AO Arena
3,120 sqm
Indoor Space
9,100
Plenary Capacity
1,000
Banquet Capacity
10
Breakout Rooms
1
Exhibition Halls
About this Venue
The AO Arena, located in Manchester, England, is one of the busiest indoor arenas in the world and one of the largest in Europe. Opened in 1995, it has undergone a significant £50 million redevelopment completed in 2024, increasing its capacity to 23,000. The venue is renowned for hosting major music concerts, sporting events, comedy shows, and large-scale entertainment. It offers flexible event spaces, including a versatile arena bowl, various lounges, and dedicated meeting facilities. Situated in the heart of the city, within the Manchester Victoria Station complex, it boasts excellent transport links and is surrounded by numerous hotels and amenities. The arena is committed to sustainability and accessibility, holding an 'Attitude is Everything GOLD standard' certification and implementing environmental hygiene protocols.
Images
1 photos
Venue at a Glance
Venue Type
Stadium
City
Manchester
Country
GB
Total Indoor Space
3,120 sqm
Max Plenary
9,100
Max Banquet
1,000
Breakout Rooms
10
Exhibition Halls
1
Airport Distance
20 min
Full Address
Victoria Station Approach, Hunts Bank, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 1AR, GB
Event Spaces & Rooms
6 configurable spaces
| Space Name | Type | Theatre | Classroom | Banquet | Reception | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arena Bowl | main arena | — | — | — | — | — |
| The Heineken Sky Lounge | lounge | — | — | — | — | — |
| AO Electric Lounge | lounge | — | — | — | — | — |
| The Mezz Bar & Restaurant | bar_restaurant | — | — | — | — | — |
| The Beautiful North | lounge | — | — | — | — | — |
| Lower Concourse | flexible space | — | — | — | — | — |
Sustainability
The AO Arena is committed to environmental sustainability, ensuring all venue waste goes to Materials Recovery Facilities for separation and reuse, meaning no waste goes to landfill. Since October 2019, all energy has been purchased on a green tariff or renewable energy contract basis. The venue is dedicated to reducing plastic waste and promoting recycling. Recent redevelopments included replacing chillers with low global warming potential chillers, implementing a ventilation system with heat recovery, and integrating energy-efficient LED lights and controls to minimize energy consumption and enhance sustainability, aiming to become one of the lowest carbon venues in Europe. It also operates under ASM Global's VenueShield environmental hygiene protocol.
Certifications
Notable Past Events
27 events hosted
Plan Your Event Here
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Quick Facts
- Airport
- 20 min drive
- Exhibition Halls
- 1
- Breakout Rooms
- 10
- Indoor Space
- 3,120 sqm
Contact Information
Destination
Manchester, United Kingdom
Europe — Western Europe
View destination profileData Quality
Bronze
Last Verified
27 Mar 2026