Editing Manchester Arena (section)

==Arena design==
[[File:MEN Arena, Manchester (7263927380).jpg|thumb|left|Steps leading to southern entrance from Hunts Bank]]
[[File:Manchester Arena panorama.jpg|thumb|right|Panorama of the arena, facing the main stage]]
First proposed during the regeneration of Manchester city centre during the 1980s, the structure was designed by DLA Ellerbe Beckett, [[Arup Group Limited|Ove Arup & Partners]], and [[Austin-Smith:Lord]]. The arena is sited in [[air rights]] space over the Manchester Victoria railway station and was constructed without disrupting use of the station. The original plans included a glass tower which was not built. It originally hosted a seven-screen multiplex cinema, a multi-purpose arena and multi-storey parking. The former multiplex cinema, which opened in 1996, closed after just four years and is now a [[call centre]]. Following the bombing, the foyer underwent renovation.

A large truss measuring {{convert|105|m|ft}} spans the roof. [[Reinforced concrete]] is used to increase sound insulation. The upper parts of the building are clad in purple-grey with green glass.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hartwell|2002|p=237}}</ref> The arena was opened on 15 July 1995.<ref>{{cite news|title=Arena ready for Wets sell-out|first=Janine|last=Watson|date=25 July 1995|work=Manchester Evening News}}</ref>

The arena is the only indoor venue in the UK to be built following a layout of 360-degree seating. (London's [[The O2 Arena|The O2]], formerly the [[Millennium Dome]], also has 360-degree seating, but only on its lower tier, whereas Manchester's arena features it on both tiers). Other European indoor venues built to the same concept include the [[Lanxess Arena]] ([[Cologne]], Germany), [[Arena Zagreb]] ([[Zagreb]], Croatia), [[Spaladium Arena]] ([[Split, Croatia|Split]], Croatia), [[Kombank Arena]] ([[Belgrade]], Serbia), [[O2 Arena (Prague)|O2 Arena]] ([[Prague]], Czech Republic), and the [[Barclaycard Arena (Hamburg)|Barclaycard Arena]] ([[Hamburg]], Germany).

A three-year £50{{nbsp}}million re-development started in 2022. The arena's capacity will increase to 24,000, and new public entrances and custom lounges will be opened.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/manchesters-ao-arena-see-huge-23805884|title=Manchester's AO Arena to see huge £50m revamp this summer|date=27 April 2022|work=[[Manchester Evening News]]|author=James Holt|access-date=11 October 2022|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011184821/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/manchesters-ao-arena-see-huge-23805884|url-status=live}}</ref> Once complete, the increase in capacity will retain the indoor arena's place as the largest in the city after the 23,500-seat [[Co-op Live Arena]] opened.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/asm-eyes-summer-start-for-40m-ao-arena-revamp/|title=Summer start for £50m revamp of Manchester's AO Arena|date=27 April 2022|author=Dan Whelan|work=Place North West|access-date=11 October 2022|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011184822/https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/asm-eyes-summer-start-for-40m-ao-arena-revamp/|url-status=live}}</ref>