AO is an acronym that stands for “Arena of Operations” and is commonly used to refer to the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. The Manchester Arena is a large indoor arena located in Manchester city centre and is one of the busiest indoor arenas in Europe.
The Manchester Arena first opened in 1995 and was known as the NYNEX Arena until 1998 when it was renamed to the Manchester Evening News Arena. In 2015, the arena’s naming rights were acquired by the UK online retailer AO.com and it became officially known as the AO Arena Manchester.
However, despite the official name change, the venue is still commonly referred to by its original name of Manchester Arena or its previous sponsored name of MEN Arena. The AO initials are not yet widely used or recognized by the general public when referring to the arena.
History of the Manchester Arena
The Manchester Arena was built as part of Manchester’s bids to host the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics. Construction began in 1993 and took two years to complete. The arena was designed by DLA Ellerbe Beckett with the structural engineering work undertaken by Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM).
The arena was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 15 July 1995. In its first year of operation, the arena hosted over 1.2 million visitors. It has since hosted over 1 million customers each year for the majority of its existence.
Some key facts and figures about the Manchester Arena:
- Capacity: 21,000 (up to 18,000 for concerts)
- Total exhibition space: 28,000 square metres
- Arena floor space: 16,000 square metres
- Cost to build: £52 million
The arena was sponsored by NYNEX, a telecommunications company, from 1995-1998. Other previous sponsored names have been the Manchester Evening News Arena from 1998-2015 and the Phones 4U Arena from 2007-2010.
Notable Events
Throughout its history, the Manchester Arena has hosted many high-profile entertainment acts and sporting events. Some of the most notable include:
- Boxing – Regularly hosts major boxing events such as Anthony Joshua vs Eric Molina in 2016
- Tennis – The Manchester Masters tennis tournament was held annually from 1997-2008
- Gymnastics – Hosted the 2003 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
- Concerts – Acts like Take That, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Justin Bieber have performed
- Comedy – Comedians such as Russell Peters, Chris Rock, and Lee Evans have performed tours
- Ice hockey – Home of the Manchester Storm ice hockey team from 1995-2002
In addition, the venue hosts many family shows, theatre productions, live music performances and is a popular venue on the European ice skating tour circuit. The arena is busiest during the winter months with the schedule clearing in the summer to allow hosting of indoor sporting events.
Transport Links
The Manchester Arena is conveniently located right in the heart of Manchester city centre. There are excellent transport links to get to and from the venue:
- Metrolink – Direct tram connections on the East Didsbury and Eccles lines
- Train – Close to Victoria and Oxford Road stations
- Bus – Serviced by several local bus routes
- Road – Connected to Junction 3 of the Mancunian Way A57(M)
- Air – Only 5km from Manchester Airport
- Parking – 2,300 parking spaces available
The arena has dedicated drop-off and pick-up zones to allow for coach parking. The venue is also highly accessible for those with mobility needs.
Facilities
As a world-class entertainment venue, the Manchester Arena contains state-of-the-art facilities and amenities. Some of the key features include:
- In-house catering facilities
- Multiple bar areas and food kiosks
- Merchandise stands
- Premium seating areas and luxury boxes
- Medical care unit
- Disabled access and facilities
- Baby changing and children’s play areas
- Free WiFi access
The arena has a range of seating options including general admission, reserved seating and premium tickets. There are excellent views of the stage from all sections. Temporary floor seating can also be installed for more intimate concerts.
Security
As one of the UK’s largest entertainment arenas, stringent security measures are in place at the Manchester Arena. Security features include:
- Perimeter fencing and controlled access gates
- Bag checks and searches on entry
- CCTV surveillance
- Police and arena security presence
- Restrictions on items allowed into venue
All visitors are advised to arrive early to allow time for security screening. There are also security restrictions on the size of bags permitted. Prohibited items include weapons, smoke canisters, air-horns, flares, glass bottles, illegal substances, and large umbrellas.
Future Developments
The Manchester Arena continues to be expanded and upgraded to maintain its status as a leading events complex. Some future development projects include:
- Ongoing improvements to corporate facilities
- Increased concession areas and toilets
- Upgrades to meet disability access standards
- Enhancing VIP and premium seating areas
- Installation of new LED video screens
There are also proposals in the pipeline for a £350 million redevelopment of the arena site which would increase capacity to 24,000 and add new onsite leisure and entertainment facilities.
AO Arena Naming Rights
In November 2015, the Manchester Arena secured a 7-year naming rights deal with British online retailer AO.com, which became the official sponsor. The agreement was reportedly worth £7 million.
As part of the deal, all branding inside and outside the arena was transitioned to incorporate the new AO sponsorship. This included prominently displaying AO logos, colors, and graphics across the venue and on all promotional materials.
Despite the naming rights agreement, the venue is still best known locally and colloquially as the Manchester Arena, especially by long-term residents of Manchester. The AO initials have yet to gain widespread recognition or regular usage.
Reasons for Limited Adoption of AO Name
There are several factors that explain why the Manchester Arena name remains in common usage rather than the new AO Arena title:
- Strong local history and identity tied to Manchester Arena
- AO.com lacks strong brand recognition in Manchester
- Short time since naming rights switched to AO
- No major overhaul or redevelopment to justify name change
- AO is generic initials compared to a geographical place name
Additionally, sponsored arena names frequently struggle to displace commonly held unofficial names. Fans and the general public tend to use the established name regardless.
Usage of AO Arena Name
While the AO Arena title has yet to be universally adopted, there are several contexts where the new sponsored name is more likely to be used:
- In official branding, communications and signage
- When announcing upcoming events and listings
- By media outlets and advertisers
- By younger audiences and visitors less familiar with Manchester Arena
- By corporate sponsors, partners and arena management
Over time, if the AO sponsorship agreement is renewed long-term, the AO Arena name may gradually gain wider usage and recognition, as occurred for other major UK arenas after rebranding.
However, Manchester Arena remains deeply entrenched locally and is likely to persist in everyday conversation. The venue’s strong identity and memories for visitors mean the original name is unlikely to ever completely fade from use.
Conclusion
In summary, while the Manchester Arena was officially rebranded as the AO Arena Manchester in 2015, adoption of the new sponsored title has been slow. Locally and colloquially, the venue is still primarily referred to as Manchester Arena, especially by long-term residents.
AO is still often seen as a temporary commercial sponsorship rather than an intrinsic part of the arena’s identity. With the Manchester Arena name so deeply ingrained over decades, it may take considerable time and brand building before AO Arena gains recognition and common usage in Manchester.
However, the AO initials are increasingly found in official promotions and national listings, even if not yet part of the local vernacular. Over the longer-term, if the AO partnership continues, the sponsored name may eventually become better known, as happened for similar arena rebrands like London’s O2 Arena.
But the venue on the ground will likely retain its Manchester Arena identity in the hearts and minds of visitors. When attending events there, most patrons will still think of it as simply the Manchester Arena, no matter what the branding says.