Peter Kay fans hit out over how they found out about cancelled Co-op Live gigs

Fans with tickets to see Peter Kay at his now-cancelled dates at Co-op Live this week say they have been left ‘frustrated’ with Ticketmaster over a 'lack of communication'.

Earlier today, bosses at the 23,500-capacity music venue in Eastlands announced that the opening gigs on Tuesday and Wednesday (April 22 and 23) had been forced to be cancelled and rescheduled to next week as safety tests continued.

Peter Kay said he was ‘truly gutted’ at the news, but looked forward to seeing fans at the newly-rescheduled dates next Monday and Tuesday (April 29 and 30). However, fans said they only found out about the news through social media and the M.E.N - and hadn’t received an email from Ticketmaster until a few hours after the announcement was first made.

READ MORE: Co-op Live arena latest updates and fan reaction as Peter Kay gigs cancelled

Duncan Mathews, from Maplas in Cheshire, was set to see the Bolton comedian at the first show at Co-op Live on Tuesday night. Alongside two tickets, he had booked a room at a hotel in the city centre for after the gig.

He said he only found out about the rescheduled dates ‘by fluke’ after going onto X. “I can’t make next week as I’m out of the country,” Duncan told the M.E.N. “We have reached out to the hotel but because it’s only 24 hours beforehand, it’s unlikely they will refund us.

“We had been trying to get tickets for many months for Peter Kay and were both excited for a rare night away after sorting out the dog-sitters as well as childcare for our daughter.”

Just before 3pm, Duncan said he finally received an email from Ticketmaster. “Before then, they hadn’t said anything,” he explained. “Our ticket just showed it was taking place next Monday not tomorrow. I still wouldn’t be any the wiser, like my wife who is out and doesn’t even know it’s been cancelled, if I hadn’t seen the notification on social media.

“I don’t think Ticketmaster is to blame, but I feel that Co-op Live knew way before today that the event couldn’t go ahead.”

Lauren, who asked to be referred to only by her first name, was also due to attend tomorrow’s show. Whilst she only had to travel to the venue from East Didsbury, and her friend from Oldham, she said the rescheduled dates have now put them in a tricky position to find childcare for next week.

“We were very lucky to get tickets to the first show,” Lauren said. “I had resigned myself to the fact we weren’t going to get to go but, by chance, I got two tickets for me and my best friend who never get to go anywhere together.

“Luckily, I can still make the new date but my friend works for the NHS and is going to struggle to find someone to look after her children on the night now. There’s the added worry that it’s not a like-for-like change either, it’s gone from a Tuesday to a Monday so it does change things for some people.”

Lauren said she too only found out about the cancellation through social media. “It was only by chance that I was looking at my phone and I got a notification from Peter Kay announcing it had been cancelled,” she explained. “But if you’re not on social media, then how are you meant to know?”

She explained that, at 2.30pm today, her Ticketmaster account showed her tickets for Tuesday’s show as valid with no details that it had been moved. She eventually received an email from Ticketmaster just before 3pm.

“[Co-op Live] obviously knew there was a problem before today,” she added. “I saw that the event on Saturday had some problems. They were stopping people with tickets and that didn’t give me a good feeling but because I hadn’t heard anything, I just presumed everything was going to be fine.

“We’re now no longer going to be the first to see a live show at the venue, and it does feel like a little bit of the appeal has gone with that. I’m still excited to see Peter Kay but it’s just become a bit stressful. I'm going to see Take That in a couple of weeks at the same venue and I'm now wondering if that will still go ahead?"

Gary May, from Horwich, was also due to attend Co-op Live on Tuesday night. He said whilst he understood the reasons for the rescheduled dates, he felt there still should have been more notice from the venue’s organisers.

“It’s just more annoying than anything else,” he explained. “I understand that health and safety is important but I feel like we all expected something like this a few weeks ago because it was still basically a building site. You want everything to be right but they must have known that it wasn’t going to be ready - why book events until you’ve done test events?”

Speaking just before 3pm, Gary said: “I haven’t had any email or anything from Ticketmaster yet, if people don’t go on social media then they might never know. Luckily, I’ll be able to make next week’s date but a lot of people won’t be able to. It’s just a nightmare.”

He said he was still excited to see Peter Kay after waiting a long time to see him, but the situation itself had become frustrating and he said he still wasn’t fully convinced the dates next week would take place.

“We had originally got tickets for Peter Kay but then he had to cancel when he got ill, which is completely fair enough, but we’ve been waiting years to see him. I know we’re still going to see him but it’s just frustrating.”

Ticketmaster confirmed to the M.E.N that all fans have now been contacted via email about the rescheduled dates for Peter Kay. Those with tickets for the April 22 show can now see him on April 29, whilst those with tickets for the April 23 date will be able to attend the April 30 show. Refunds are available to those unable to attend their designated new date, with parking details also announced.

Earlier today, a spokesperson for Co-op Live said: "Following our first test event on Saturday, regretfully we have made the difficult decision to reschedule our two opening performances by Peter Kay. These dates will move from 23 April and 24 Wednesday to Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 April.

"It is critical to ensure we have a consistent total power supply to our fully electric sustainable venue, the completion of which is a few days behind. Rescheduling gives us the extra time we need to continue testing thoroughly. This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size.

"Peter Kay has very graciously agreed to perform his record-breaking comedy at Co-op Live on 29 (rescheduled from 23) and 30 (rescheduled from 24) April 2024. All tickets remain valid and ticket holders will be contacted by their point of purchase. Refunds will be available for those who can no longer attend. We are very sorry for the inconvenience that this change will undoubtedly cause for some. We are thrilled to welcome Peter Kay as our grand opening act just a few days later than planned."