor, GE Real Estate and Capital & Regional, bought the property for £61.8m in 2006 from Anschutz Entertainment Group and the deal underlines how the popularity of live music has enabled events venues to defy the collapse in values seen in other types of commercial property.

The eight-acre site near Manchester Victoria railway station includes offices and shops and has potential for further development.

Capital & Regional Plc (LSE: CAL) said the price represented a net initial yield of 7.15 per cent and was a small premium to the valuation at the end of 2009.

The arena was put up for sale last November and ten offers were received, all of which were above the £60m price tag.

The bidders are said by people familiar with the situation to have included Moorfield, Legal & General Threadneedle, Prudential and Standard Life. The property was marketed by Manchester-based property consultants Christopher Dee.

Development Securities, which raised £100m on the stock market last year, was named as the favourite to secure the deal in February and is said to be acting in partnership with a US fund.

Capital & Regional, which owned a 30 per cent stake in the MEN Arena, is in the process of disposing of non-core assets.

It also has a stake in the X-Leisure Fund, which owns the Great Northern Warehouse leisure scheme in Manchester.

http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness....100519962/1026

[jrb]

It's sure going to be crowded around there if the hotel plan goes ahead.

MEN.

Big plans for MEN Arena

The new owner of the Manchester Evening News Arena is looking to expand the number of retail concessions and food and drink outlets at the complex and is mulling a plan to create a budget hotel.

Development Securities, which bought the Arena for £62.2m last month from a joint venture between GE Real Estate and Capital & Regional, aims to add value to its newly-acquired asset by driving revenues on event nights.

Matthew Weiner, executive director at the property development and investment group, said the firm would look at opening additional facilities in the foyer, including restaurants and bars, and may build a hotel on top of the car park.

Mr Weiner said: ”The MEN Arena is an iconic, world-class venue. It's early days but we will look at opportunities to add value to the asset.” SMG, which has secured a new 25-year management lease at the Arena, is also drawing up plans to upgrade parts of the 21,000-seat venue.

John Sutherland, managing director at SMG Europe, said: “The 25-year lease means we are now in a position to draw up long-term plans to maintain and, where appropriate, improve the MEN Arena to ensure its continued status as a world-class venue.”

[flange]

DevSec and Patron form arena JV

10 Aug 2010, 10:43

Developer-investor Development Securities today announced the creation of a joint venture limited partnership with investors Patron Capital Partners to hold the recently acquired MEN Arena.

Patron has acquired 70% in the 21,000-seat arena sold in June by Capital & Regional and GE to Development Securities for £62.2m.

Development Securities will retain 30% of the asset and has been appointed by the JV to undertake the asset management of the property.

The statement also detailed long-term financing in the form of a £47.5m loan to facilitate the acquisition and refinancing.

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news...-arena-jv.html

[WirlieG]

Plenty of activity around Manchester Central / Deansgate -Castlefield area in preperation of Labour party conference next week.

[jrb]

Property Week.

DevSecs holds auditions for MEN arena

Naming rights up for grabs at venue, while Hale Barns plans progress

For Development Securities, new owner of the Manchester Evening News arena, the name is just not cutting it.

DevSecs’ executive director Matthew Weiner says: “There are different brands around the world that would want to be associated with it and pay more money to do so.”

In June, DevSecs and Patron Capital Partners paid £62.2m for the 21,000-seat arena from Capital & Regional and GE Capital Real Estate in a joint venture weighted 30:70 towards Patron.

Weiner adds: “It came [back] to the market and we were immediately excited by the opportunity, we quickly found a partner to do the deal with and moved forward.”

Adding value will come from two main areas, the first of which has already been achieved: securing a new 25-year lease with venue manager SMG Europe. The regearing of the lease is a “fantastic platform”, continues Weiner, as it “gives surety and creates 50% of the value we believe we can add to the arena”.

The deal is more grounded in a base rent than on turnover, says Weiner, but he refuses to disclose the amount SMG pays. It will inevitably be tasked with driving ticket prices and utilisation of the venue during the calendar of events.

The next big item on the agenda for DevSecs is the naming of the venue. Manchester Evening News paid £500,000 a year to badge the building, but the contract expired earlier this year. Weiner said it is now “holding over”.

A shortlist of brand consultants has been drawn up to find a suitably big name and chequebook to match DevSecs’ asset. An announcement is expected in the first quarter of 2011.

The price tag put on naming rights will depend on the consultants’ good work, Weiner adds. He is looking for a commitment of at least five years to secure income.

The arena’s new owners plan to add value and sell it on in two to five years.

[Seasonedbest]

Place your bets now then. I'll go for either the O2 North (which would be shit) or the Nike Arena, or the Cooperative Arena.

