Manchester Evening News Arena

The Manchester Evening News Arena, managed and operated by SMG Europe, is the busiest venue in the World* and the largest indoor arena in Europe.

Opened in 1995, the M.E.N Arena has staged the biggest names in live entertainment; from U2, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Ricky Hatton and Pavarotti to a record-breaking 27 shows by local band Take That.

Attracting over one million visitors each year, the 21,000 capacity Arena was named 'International Venue of the Year' in 2002 by industry publication Pollstar and has been nominated an unrivalled seven consecutive times.

M.E.N Arena Time Line

1995 - The venue is officially opened by Torvill & Dean who break the UK Box Office record for a single ice performance to over 15,000 fans

1998 - Ricky 'Hitman' Hatton beats Karl Taylor in his debut M.E.N Arena bout - the first of 14 fights at his hometown venue

1999 - The M.E.N Arena hosts the homecoming of Manchester United after they win 'The Treble'

2000 - Mike Tyson's UK debut fight at the Arena is watched by over 100 million people worldwide

2001 - Local band James perform their farewell show at the Arena - before returning with a sell-out concert in 2007!

2002 - The venue holds the 2002 Commonwealth Games' Boxing and Netball tournaments

2002 - U2 play to 19,384 fans, the biggest single audience of their European Elevation Tour. Bono declares the M.E.N Arena "the best concert venue in the country"

2004 - Madonna returns to Manchester for the first time since her 1980's British debut at the infamous Hacienda to perform two sell-out shows

2005 - Comedian Lee Evans breaks the Guinness world record for a solo act performing to the biggest comedy audience

2005 - Comedian Peter Kay, who used to work as a M.E.N Arena Steward, returns with his record-breaking "Mum Wants A Bungalow" Tour

2006 - Now an annual event, the first Versus Cancer charity concert is staged by Ex-Smith's member Andy Rourke

2007 - Kylie Minogue is crowned the biggest-selling solo artist in the history of the Arena after her January Showgirl Homecoming dates bring her total Arena performances to 17

2007 - Following their 11 shows in December, local band Take That become the biggest-selling act of all time with a total 27 M.E.N Arena performances

2008 - The Arena becomes the UK's first music and entertainment venue to host competitive swimming after staging the 9th FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships in April

*Based on concert ticket sales between January 2002 and June 2007, as calculated by Pollstar