one of the venues that faced pressure from the Music Venue Trust (MVT) last year to invest back into grassroots music spaces or else not be allowed to open.Back in February 2023, the MVT shared its 2022 annual report, which highlighted the grave danger that venues and UK face without urgent action.
It showed that audience numbers were at 89 per cent of their 2019 level at about 21million, and urged for larger venues to invest back into grassroots spaces to keep the UK’s live music scene afloat.It was one of eight new arenas proposed to be built and opened in the UK at the time, including Manchester’s now-opened Co-op Live.
Others named were the YTL Arena Bristol (to open in 2025 or 2026 with a proposed capacity of 19,000), New Cardiff Bay Arena (proposed to open in 2025 with a capacity of 17,000), Gateshead’s The Sage (12,500 capacity), Sunderland Arena (still in discussion with 10,000 capacity), and the Dundee Arena (with a proposed 10,000 capacity).“There are eight new arenas being built in the UK.
I told someone from the industry this and they couldn’t believe me, although it’s probably their artists that will be filling it for the next six years or so.
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