Came here to see Hans Zimmer Live and had a great time! Getting in to the Arena went much faster than other venues I've visited, and it was very easy to find our seats once we got inside. The crowd was as energetic as the orchestra, which is to say MASSIVELY GOOD VIBES! As we were only a few rows from the stage, I was very happy I donned foam earplugs. I was literally *feeling* the music more than I was hearing it, heheh! The bio-break during Intermission flowed pretty fast (not me ... the line!). The food here, considering I got a hot dog & soda, was actually very good! The only thing that was a pain was trying to exit the garage after the show. All traffic seemed to bottleneck into a couple lanes that had to cross the foot traffic leaving the Arena after the show. Otherwise, a great venue and I wouldn't mind seeing more shows there. read more

It seems even many years later after rebranding including with other sponsors, Manchester Arena will always be known as the MEN Arena to many locals - it opened in 1995 and is the only indoor purpose-built arena of its' kind in Manchester and although stadiums across the city including the Etihad and Emirates Old Trafford do host concerts now, this is the only Arena of its- type to be fully indoors in a city centre location, it is actually right next to Manchester Victoria Station and the main disabled enterance actually involves going through the station's lift (quite confusing!) - this can also be used as a cut-through to parts of the station when the lifts are out of order, which is the situation right now. Back to the Arena - I can't help but think the only reason this place is so well-known, successful and used is because it lacks competition in one of the UK's best and biggest cities - the customer service is a disgrace such as with booking tickets. The disabled seating tickets team force you to have to phone up with no online booking - they are only open at awkward hours during the day with no option to wait on hold, meaning if you require assistance booking it is going to be difficult to get tickets. It involves creating an account/profile, sending proof of a disability, waiting for that to be confirmed and then placing your tickets on hold for a few days until everything is confirmed - and if it is confirmed you're expected to pay various booking fees: security fee, postage fee (You can only pick up on the day of the event where they advise not to, if you don't pay) and of course a booking fee for telephone orders. Tickets are expensive - I attended Impractical Jokers' recent tour here and I even had to pay a security fee - now I get the venue has to be secure especially after the saddening attack in 2017 but why should they charge a "surcharge" just to be safe as every place like this should be safe and not charging for the fact you're safe, right? The security wasn't even good either - I was told to empty my pockets and go through a scanner, however, they didn't even use the airport-style bag checker on what I emptied (they didn' even look at it and I did have a case which was unexpected) - I also was able to take a drink in despite them being banned - the security is flawed. It does have a capacity of just over 21,000 which is even larger than London's famous O2 Arena, however, I do really prefer the O2, the Manchester Arena has virtually nothing upon entering: no shops, restaurants while the O2 does - all the Arena has is stands selling really expensive food, beverages and merchandise - they even have salesmen who go into the crowd during a show trying to wave things in front of you - like come on I bought my ticket to watch an event, not watch you wave programmes about for goodness sake! The view of the stage wasn't too good either, I had to watch the show from the big screen and after paying for some of the more expensive seated tickets, that isn't what you want either. I really hope the rival to Manchester Arena is built soon by my club, Manchester City as it needs something to rival this hell-hole - the extra star is virtually only for being the only indoor concert/tour arena of its' kind in Greater Manchester, they even hosted amateur hockey games here at one point! read more

Manchester Arena - Impractical Jokers 2019! - Performing Arts Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Phones 4u Funked my life up .... SCREAM No matter how many times I have been here and how good the artists have been the venue is always the downside. Capacity 21,000 says you'd better go for standing tickets and Ninja your way to front of stage. Those in the Gods are so far up in the roof they look like pigeons. By the time they hear the sound they are already two verses behind. 90 degree seating on the sides guarantees the NHS will have people with twisted spines haunting their wards for time immemorial and God help you when the 80's crew turn up for Lionel Ritchie in Feb 2015. When the intro for Dancing on the Ceiling kicks in they will be out of their seats like crash test dummies. I wish your stasi staff the very best trying to enforce the 'remain seated' policy, what dickhead thought of that?! Watching the people get lairy, it's not very pretty I tell thee.... Being handy for bars and trains and bringing in the biggest artists around does not give you licence to herd people around like a transit line at Auschwitz and why you feel the need to scan wristbands for people going in to the standing area confounds me every time. I'm already in the venue so why would I be bunking out of the expensive seats, ergo downgrading myself, you numbskull? Note to the Arndale car park next door. I can't be bothered to write a review about a multi storey bunker, so sort out some meaningful signs for those of us who need to get back to our motors post concert. Signage might as well be in braille :/ Back here soon for the Black Keys and will be sure to leave the jam jar at home. #PaoloNutiniRockedItTho read more

