Manchester Arena is an indoor Arena situated in England. It is the second-largest indoor stadium in the country and can accommodate approximately 23000 visitors. Currently, it is known as AO Arena after AO World PLC purchased the naming rights in 2020. AO Arena seating plan with seat numbers and rows helps visitors locate their seats. This venue is occasionally used to host Sporting events like boxing, ice hockey, MMA, basketball, etc. It is a regular venue to host comedy shows, entertainment events, musical concerts and similar programs.
Construction of the Manchester Arena started in 1993, and it was completed in 1995. It was opened as NYNEX Arena due to a naming rights deal. It was renamed Manchester Evening News Arena from 1998 to 2011 after the new naming agreement. It was changed to Phones 4u Arena from 2013 to 2015. It was changed to Manchester Arena a couple of times whenever a naming agreement expired. AOÂ Arena is the current name after the 2020 agreement. It is owned by Mansford and operated by ASM Global.
Manchester Arena has had many tenants in the past related to sporting teams, like Ice Hockey and Basketball. Currently, it is the home ground of the Manchester Storm Ice Hockey Team since 2026. It competes in the Elite Ice Hockey League. The team plays its home games at this ground during the season. It is one of the most popular indoor venues in England to host entertainment events and musical concerts.
Manchester AO Arena Seating Plan
It can accommodate approximately 23000 visitors, including a standing capacity of 6200. It is a large indoor venue and the seats are spread across multiple levels. The location of all seating levels with section and row numbers is depicted on the Manchester Arena seating plan. Premium seats and VIP sections are also indicated on the map. The location of food and drink kiosks, washrooms, lifts, changing places, entrances, car parking location, etc can be seen on the map.
Accessible seats are available inside the AO Arena with all the required facilities for guests with mobility issues. The location of these seats is depicted on the AO Arena seat map. Accessible toilets and changing places are situated near these seats. Ticketmaster is the official partner for booking AO Arena tickets, and pre-booking for accessible seats is recommended through the official ticket portal. Companion seats are also available for eligible visitors. The seats sold out quickly; therefore, it is advised to pre-book them.
It is the home stadium for the Manchester Storm ice hockey team. The seating plan shows the location of all the seating sections for the supporters and the away fans section. It can accommodate over 16000 visitors for the ICE hockey games. The location of the premium seats and Hospitality areas can be seen on the seat map.
AO Arena Best Seats
The performance is set up on the field according to the demand from the organizers. Temporary arrangements are made on the floor with temporary seats and standing areas. The floor setup of the AO Arena might be slightly different from event to event.
It can easily accommodate over 23000 visitors for big events and concerts. Some seats for visitors with reduced mobility can be reserved on the floor to get a good view of the stage.
Spectators can easily find their seats inside the Manchester arena after checking the concert seating layout. These maps also help in choosing the best seats inside the AO Arena.
AO Arena Best Seats
Visitors can enhance their experience by choosing the best seats at the Manchester Arena. For sporting events, seats in the lower levels in the front rows are good for getting a good view of the game. AO Arena best seats can be booked after checking the stadium seating layout. The seats in the front rows in lower levels are among the most expensive tickets, while the upper level seats are the budget ones.
For the concerts, the seats on the floor in front of the stage are good. Most premium seats are situated in the front rows on the floor. Similarly, the standing areas on the floor of the Manchester Arena are good for the Atmosphere. Floor seats and seats in the lower level facing the stage are the most expensive seats. The seats in the upper levels are among the most affordable seats. Visitor should choose the seats facing the performance stage. The seats in the last rows and in extreme corners are not good for the view.
Manchester AO Arena Parking Map, Layout and Transport
On-site parking is available at the venue and it can accommodate over 970 vehicles. 58 spaces are reserved for blue badge visitors with reduced mobility. Citi Park manages this multistorey parking lot, and pre-booking can be done on the official website. There is a height restriction of 2.2 m. The location of Arena car parking is depicted on the parking map, and it is open 24 hours every day. A flat fee of £16.00 for parking up to 7 hours during events.
Manchester Arena has good transport connectivity, and it is advisable to use public transport before big events to avoid congestion and high parking charges. It is connected via Manchester Victoria train station. Victoria Metrolink is situated adjacent to the AO Arena. Bus and Park & Ride are other options. Visitors can check this official link to learn more about parking, directions, and pre-booking.
AO Arena Bag Policy
Generally, small bags no larger than A4 are allowed inside the stadium after screening. Large bags, suitcases, alcohol, glass bottles, professional cameras, etc are prohibited inside the Manchester Arena stadium. Baby food, diaper bags, and medical kits can be allowed after additional screening. There is no storage facility at the AO Arena for the prohibited items, and airport-style screening is conducted at all entrances.
AO Arena 2026 Events
| Day & Date | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, 4 Jul | Sammy Hagar with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts | Rock Concert |
| Sat, 18 Jul | Destiny in the Desert – Kell Brook vs Eisa Al Dah | Boxing |
| Sat, 8 Aug | Peter Kay Live | Comedy |
| Tue, 18 Aug | Hollywood Vampires (Special Guest: The Jesus & Mary Chain) | Rock Concert |
| Thu, 10 Sep | Jane McDonald – Living The Dream | Concert |
| Sat, 12 Sep | Hilary Duff – The Lucky Me Tour | Pop Concert |
| Fri, 18 Sep | Baby & Toddler Show | Exhibition |
| Sat, 19 Sep | Baby & Toddler Show | Exhibition |
| Sun, 20 Sep | Baby & Toddler Show | Exhibition |
| Wed, 30 Sep | CHS Manchester | Exhibition |
| Sat, 10 Oct | Rockin’1000 | Live Music Event |
| Sat, 17 Oct | Mo Gilligan – The Mo You Know World Tour | Comedy |
| Wed, 21 Oct | Paul Smith | Comedy |
| Thu, 22 Oct | Paul Smith | Comedy |
| Sat, 24 Oct | Cody Johnson (with Parker McCollum) | Country Concert |
| Sat, 31 Oct | Korn – EURO TOUR 2026 | Metal Concert |
| Mon, 9 Nov | Noah Kahan – The Great Divide Tour | Folk / Indie Concert |
| Tue, 10 Nov | Noah Kahan – The Great Divide Tour | Folk / Indie Concert |
| Sat, 14 Nov | Gladiators Live Tour | Family Entertainment |
| Sun, 15 Nov | Gladiators Live Tour | Family Entertainment |
| Fri, 20 Nov | Shinedown – Dance, Kid, Dance Act II | Rock Concert |
| Sun, 22 Nov | Deep Purple | Rock Concert |
| Sat, 28 Nov | Ocean Colour Scene – Moseley Shoals 30th Anniversary Tour | Britpop / Rock Concert |
| Thu, 3 Dec | Bill Bailey – Vaudevillean | Comedy |
| Fri, 4 Dec | Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics 2026 | Dance Music |
| Thu, 10 Dec | Culture Club – The Singles Tour | Pop Concert |
| Fri, 11 Dec | The Darkness – Bands of Brothers Arena Tour | Rock Concert |
