The new Co-op Live Manchester arena has announced a major partnership with Elevate Sports Ventures, which will offer premium hospitality marketing and sales.
The new 23,500-seat, £350m arena is set to be the UK's biggest, and it's also been announced a Co-op Live sales suite will open in the Northern Quarter in April.
The suite will soon begin hiring for Manchester-based roles - including a sales director and other managers, with international sports and entertainment consulting firm Elevate leading the search.
The arena is being developed by Oak View Group. Sam Piccione III, its president, said: “We are putting fans and artists first in everything we do at Co-op Live, and the venue will have a premium fan offering for everyone unmatched by any other arena in Europe.
“We’re delighted to have partnered with Elevate to bring their unrivalled expertise in premium marketing and sales.
"We are also excited that they will be helping us build the local team at our sales centre, which represents a further investment in Manchester.”
Once the arena opens in 2023, Elevate will support on strategy, marketing, sales and service for the venue’s premium hospitality offerings - marketing Co-op Live's 27 suites, comprising 2,500 premium suites and VIP experiential spaces.
The partnership, which complements the announcement of a 15-year naming rights partnership with Co-operative Group, sees Elevate support a new venue project in the UK market for the first time.
The sports and entertainment agency plans to emulate its premium hospitality model developed in US professional sports, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, motorsports and more.
The news comes after it was announced global pop star Harry Styles was investing in the venue, which will be built next to the Etihad Stadium.
Elevate will help open the Co-op Live Sales Suite, a custom designed studio located in the Northern Quarter, staffed by Co-op Live 'premium executives'.
It will open in April 2021 and Elevate will lead the search and manage the executive hires.
Al Guido, Elevate Sports Ventures chairman and CEO, said: “Elevate is proud to stand alongside our partner Oak View Group, to support an arena that holds great significance and opportunity for Manchester, and has the ability to impact the entire European entertainment ecosystem."