See all

Call me old fashioned but if I'm going to pay £25-£40 to see one of my favourite bands, I have a couple of stipulations: I want to be close enough to be able to see their facial expressions. I want to be able to sing, holler and dance along with other fans. I want to get drunk and have a good time. Unfortunately, the M.E.N. Arena doesn't tick any of these boxes. The venue is so big that it's like going to see your favourite band play the world's largest baseball stadium. I've seen a dozen different acts over the years and can honestly say, even in the press seats towards the front - I felt like I was watching mini action figures and ended up focusing on the big screen behind them! If you're watching Take That perform surrounded by acrobats and dancers this might not be a problem. If there's no pyrotechnics however, you'll spend the whole evening craning your neck to try and see... anything. To make matters worse, the drinks at M.E.N. Arena are hideously over-priced and they sell nachos, hot dogs, crisps and sodas - which people actually take into the stadium and eat whilst watching bands like Green Day. The length of the rows also means that if you're unfortunate enough to get seated tickets with a distant view of the stage, you'll probably be interrupted every 15 minutes by kids needing the toilet / bored parents going for another weak beer! On the positive side, M.E.N. Arena provides a platform for fans to see some of the world's biggest pop and rock stars from Madonna and Beyonce to U2. Just don't blame me if you shell out £100 for two tickets and still can't see! read more

Manchester Arena - Performing Arts Near Me - Manchester, XGM

This venue is responsible for me being able to go and watch my favourite bands who are too big to play your standard O2 academy type venues anymore, I see a lot of reviews here talking about the atmosphere maybe not being up to par, but I think that this is the fault of the bands they were watching here - not the venue itself. I saw Kings of Leon here last June and the atmosphere was amazing, I also saw the Arctic Monkeys here last October. Being from Leeds the location of this arena in Manchester couldn't be more handy - it is located directly above the train station, in fact it is so close that you don't even have to walk outside the station to get into the place. Once you're in there are loads of places to buy T-shirts / food etc. I have only ever bought standing tickets for gigs here so I can't tell you what the experience is like from the seats; but both times I have come here the experience has been amazing, it is relatively easy to get close to the front if you are willing to get there before even the support acts come on, and the gap from the barrier to the stage is very small - so small that you almost feel like you're on stage with them lol. When you go into the venue you get your ticket taken from you, which was my only problem with the place because you cannot leave and come back in after you have shown your ticket, I don't know if this is standard for all venues like this but I still thought it was a bit annoying - nevertheless there is pretty much everything you need inside (toilets/bars/food), and also when you are leaving after the bands have played stuards hand out tickets to everyone which I thought was a cool idea because I like to keep my tickets to gigs I've been to and pin them on my wall in my room. Overall my two experiences at Manchester arena were good ones and I will definitely be back if any of my favourite bands are playing. read more

Manchester Arena - Kings Of Leon June 2013 - Performing Arts Near Me - Manchester, XGM

See all

I visited the Manchester/P4U/MEN/Nynex or whatever you want to call it now to watch Peter Kay Phoenix Nights. Between 12 of us we hired a VIP suite. This gave us that bit more than you get with a standard ticket. You also get free parking on the car park. Once we arrived we were quickly guided to our suite which was number 11. You go through a little black door to be welcomed to your personal waiter for the evening! There was a full side of various beers, wines, spirits and ciders (additional charge at end of the evening). This was good as you didn't have to queue up in the madness and could grab a drink whenever you wanted. The view from the private balcony was excellent as you'd expect. You also have a few bar style table and chairs inside the suite and about 12 seats on the balcony. Prices seemed to be expensive for food -  a pizza was £18!! Overall if you fancy a bit of a treat whilst watching your favourite act then I would say it is worth the price premium. read more