[Chogmook]

Would be good if a Manchester brand had naming rights, Co-op would be great, or Vimto!

[flange]

MEN to end Arena sponsorship in December

Trinity pulls plug on 13 year relationship

Written by Simon Binns. Published about 2 hours ago.

Trinity Mirror will end its naming sponsorship deal with the Manchester Evening News Arena in December, according to reports.

Trinity Mirror bought the newspaper business from Guardian Media Group last year and has confirmed the end of a deal started 13 years ago.

Trinity told thebusinessdesk.com: "MEN Media has enjoyed a 13-year relationship with the Manchester Evening News Arena. Its partnership with SMG Europe has transformed the building into the most popular entertainment venue in the world.

"This hugely successful relationship has seen the arena nominated an unrivalled 10 consecutive times for the Pollstar 'International Venue of the Year' award, winning it in 2002 and gaining official recognition in 2007 as the world's most popular entertainment venue.

"The partnership is now set to evolve with MEN Media stepping down from the naming of the venue at the end of this year."

MEN Media said it would continue to work with SMG Europe to 'attract the biggest entertainment stars in the world to Manchester.'

The venue is owned by Development Securities but operated and managed by SMG Europe.

There are plenty of large local companies capable of paying for the naming rights at the arena - think Umbro, The Co-op and Kellogg's - but it will also be likely to attract large national and international firms.

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co...ip-in-December

Manchester Evening News Arena no more...

Monday 12 September 2011

Trinity Mirror has confirmed that it is due to end its naming rights deal with SMG Europe for the Manchester Evening News Arena

The concert and events venue has carried the name of its hometown newspaper for the last 13 years but, as revealed by TheBusinessDesk.com this morning, this is set to change in December.

Trinity said of the conclusion to an agreement that was originally brokered by former MEN owner the Guardian Media Group: “MEN Media has enjoyed a 13-year relationship with the Manchester Evening News Arena.

“Its partnership with SMG Europe has transformed the building into the most popular entertainment venue in the world...The partnership is now set to evolve with MEN Media stepping down from the naming of the venue at the end of this year."

The venue is owned by Development Securities and managed by SMG Europe. It holds around 15,500 for normal concert arrangements.

Upcoming shows include concerts from Katy Perry, Peter Kay, Bob Dylan and Rihanna.

It is currently unknown which brands, if any, are being courted to take on the arena naming rights.

http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-m...10912100955383

Trinity to end MEN Arena sponsorship

12th September 2011

By Chris Barry - Editor, North West

THE 13-year relationship between newspaper group MEN Media and the city's leading entertainment venue is to end,TheBusinessDesk.com can reveal.

Trinity Mirror, which bought the regional newspaper business from Guardian Media Group last year, has confirmed to TheBusinessDesk.com, that the naming rights deal with the Manchester Evening News arena will end in December.

Trinity said: "MEN Media has enjoyed a 13-year relationship with the Manchester Evening News Arena. Its partnership with SMG Europe has transformed the building into the most popular entertainment venue in the world.

"This hugely successful relationship has seen the arena nominated an unrivalled 10 consecutive times for the Pollstar "International Venue of the Year" award, winning it in 2002 and gaining official recognition in 2007 as the world's most popular entertainment venue.

"The partnership is now set to evolve with MEN Media stepping down from the naming of the venue at the end of this year."

MEN Media said it would continue to work with SMG Europe to "attract the biggest entertainment stars in the world to Manchester."

The venue is owned by Development Securities but operated and managed by SMG Europe.

A number of leading consumer brands are likely to be interested in stepping in to the newspaper's shoes.

Steve Kuncewicz, an intellectual property lawyer at Gateley in Manchester said:"The arena is an iconic Manchester landmark, which hosts huge international music acts nearly every week so the sponsorship rights are a huge commercial opportunity.

"It will be fascinating to see which brand takes it on - I'd be surprised if it was not someone very big - O2 has done wonders with its sponsorship of what was the Millennium Dome in London."

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/

[Seasonedbest]

Hope it doesn't become O2 North, or something equally as shit.

[fidgetwith]

No mention of this on the Manchester Evening News website

[heatonparkincakes]

Originally Posted by fidgetwith

No mention of this on the Manchester Evening News website

Well!

Wiener. Sure.

Already aiming to sell it off in.a few years. Sounds like Glazer.

And I wonder who will pay more than the MEN?

I present the Etihad Arena.

[heatonparkincakes]

There again how about the

Marlboro Arena

Blackwater Security Arena

Or even

Poundland Arena

[Isaac Newell]

Etihad Arena