Co-op Live Arena

[baggiebloke]

Birmingham isn't helped by being land-locked with London to the south and Manchester to the north.

[Ted Maul]

Have to question why Manchester keeps getting the green light for massive venues like this and Birmingham is left with the NIA, which is looking a bit tired now and the NEC which is nowhere near anywhere useful.

Bring on Knighthead and the Birmingham City League One Superdome!

AMBITION

Manchester considers itself a city of musical heritage and culture, and as a result invests in venues for live music. They have this new arena, the MEN (or whatever it's called now), th GMEX, the Etihad, Old Trafford cricket ground, the Apollo, the Academy and dozens of smaller venues. All of which get filled regularly.

Birmingham's offering is piss poor by comparison.

The G Mex hasn’t had anything on for years, the sound was always terrible there. Far fewer acts play the Apollo these days or the venues at the uni. However, they have lots of good newer city centre venues like Yes, New Century, Albert Hall etc. The big difference between Manchester and Birmingham is the crowds. Manchester gigs by and large will always sell well. People are generally far more interested in going to gigs up there. Birmingham, in comparison, is always one of the last places to sell on a tour. 

I don’t think Birmingham city centre is helped by its over reliance on O2 venues. Newer bands tend to steer away from them given the 30% cut they take on merchandise sales which is just daylight robbery. Whilst we have quite a few other venues like Dead Wax, the Rainbow, the Flapper etc. they don’t have much in the way of regular gigs and they are often poorly promoted. Dead Wax is terrible for this. They rarely update their website or social media. Some venues really don’t help themselves.

Would help if the BCC wasn't seeking to shut most of the independent venues down and cutting all funding for the arts as well in fairness.

[imsotall]

The Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath does well at promoting itself.

[Tom Joad]

The Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath does well at promoting itself.

Which is often all the difference. While Brummies tend to be understated and don't like the idea of showing off, Manchester has always had a very high opinion of itself. Which is why this Co op shambles is so  very funny. Personally I much prefer smaller venues (Hare and Hounds, Kitchen Garden etc.) and the idea of visiting a huge soulless warehouse to watch music really doesn't appeal.

[Duffers]

The Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath does well at promoting itself.

Which is often all the difference. While Brummies tend to be understated and don't like the idea of showing off, Manchester has always had a very high opinion of itself. Which is why this Co op shambles is so  very funny. Personally I much prefer smaller venues (Hare and Hounds, Kitchen Garden etc.) and the idea of visiting a huge soulless warehouse to watch music really doesn't appeal.

Nobody wants to, but if you do want to see the biggest acts these days it's a necessary evil.

[NewWanker]

Birmingham isn't helped by being land-locked with London to the south and Manchester to the north.

Pretty sure Manchester is also land locked!

---

Have to question why Manchester keeps getting the green light for massive venues like this and Birmingham is left with the NIA, which is looking a bit tired now and the NEC which is nowhere near anywhere useful.

Bring on Knighthead and the Birmingham City League One Superdome!

AMBITION

Manchester considers itself a city of musical heritage and culture, and as a result invests in venues for live music. They have this new arena, the MEN (or whatever it's called now), th GMEX, the Etihad, Old Trafford cricket ground, the Apollo, the Academy and dozens of smaller venues. All of which get filled regularly.

Birmingham's offering is piss poor by comparison.

The G Mex hasn’t had anything on for years, the sound was always terrible there. Far fewer acts play the Apollo these days or the venues at the uni. However, they have lots of good newer city centre venues like Yes, New Century, Albert Hall etc. The big difference between Manchester and Birmingham is the crowds. Manchester gigs by and large will always sell well. People are generally far more interested in going to gigs up there. Birmingham, in comparison, is always one of the last places to sell on a tour. 

I don’t think Birmingham city centre is helped by its over reliance on O2 venues. Newer bands tend to steer away from them given the 30% cut they take on merchandise sales which is just daylight robbery. Whilst we have quite a few other venues like Dead Wax, the Rainbow, the Flapper etc. they don’t have much in the way of regular gigs and they are often poorly promoted. Dead Wax is terrible for this. They rarely update their website or social media. Some venues really don’t help themselves.

Would help if the BCC wasn't seeking to shut most of the independent venues down and cutting all funding for the arts as well in fairness.

Didn't Man City and Harry Styles help fund the Co Op Arena? That'll be why Manchester got it.

[SausEggBaton]

The BIG BLACK BOX is broken! AH AH AHA AH !!1!

[richbaggie]

The Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath does well at promoting itself.

My favourite venue for music. Good access,  decent beer, great sound.

[NewWanker]

The BIG BLACK BOX is broken! AH AH AHA AH !!1!

Have they tried turning it off and back on?

[Kit Kat Chunky]

Birmingham isn't helped by being land-locked with London to the south and Manchester to the north.

Pretty sure Manchester is also land locked!

---

Have to question why Manchester keeps getting the green light for massive venues like this and Birmingham is left with the NIA, which is looking a bit tired now and the NEC which is nowhere near anywhere useful.

Bring on Knighthead and the Birmingham City League One Superdome!

AMBITION

Manchester considers itself a city of musical heritage and culture, and as a result invests in venues for live music. They have this new arena, the MEN (or whatever it's called now), th GMEX, the Etihad, Old Trafford cricket ground, the Apollo, the Academy and dozens of smaller venues. All of which get filled regularly.

Birmingham's offering is piss poor by comparison.

The G Mex hasn’t had anything on for years, the sound was always terrible there. Far fewer acts play the Apollo these days or the venues at the uni. However, they have lots of good newer city centre venues like Yes, New Century, Albert Hall etc. The big difference between Manchester and Birmingham is the crowds. Manchester gigs by and large will always sell well. People are generally far more interested in going to gigs up there. Birmingham, in comparison, is always one of the last places to sell on a tour. 

I don’t think Birmingham city centre is helped by its over reliance on O2 venues. Newer bands tend to steer away from them given the 30% cut they take on merchandise sales which is just daylight robbery. Whilst we have quite a few other venues like Dead Wax, the Rainbow, the Flapper etc. they don’t have much in the way of regular gigs and they are often poorly promoted. Dead Wax is terrible for this. They rarely update their website or social media. Some venues really don’t help themselves.

Would help if the BCC wasn't seeking to shut most of the independent venues down and cutting all funding for the arts as well in fairness.

Didn't Man City and Harry Styles help fund the Co Op Arena? That'll be why Manchester got it.

Harry Shyte was born in Redditch, FFS.