Manchester Arena - Suite 11a - Performing Arts Near Me - Manchester, XGM

See all

I'm not sure I'll ever actually refer to the arena as the Phones 4u Arena - when telling my colleagues my weekend plans, they were completely confused as to where I meant; at least the MEN had more of a ring to it! Anyway. We have been to the arena (as it shall henceforth be named) to see Mumford & Sons and Frank Turner, both seated due to our unwillingness to be on the phone first thing to get standing tickets. The bar situation both times was fair, with no queues either time and a designated person to each 'window' of the bar, meaning there was no guessing who was next in line. The atmosphere has always been top, with people getting up in their chairs and having a good sing a long; I also find it very interesting to watch the arena staff handle the people right at the front of the pit. They're constantly aware and ready to catch people who think it's a good idea to crowdsurf. The reason for 3 stars is that it just doesn't have the same slightly grungy vibe I find - and enjoy - at venues such as Ruby Lounge or even the Academy. The toilets are also quite threateningly huge - may sound like a strange request, but you suddenly go from being surrounded by people to in an empty space. An asset to Manchester's music scene, but hopefully the big guys wont forget where they came from. read more

Manchester Arena - frank turner (2014) - Performing Arts Near Me - Manchester, XGM

See all

I went to the Arena in Feb for Jason Derulo concert & had a blast. It was worth it to buy floor tickets & can see the stage from close by. The show was amazing with different themes, beautiful lights, fireworks & good sound systems. The place was pretty big but securities did their jobs to keep the place in order. I wish there were more signs outside after the show finished to direct people to where they want to go. My friend & I were kind of lost after getting out as it was not through the way we got in & we were not sure which way was right to get to Victoria station for her & arndale for me. read more

See all

In the virtual line up of music venues in Manchester, the M.E.N sits somewhere uneasily between the hip, small Academies/ Cafes and pubs and the sports grounds that eclipse it in terms of size: Old Trafford Cricket Ground, City of Manchester Stadium. That said, the M.E.N is still the go-to venue for pop bands and indie bands gone stellar. I would definitely say that if your favourite band plays here and you think they need the indoor darkness to shine then go. If they are more like U2 - you know, the kind of band that can command the open air then go see them elsewhere if you have the choice. For instance, I had loads of fun seeing Stereophonics here. No two gigs will be the same; I've been here when there is seating right up to the stage and the lights barely went down (I'm not even going to admit who that was). Most of the time though, be careful what seats you get if you can't get hold of standing tickets. In a venue this size, there will always be bad seats. Just make sure its not you sat in them.. read more

Manchester Arena - Performing Arts Near Me - Manchester, XGM

We saw Elbow here last week and it was an amazing night! I'd never been to MEN before (we live on t'other side of t'Pennines), and I was amazed at how big it was. It reminded me of the O2 in terms of its size, absolutely huuuuge. And then I was worried that it was too big for Elbow, and wasn't sure if it'd be all that good, and then it turned out it was awesome, and it was so lovely going to a gig where you get to sit down : ) Anyway, now I've been once I'll be back again, particularly as it's so easy to get to! read more

Manchester Arena - Performing Arts Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Question: What happens when your favourite band of 10 years starts getting more and more popular? Answer: The venues they play start getting bigger and bigger and rubbisher and rubbisher (if that's not a word then it should be...) This has been the case with Queens of the stone age - where they used to be playing great Manchester venues like the Apollo and Academy (I'll admit that trying to get tix was a major pain), they've now come back and sold out Arenas all across the UK on the back of a quality new album. And while you can't blame them for supplying the demand, unfortunately a lot of the experience is lost in the wide open space of haunts more suited to Justin Bieber. While QOTSA put on a great show, I was so relieved that we managed to get a standing ticket near the front so as we could really get close to the band and feel the full effect! For the un-animated crowd in the seating areas, nobody was really getting into the swing of things and the atmosphere was more like a piano recital. As usual with these corporate owned places, the beer selection from the bar was dreadful - £4.80 for a pint of Fosters, a bottle of Heineken for £4.50 and a can of John Smiths for £4. Still the queue was huge for the bar as people didn't have anywhere else to go. I'd go back to the Arena again to watch bands that I really can't miss out on, but it's never a pleasurable experience compared to some of the more intimate venues throughout Manchester. Bonus of the night was us going to the excellent Umezushi next door for some quality sushi and tempura - check it out if you're near here but book in advance! read more

