In the Co-op Live’s first year, from June 2024 -June 2025, the arena said it had hosted 162 headline events and provided 12,360 jobs to people in Manchester.
“We’ve brought inward tourism – people staying and spending time in Manchester restaurants, bars, transportation, a lot of jobs,” Dunstan told the BBC.
And since it opened in May 2024, more than half a million trips have been made to Co-op Live by public transport, according to Transport for Greater Manchester.
The venue also said it provided a £200,000 donation to the East Manchester Advisory Committee for local charities in Greater Manchester, as well as providing other opportunities to external local businesses, like Gooey, an independent bakery founded in Manchester.
Gooey founder, Jake Ansbro said: “On gig days town is definitely busier – and we, along with many other hospitality businesses, are feeling the positive impact it’s having on the city.”