Manchester AO Arena

The AO Arena in Manchester is built into the Victoria station complex and holds up to 23,000 people, which the venue describes as one of the biggest arenas in the UK and Europe. That figure came from a £50 million transformation, completed in early 2024, which doubled the standing floor to 6,200 and added The Mezz. For a group, the arena's hospitality runs from pre-show dining in The Mezz to The Beautiful North super-suite for up to 34 guests and private suites with a personal host and an in-house chef, with trams, trains and an on-site car park a few minutes from the doors.

More than one million people visit the arena each year. Its autumn calendar includes D-Block Europe on Sunday 25 October 2026, and the Manchester Storm are back on the ice here for the 2026/27 season.

What hospitality and premium seating does the AO Arena have?

The AO Arena has four kinds of hospitality space: The Mezz, a bar and restaurant level between the concourse and the seating bowl; The Beautiful North, a stage-end super-suite for up to 34 guests; The Suite Experience, private suites with a personal host and in-house chef; and a set of lounges and bars sold as per-show upgrades. The spaces work for client entertaining as well as private celebrations.

The Mezz

The Mezz opened in March 2024 as part of the transformation. It offers a Bar option with cocktails and small plates or a Restaurant option with dishes by Michelin-starred chefs Simon Rogan and Tom Barnes, and both come with a show ticket for premium padded seats in the bowl. Guests get early access through their own Mezz entrance, a fully serviced cloakroom and a hosted service, and the bar stays open after the show. Alcohol is served to over-18s only, and the arena supports Challenge 25, so ID may be requested.

The Beautiful North super-suite

The Beautiful North is a super-suite at the stage end with its own bar and views of the stage for up to 34 guests. It suits a company party or a large birthday group that wants one room for the whole evening. Bar service is for over-18s only, and under the arena's Challenge 25 policy guests may be asked for ID.

The Suite Experience

The Suite Experience gives a smaller group a private suite with pre-show drinks and dining, a personal host and an in-house chef serving dishes and snacks through the event, plus a view of the stage. Drinks with alcohol are served to over-18s only, and ID may be requested under Challenge 25.

Lounges and bars

For a shorter stay before the show, the Electric Lounge includes a glass of fizz on arrival and a sharing board. A gin lounge at Block 117 includes two drinks (over-18s only, and offered for selected shows), and a skyline bar upgrade includes a drink on arrival and a private entrance. Alcohol is served to over-18s only, and the arena supports Challenge 25, so bar staff may ask for ID.

Annual memberships

Alongside these per-show event packages, the arena offers annual memberships, which it pitches at regular gig-goers who want to book for their next show.

Where do you park at the AO Arena?

The AO Arena has its own car park on site, run by CitiPark, with 958 spaces. Forty of them are Blue Badge bays, allocated on a first come, first served basis, and the car park holds a Park Mark award for safety. At peak times the venue advises coming by public transport instead.

How do you get to the AO Arena by train, tram or bus?

The AO Arena sits above Manchester Victoria station, so national rail and Metrolink trams both stop inside the same complex. Trams run direct to Victoria from Rochdale, Bury, Altrincham, East Didsbury and Manchester Airport, and the venue says many services continue to run after events have finished. From Manchester Piccadilly it is a short walk, bus or tram ride.

• Train: Manchester Victoria, inside the same complex.
• Tram: Victoria Metrolink stop.
• Bus: Shudehill bus station is about a five-minute walk; Piccadilly bus station is about 10 minutes.
• Car: Trinity Way closes southbound for up to an hour after events, so allow extra time when leaving by road.

Hotel Indigo Manchester Victoria Station says it is about a three-minute walk from the arena entrance.

How accessible is the AO Arena?

The AO Arena holds the Attitude is Everything Gold standard for access at live music venues. It has two fully accessible entrances: Entrance C through Victoria station, served by a lift, and Entrance T through Trinity Tunnel, with a lift down to the event floor. Inside, there are accessible seating platforms, accessible toilets and a Changing Places facility.

• Seating: designated areas for wheelchair users, carers and people with walking difficulties.
• Companions: a personal assistant ticket is available at the venue's discretion for customers who need assistance.
• Assistance dogs: registered and trained assistance dogs are welcome.
• Hearing: an induction loop covers part of the seating bowl, and British Sign Language interpreters can be requested.
• Service: lowered counters at bars and merchandise points, and all customer-facing staff trained in Deaf and disability awareness.
• Parking: 40 Blue Badge bays in the on-site car park.

What are the age and bag rules at the AO Arena?

At the AO Arena, any child aged 14 or under must be accompanied by an adult, and under-14s are not allowed on the floor at standing shows. Backpacks, holdalls, luggage, oversized bags and cushions are not permitted. The arena is cashless and takes contactless or card payments only.

The event-day box office has been replaced by Resolution Points at the Trinity Way Tunnel, Hunts Bank and City Rooms entrances, which open one hour before each event and close 15 minutes after the main act goes on stage.

What was the AO Arena called before?

The AO Arena has changed its name five times since it opened as the NYNEX Arena in 1995. It has carried the AO name since 2020, but many visitors still call it the Manchester Arena, the name it held twice between 2012 and 2020. The full list, most recent first:

• AO Arena, since 2020. The online retailer AO took the naming rights in a five-year deal revealed on 2 September 2020, and in January 2024 extended the partnership into 2030.
• Manchester Arena, 2015 to 2020.
• Phones 4u Arena, 2013 to 2015.
• Manchester Arena, 2012 to 2013.
• Manchester Evening News Arena, 1998 to 2011, often shortened to the MEN Arena.
• NYNEX Arena, 1995 to 1998.

The building's last big change came in early 2024. Alongside the larger standing floor and The Mezz, the transformation added a new lower concourse and improved acoustics and sightlines.

What is coming up at the AO Arena?

The AO Arena's autumn 2026 calendar includes D-Block Europe on Sunday 25 October 2026, with French Montana as special guest, and Manchester Storm ice hockey home games through September and October as the club returns for the 2026/27 season. It also lists concerts by Korn, Noah Kahan, Fontaines D.C. and Deep Purple, a boxing night and the Gladiators live tour in October and November. The dates below were checked against the arena's events calendar on 24 September 2026.

D-Block Europe, Sunday 25 October 2026

D-Block Europe, the Lewisham rap duo of Young Adz and Dirtbike LB, play the AO Arena on Sunday 25 October 2026, with French Montana as special guest. Doors open at 6pm. It is a return to the AO Arena for the duo, who headlined here on their Lap 5 tour in November 2022 and again in February 2024. The promoter bills the 2026 dates as "D-Block Europe: Worldwide Wave", after Worldwide Wave, the joint album D-Block Europe and French Montana released on Friday 11 September 2026. It is one of three UK arena nights on the D-Block Europe 2026 tour, and the DBE Manchester night has its own page with timings and hospitality details.

Manchester Storm, 2026/27 season

The Manchester Storm are back at the AO Arena for the 2026/27 Elite Ice Hockey League season, the first time a Storm side has been based at the arena since the original club played there from 1995 to 2002. Upcoming home games listed by the arena on 24 September 2026:

• Sunday 27 September 2026: Guildford Flames (Challenge Cup)
• Sunday 11 October 2026: Sheffield Steelers (Challenge Cup)
• Wednesday 14 October 2026: Nottingham Panthers (Challenge Cup)
• Sunday 18 October 2026: Belfast Giants
• Friday 30 October 2026: Coventry Blaze