I don't know what to think about this arena...to me it feels like there is no vibe.. I came here last night for the first time, and at first I thought it was quite nicely laid out outside the stage. Everything was summetrical. So it did not matter what curved end you went down you would experience the sames bars, simosa counters and candy floss makers.. oh and there were plenty of toilet facilities. Now..the actual stage area I disliked...walking down those steps to reach the standing area reminded me too much of the Mayan temples.. I mean I am not afraid of heights, but I am afraid after a few beers either I am going to lose my balance, or someone else is..there was quite a few scary moments where I was walking down, and some one would be on all fours climbing this steep staircase. When I finally reached the standing area...it was strange...I have never been to see my favourtie band where the crowd has stood still...they played as amazing as usual but there was no oompf...I think they need to change the floor plan of the arena itself.. read more

I went to see Nine Inch Nails and it's the fourth or fifth time I've been. Usually try to avoid large venues though for some bands I'll make the exception! On the plus side it was fast to get in, not too much hassle over the search, shirt queues for drinks and the loos really are ok. Views are pretty good wherever you sit. On the not so good side, it's too big and the atmosphere is lacking compared to smaller venues. read more

The MEN Arena has good and bad points. The bad points are, if you're seeing a fairly new act with a low rate sound set up, the whole 15,000 people in the arena suffer. I took one of my mate's kids to see McFly here when they first started out and it was one big echoey mess. Drinks are over priced Since the smoking ban, there isn't a designated smoking area so if you're with an addict, it can be a pretty tetchy 4 hours, as you can't get out and back in again! Everyone who buys a drink, i'm talking about a pint, tends to slop it down the concrete steps and walkways which makes them mega slippy, and with limited bannisters, it can make the whole experience a bit hazardous. Good points. All varieties of bands, acts, musicians come and play at the MEN arena, and over the years I've seen many of them, too many to remember, and many more I've forgotten. Prices are reasonable for gigs, and if you go into the venue to buy your ticket, there's none of that stupid handle charge and delivery charge nonsense you have to pay through ticketmaster and sandbag and such. Plus the staff are really helpful. Location. It's proper easy to get to. Granted, if you're coming by car, it can get a bit gridlocked in the city centre for everyone concerned, but when you do get there, there's tonnes of parking, be it in the MEN Car Park or around the area. If you come in on the bus, metrolink or train, there are two of the transportations, the met and the train stop actually inside the connection to the arena. Some of the better bands I've seen have sounded fantastic. Tina Turner's set last year was INCREDIBLE! Ne-yo's set a couple of months ago was amazing too, and he managed to play the full set without being all sick this time. Razorlight, Kings of Leon and Pink were all acts that sounded amazing, had great stages, and were totally worth the money. Ultimately, the good points outweigh the bad ones, and outside of Manchester, there isn't a venue this size for a fair few miles around, miss out on a major arena gig at MEN next stop Birmingham. Gratitude for the MEN 4 Stars...1 is taken off for expense of food and drink and death trap stairs. read more

Have been here a few times seeing the likes of rihanna ,bryan adams and even disney on ice. The only problem is that if you get a seated ticket your guarented a granny night out as you have to stay seated in your chair. if you try to get up to dance you either get the floor staff telling to sit back down or the person behind you seated complaining they cant see. How can anyone stay seated listening and watching their favourite artist? you can get a floor ticket which is much bettar but risk being elbowed in the face or some one taller than you stood in front.. The only bad thing about the standing area is you have to go two hours before the show starts in order to get a good place. This arena should have two halfs to it . one for those who want to seat only ! one for those who want to dance but guarented a place. t shirts start around £20 and food and drinks inside are exspensive so i would rather eat after the show as they only sell junk food. read more

