Guy Dunstan just moved into his new role as general manager and senior vice president of Co-op Live, the new arena in Manchester, England, which looks to quickly establish itself as one of the world’s best arenas for live music.

Concerts at the 23,500-capacity arena since its May opening have included Take That, Stevie Nicks, Travis Scott, The Killers, Liam Gallagher, the Eagles’ final UK shows, Pearl Jam’s only indoor concerts on their most recent tour, and the first UFC event in Manchester since 2016.

With another 40 events scheduled in 2024, including the 2024 MTV EMAs, Dunstan is “really excited about the opportunity to build on this success in my new role.” The venue’s initial April opening was delayed by three weeks as building work was incomplete, leading to the resignation of its previous general manager. The venue was developed by Oak View Group, parent company to VenuesNow.

Dunstan’s focus in the coming months is not just the outstanding lineup of artists on sale at Co-op Live — which includes Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Richie, Jeff Lynne’s ELO, and Tyler The Creator, but also on making a difference in the community.

“Co-op Live so far has generated approximately £300,000 in charitable donations, alongside its commitment to raise £1 million annually for the Co-op Foundation to support communities and empower young people to take social action via the Young Game Changers Fund,” he said “In line with this, we have a wider commitment to supporting charities that performers are linked to.”

Dunstan attended his first concert in the mid-1980s, when he was in his teens: “Howard Jones at the NEC Arena in Birmingham with some friends,” he recalls. “I was already a big music fan, but this was my first live experience, and I was immediately hooked. I wanted to go to a gig every night.

“Years later, I was running the arena and I often reflected on that first gig that triggered my passion for the live entertainment business. I actually went to see Howard Jones in concert last year at Symphony Hall in Birmingham. It immediately brought back vivid memories of that first gig nearly 40 years ago; the friends I went with, the T-shirt I bought, telling everyone about it at school the next day. That’s the power of live music and why it creates special and unique moments for everyone who attends.”
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