Take That at Co-op Live - stage times, support, setlist, parking and everything you need to know

Take That return to Manchester this week for the final nights of their This Life tour with two huge homecoming gigs at the new Co-op Live arena.

Back in May the band had to move their first five homeomcing shows to Manchester's AO Arena amid delays at the opening for the new venue. But now, Co-op Live is well and truly ready to welcome Take That fans for two gigs that have already been teased as being "extra special" for fans.

For those who haven't already seen Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald in action on this latest Take That tour, you can expect a full on stage spectacular.

READ MORE: Pet Shop Boys take fans on a hit-packed journey at Co-op Live

The setlist features a host of their new tracks as well as a selection of their biggest hits from their three decades in pop.

The show opens as if they are in a retro TV show, with the boys emerging from a giant TV box on stage to perform newies Keep Your Head Up and Windows. It then takes fans through an epic retrospective of their music career - including classics from their 90s boyband era like Sure, Everything Changes and A Million Love Songs.

Unusually for a Take That tour, there is no big dance crew - instead the three singers are allowed to shine across a variety of stages on a split set. But fans can expect plenty of colourful costume changes, as well as rain, fire and plenty of confetti.

Here's more on what to expect at the gigs taking place this week.

Who is the support act?

Olly Murs is the confirmed support act for the Manchester dates of the This Life tour. The new dad has been wowing fans on the tour so far (except for the one night in Glasgow when his plane got cancelled and he missed the show!).

It's well worth fans getting to the show on time to see Olly perform, as he'll be playing a blistering set of some of his biggest hits. Previous shows have seen him perform the likes of Dance With Me Tonight, Troublemaker, Dear Darlin' and Heart Skips a Beat.

He has even been performing his own version of Take That's It Only Takes A Minute.

Stage times

Stage times are always subject to change and the best advice is always to get in and find your seats as soon as you can.

But we've been given this rough guide for the stage times for the shows at Co-op Live.

On opening night in Manchester at the AO Arena, the show ran to these times, and Take That's set came to a close at 10.40pm

Doors: 6pm

Olly Murs: 7:20pm

Take That: 8:35pm

Curfew is 11pm

How to get there

The best way to get to Co-op Live is by hopping on the Metrolink or using the newly-opened walking route, linking up the city centre to the venue. The arena is situated off Alan Turing Way in Beswick, which is next to the Etihad Campus tram stop and Manchester City's Etihad Stadium.

During Co-op Live's opening season of events, ticketholders will be able to travel for free on trams between the city and the venue until June 30, 2024. Transport will be included on all days of the week in line with Metrolink operating hours.

The Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad Campus stop is located just two minutes walk from the venue. Frequent trams will also run every six minutes from the city centre and run until 1am on Saturdays.

There is also a city centre shuttle bus service, which will be included with all event tickets until June 30. The number of shuttle buses available will vary on each event with a maximum of ten buses per show. The buses will depart from Joe Mercer Way at the Etihad Campus and arrive at Piccadilly Gardens.

To make use of the walking route, follow the blue lampposts through Ancoats, New Islington, and Holt Town areas. The route features artwork, light displays and structures to check out - you can read about them here.

You can also find more details on bus routes to get to Co-op Live here.

Is there food and drink at Co-op Live?

With a number of bars and stalls inside the venue, there's a wide variety of food and drink options. Pies and burgers form part of the food menu, whilst there will be your usual selection of beers, soft drinks and wine available from the bars.

Head's up, you're looking at paying £7.95 for a pint, cocktails are £12 while wine is £8.95 for a can.

Food prices include £12.50 for a classic burger, £11 for a hotdog, £8.25 for Co-op pies and £7.50 for Carr's pasties

Is there parking at Co-op Live?

The arena has three official car parks, colour coded to blue, green and orange, but the available car parks will vary per event. All Official parking spots must be pre-booked online ahead of the event here.

The blue zone located off Sport City Way and Forge Lane, opposite Philips Park and Co-op Live, whilst orange parking is located off Alan Turing Way next to the Etihad Stadium. Disabled parking will be available in the blue zone and is free for blue badge holders. More details on parking near to the venue can be found here.

What is the Co-op Live ticket app?

The official Co-op Live mobile app has been created to help streamline the process of getting into the venue.

Through the app, you can access your tickets and essential event information, and there will also be maps and further details too. Tickets will be available through the app typically no later than five working days before the show.

For those who booked through Ticketmaster, your Co-op Live tickets will be accessible through the app. The app generates a barcode that can be accessed offline after its first open. You can find out how to use the app, and how to log in, here.

If you don't have a smartphone or a paper ticket entry can be gained via the Ticket Office team located on Level 1, Canalside. You will need to present the physical credit/debit card used for purchase alongside matching photo ID for verification.

What is the bag policy?

Co-op Live operates on a one bag per person policy. Small handbags are permitted as long as they are no larger than A4 in size. However, large bags, like backpacks and laptop bags, will not be allowed.

There will be limited bag storage on site priced from £15. This facility is located on Sir Howard Bernstein Way - opposite Gate J in the Orange Car Park on the Etihad Campus.

What items are banned?

Members of staff can remove items such as food, glass, bottles, cans, alcohol, large umbrellas, lighters, disposable vapes, professional cameras, plastic bottle tops, and recording equipment.

Devices like laptops, iPads, Go Pros, and similar items are also not allowed, unless pre-approved for medical reasons. You can see the full list of banned items at Co-op Live here.

Take That setlist

The band have been following a similar setlist on the tour so far, although some nights have also included new fan favourite You and Me. This is the setlist performed at Manchester's AO Arena on May 7.

Keep Your Head Up

Windows

Giants

Days I Hate Myself

Everything Changes

Sure

Shine

A Million Love Songs

I Found Heaven

Pray

Forever Love (Gary Barlow solo)

Clementine (Mark Owen solo)

Speak Without Words (Howard Donald solo)

Patience

The Flood

Get Ready For It

March Of The Hopeful

The Champion

This Life

Greatest Day

These Days

Time & Time Again

Relight My Fire

One More Word

Hold Up A Light

Back For Good

Never Forget

Rule The World