A-OK is the perfect way to describe the MEN Arena (yes I will forever refer to it as the MEN, not any of it's other mysterious aliases...) If you can avoid it, do. All of my favourite gigs venues are at other locations around the city like the Manchester Academy, Night & Day or the DEAF Institute. If you're an out of town-er looking for a night out then avoid the Arena like the plague; everything is over priced, the atmosphere isn't great and it won't reflect a true Manc-musical night out. However, if there is an act coming to the Arena that you really want to go and see then obviously don't not go just because the Arena has mediocre reviews. Recently I went to see Muse, Adele, Mumford and Sons and Florence + The Machine and all of these shows were spectacular! They provided a proper 2 hour performance with lights, sounds and sights which was fitting to 21,000 people. Unfortunately if you like an artist that makes it big time you can't avoid these big arenas, it's just part and parcel of it. You just have to make sure you get good seats, and then just enjoy the experience. read more

See all

I've attended various gigs here over the years, but last night was the first time I experienced a band from a seated position. Now, the first thing that hit me was just how bloody steep the seating is arranged - it took a while for my head to adjust as I'm not great with heights. It was also a fair distance from the band themselves, and this was probably half way down the side of the stadium, so the furthest seats must feel like they're miles away! However, the sound was still pretty good and we could still get into it so it was ok. What I will say though, is that it felt like we were spectators to the performance rather than being part of it, as I usually felt like in the standing section. One pointer from the evening though - I was pleasantly surprised by the staff. All of the staff that we encountered were friendly and helpful, so bonus points for that! From a standing perspective the MEN Arena delivers a little more. The sound is pretty darn good, and the closer you get to the stage the better it gets. However, due to the sheer number of people crammed in it can get difficult to get really close, unless you get there early as we used to do when I was younger! Of course, there is one thing that makes the MEN fantastic, and that's the bands you get playing there. Last night I had the pleasure of seeing one of my very favourite bands, Pearl Jam. I am from Manchester, but I've lived in Leesd for 10 years now, and you just don't get massive bands like this there. Despite the price hikes in recent years I'm still happy to pay for the joy of seeing someone like Pearl Jam. They even went as far as playing 2 encores and played past the point of the lights being turned on - amazing!!! Frankly, no matter how many stars a place like this gets, given the kind of bands that play here there really isn't much choice of venues so it's this or a probably expensive trip elsewhere. I'm more than happy to stick with this though! read more

Phones 4 u this arena (formally MEN Arena) is located on the side of Victoria station. Inside is very basic but very clean. I do think the food & Drink is very expensive, plain and not value for money. Don't often go to this arena, but had a good seat this time so was quite happy with the location I was sat. read more

See all

I have been here on a number of occasions to all different types of concerts. I have been seated and standing and I did prefer standing as I enjoyed the atmosphere. I recently went with my family in the VIP suite to watch Phoenix nights and it was fantastic we had are own bar so we didn't have to queue of miss any of the show. The food was a bit expensive but the drinks are what I expected for the arena. read more

See all

Like Andy W, I had the pleasure of seeing my favourite band Pearl Jam in here. Would rather have been standing, as I find it difficult to engage with a band in a stadium of this size, sharing the space with 20,999 other people. I felt more like Pearl Jam were playing TO me. The acoustics are above average for a venue this size in my mind, where the seats are also well positioned. I was right on the front row up in one of the blocks where I was too scared to stand up in case someone got excited and pushed me over to my inevitable death. A few ways in and out of here mean it's not the nightmare I was expecting to get out after the show finished. Loads of bars with the usual overpriced filth, and plenty of toilets to cater for the capacity crowds they regularly draw in. Centrally located (linked to a main rail station) this is easy to get to both for folk living to the south and north, like me, where it's becoming a frequently visited venue for touring bands from outside of the UK. See my review on 'the city warehouse hotel' for a well recommended place to stay if you are visiting Manchester. read more

The Manchester Evening News arena plays host huge pop acts from across the world most nights of the week. You'll be able to catch acts like Kings of Leon, Beyonce and Taylor Swift as well as comedy megastars like Michael McIntyre and Peter Kay too. The arena's biggest advantage is its location. Nestled just above the city centre, you can access the ticket office actually from inside Victoria station. It's a short walk from everywhere else, maybe 20 minutes from Piccadilly station if you walk straight down Market Street through town. If you're driving then there are lots of open air car parks that charge you a few quid to park for the evening. Those with the smarts will park just a couple of streets away for free - the parking restrictions end at about 6pm. The M.E.N has excellent sound, and you can see from anywhere unless you're one of the unlucky few to be so far round the side that you're almost behind the stage. Food and drink is expensive - the last time I went I asked for a glass of water and was given an empty glass and told to go fill my glass from the toilet sink. Yum! I recently went to see American emo-rock band Paramore play. The sound was quiet through the support bands which is pretty standard practice, but Paramore sounded excellent. There is a certain excitement to watching your favourite acts play massive gigs when thousands of people know the words. Leaving the arena is an opportunity to get your slow shuffle on. If you've watched the show from the floor, I would recommend heading straight up the seated areas to get out quickest. If you leave from one of the floor doors you're liable to get taken on a wild goose chase of random corridors and stair wells. Frustrating when you're desperate to get some fresh air! Manchester is lucky to have an arena playing host to great acts in such proximity to its centre. The M.E.N is a superb addition to the city. read more

If you want to go to a concert in the largest live music venue in Europe, then you are in luck, because it is Manchester. The MEN Arena plays host to some of the biggest names in music, comedy and live performance, and deserves its crown as the leading music venue is the north of England. The Spice Girls, Barbra Streisand, Take That - even The War of the Worlds have played to packed out audiences in this central Manchester venue, which has some 20,000 seats. The venue hosts events most evenings, and is normally packed to the rafters with punters from all over the UK. The MEN takes the Manchester arts scene to international levels, and places it well and truly on the global touring circuit. The venue's accessibility is made even better as it is built right on top of one of Manchester's train stations, bringing the customers right into the box office. The venue has several bars, as one would expect, and gets very, very, very busy, especially when hosting a high profile event. As you can imagine, 20,000 people stuck in an arena can make for a bit of a logistical crowd-control nightmare, so be warned. Other than that, the MEN is definitely worth a visit, if only to see the sheer size of the place. read more

I've been here twice, once for a Batman live preview showing and recently to the Hans Zimmer concert. The arena itself is not good at all. The entrance is easy enough to get to but the rules about no liquids, even water is a bit annoying as you're then forced to buy inside the arena at extortionate prices. The steps to get down the tiered seating is hazardously narrow and with no rails it seemed like it would be easy to slip and fall. I witnessed a poor lady in heels grabbing onto the seats on the edge and walking down very slowly just to get to her allocated seat. The seating on the tiers are also at 90 degrees to the stage so you can't really sit comfortably as you're forced to either turn your neck or swivel your entire body to face the stage without proper back support. My back and my legs were not thanking me by the end of the concert! I would not look forward to coming back here, but some shows are worth going to despite this. read more

Lets just be honest about this, as much as we all try to be a "little bit different" and seek out secret bars that are hidden in bins in alleyways in the sky all in a bid to out-cool each other- sometimes the obvious places are obvious for a reason. Where other than the M.E.N. can you catch the likes of the Kings of Leon or the Arctic Monkeys these days? Everyone likes to claim to have discovered such bands when they where still playing the local bingo but if a band is really any good then this is where they'll end up- and if they claim to not want to then they are lying....or they are Joy Division. The M.E.N. is a monster of an arena and the residents of Manchester are aware of how lucky they are to have it. It's positioning in Victoria station is a masterstroke, making it much easier to get to from elsewhere around the current meaning that the bottle neck that is Deansgate has a chance of avoiding gridlock each time a big name comes to town. However, the arena is not without its problems. The entrance system is weird, the scale is something of an atmosphere killer and the seating plan stretches so far around each side that you can actually end up sat BEHIND the show! read more

Manchester Arena - Performing Arts Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Celebrities flock here to show Manchester people their music and we are talking big celebrities like Madonna, Beyonce and Kings Of Leon. This is why this arena is so popular, thousands and thousands of people come here to watch their favourite bands in the flesh! Any concert is amazing and this arena is brilliant. Artists know they have made it when they perform at arenas like these all over the country. If you have never been here, then go. You have nothing to lose and you will definitely have a great night out if you go as a couple or in groups. Shamefully I went and watched Blazing Squad here back in the day for the Smash hits Concert and it was a great atmosphere. Also Bryan Adams rocked the place senseless and so did Guns and Roses!!!!!! The best night ever! Take a look at their website for more information and to see if your favourite band is playing there soon! read more

What do Dizzee Rascal, Andrea Bocelli and Kiss have in common? Yes, they're all going to be performing at the MEN within then next couple of months. For a music or comedy gig you're usually looking at £30+ for the cheaper tickets, which will get you a seat approximately 2 miles from the stage. However, I got one of these tickets to see German rockers Rammstein perform at this arena, and I could still feel the flames from the pyrotechnic displays. It was an amazing gig with a brilliant atmosphere, but I imagine that if there were too many empty seats then it would be a pretty terrible atmosphere towards the back. If I end up seeing another gig there, I'll definitely try and pick up standing tickets. For the eager beavers, you can already book tickets to Peter Kay's Farewell Tour in September-October 2011. Bye Peter. read more

I went to see Metallica here in Feb 2011 and while this review isn't about Metallica I will say that they were amazing and part of that is down to the MEN Arena. Metallica put there stage slap bang in the middle of the arena. This meant no matter where you sat you had an amazing view. As well the acoustics were good no matter where you sat. The MEN staff allowed you to enjoy the concert without constantly trying to remind you of the rules (I'm no rule breaker but this was a Metallica gig and you try and not rock out) My belief is that in arenas it should be mandatory for the stage to be in the middle. read more

I remember when it was called the NYNEX. That sponsorship ended a decade ago, but i think there may still be one or two road signs around Manchester pointing to the old name. I've only ever been to the arena twice, because I normally stray away from stadium bands. I came to see Pearl Jam in 2000. They were great, but I was about as far away as it is possible to be, and so they were also rather tiny. The second time was to see Tenacious D last year. Their old material is better than the new stuff. Anyway the venue is basically a huge indoor stadium. It's kinda soul-less and totally corporate. Anything that's on here is expensive, then the food is a rip-off and the beer is terrible. It's also impossible to get out of the car park afterwards... so all-in-all only come here if you simply must see the act that is on. read more

The first time I've been to MEN Arena was in 2007: I went to see Barbra Streisand in concert. In 2009 I went there to see Tina Turner. Both times I was impressed with the stage views and the acoustics. The foyer gets extremely busy before the concert and during the break, and I was always puzzled by the price of merchandise. Another interesting point is the sale of alcohol. I'm not one of the kind who frowns at people drinking wines and beers. However, a Tina Turner concert is intoxicating enough, and an incident may be almost inevitable, like a lady from the row behind you falling onto you... On the other hand, this is what makes concerts memorable. The Arena is literally next door to Victoria train station, but there is not much space around the building. The human and traffic jams are a regular feature of the late night concerts. read more

I have been there once to see James concert. The venue is massive. They do not have much character and in my opinion, it is too big to see the concert. and tickets are normally quite expensive copared with other venue. most of them are top chart musecians so it is not really my cup of tea though. one good thing is it is very good location, just next victoria station and near to bus station , trum and car parking . so friendly place for everyone! read more

I hate arenas and for someone who worked in live music events to say that given the lack of stage, light and pyrotechic limitations means I must enjoy watching shows too and I do. The truth is that this is the best of the bad bunch of arenas. It is simply colossal and amazing. I am sure QPR's Loftus Road in London is smaller in terms of size and capacity. Booking to sell out all the tickets in a city like Manchester must be a exciting job. Everyone else has written review that are worth a read here , I just wanted to add that backstage facilities are lush and that there are roadways UNDER the stage floor! The secret life of the MEN arena eh? read more

Went to the MEN arena last year to see Take That and was very impressed, both with the concert and venue! It's very close to the city centre, and easily walkable-to from Piccadilly Gardens - just ask a friendly Manc for directions! Lots of people selling merchandise outside, the usual silly pink cowboy hats and the like, which added to the party atmosphere. The stadium itself is clean and there were lots of people/stewards around to show us where to go. Amazing sound and light effects, and a fantastic show! I don't think I'd like to park around there in a car, but it's easily accessible by public transport - train, bus or walk! read more

I have been to m.e.n a few times now and every experience has been great.You will find when you drive around the venue on the day of an event there are many car parks offering parking for as little as 5pounds or its 9pounds if you park in the m.e.n car park. I rang up to book a table for nandos at the print works before going to a lee Evans gig but they wasn't taking reservations it was first come first served so decided to avoid the print works as it gets busy when theirs entertainment at arena. if you get a train to Manchester Victoria it literally drops you off outside m.e.n arena and can get to the arena via the platform. there is a mcdonalds in m.e.n arena and it was quite busy half an hour even before doors opened,but got served fast. read more

Went here to see Lee Evans. Good location in Manchester, some of the seats are way back from the stage up in the rafters. Yellow jacket people helpful. One not so good thing is the lack of food stalls outside, you could only buy manky hot dogs from the beer stalls the night I was there. read more

The MEN Arena (sometimes referred to as 'The Nynex') is your typical stadium sized mega-arena, by which I mean, it is all incredibly efficient and clean and utterly, utterly soulless. Of course, with that, this means you get all the big names playing here who roll in to town. Lady GaGa, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and Jay-Z have all thrown shows here. Naturally, the downside to these ginormo-gigs is that everything costs a packet. The pints are dismal and overpriced, as are the snacks and rotating hot-dogs. If you're fond of dingy indie gigs, this will feel more like sitting in a chiropodist's waiting room rather than a rock 'n' roll spectacle. Still, that's the trade-off when your fave band gets big. The sound in the venue is decent enough, if a little quiet for my personal tastes. That said, it is incredibly easy to get to and a doddle to navigate. Sadly, it's just yet another charmless venue which hosts people who aren't to keen on the idea of getting sweaty and personal with their fans. read more

In my opinion, the premier sports and entertainment venue in Europe. Amazing facilities, first class sevice from staff and stewards alike. It can easily provide that unique "big fight night" atmosphere at events such as boxing and wrestling. Brilliant acoustics for events such as concerts and shows and seating for up to 18,000 on a sold out night!! read more

See all

This is one of the major music venues in the country. You'll find all the big names playing here. The arena is huge and as has been said already, if you don't like heights don't buy tickets for the top tiers! There are plenty of toilets and bars dotted around, so you won't be wandering around for ages to find one like some other places I know. The location is fantastic, just a few minutes walk to to the city centre and it even has it's own railway station, what more could you want? read more

This is a good all round venue and is versatile for a number of different shows. Ive seen sporting events, ice shows and musical concerts here and enjoyed all of them. The top tier of seating is quite high up and the steps are quite steep. There are lots of clean toilets. Drinks and food aren't cheap, but never are at this type of venue. read more

Manchester's premier venue for touring acts. I was very impressed with the arena after expecting much more hassle. Getting there is easy by tram or train as it's joined to Victoria Station. The station has a McDonalds and other places to eat and drink, as well as a LINK cashpoint machine. Getting into the arena for a show is much more painless than I've experienced at other venues, where huge queues and extensive searches were the order of the day. Once inside, the seating blocks are well signposted and follow in logical succession. Prices for drinks seem strange, with the small drink costing £2 and the large £2.30. The staff working the refreshment stalls seem very unmotivated and slow. The arena employs a sufficient number of stewarding staff for events, and they make frequent rounds during shows (which can be a problem when they get in the way of trying to see the stage, but is good overall). I've heard of people having trouble leaving the arena - crowds getting held up, the car park being a nightmare, etc - but I personally have not experienced this. I did see a lot of cars leaving by driving around the car park barriers, which was fun to watch. read more

With a location barely a stones throw from the shopping centres, the MEN ensures you have a great night out to enjoy your gig. The size of it can mean that certain seats can seem a little far away at concerts, but most bands now provide big screens to make sure you can see them clearly and the accoustics are great everywhere. Parking nearby can be difficult due to the amount of people who descend on the arena at a gig (over 10k apparently), and I recommend getting a train to town then walking from there when possible. The drinks here are a little expensive and they often run restrictions on getting in and out, which can mean you end up spending a great deal more than you expected when you get inside. However the night you have and the memories you take away from seeing your band at this fabulous arena can often be priceless. read more