AXS Named Official Ticketing Partner for AO Arena, Manchester
Following its £50million redevelopment, AO Arena selects AXS as Ticket Provider for Manchester’s premier live entertainment venue.
AXS, a global leader in ticketing, is the new ticketing partner for the iconic AO Arena in Manchester. This collaboration sees AXS, already the preferred ticketing platform for a host of major UK venues, join forces with a cornerstone of the legendary Manchester music scene to provide fans attending the AO Arena with enhanced ticket purchasing and resale experiences.
As one of the busiest venues in the world and the largest indoor sporting arena in Europe, the AO Arena, Manchester has welcomed over 30 million guests and thousands of world-renowned artists since opening its doors in 1995. AXS will streamline the ticket-buying process for over one million customers each year, offering a user-friendly platform created to make purchasing tickets easier and smoother than ever. With its innovative technology, AXS is committed to ensuring a safe experience for all attendees, employing advanced ticketing security measures such as AXS Mobile ID and AXS Official Resale to protect the venue and its customers.
Acting General Manager of AO Arena, Gemma Vaughan said: “We're thrilled to welcome AXS as our new official ticketing partner. Both the AO Arena and AXS have a proven track record of providing guests with the very best live experiences, so this partnership makes perfect sense. By introducing the straightforward and seamless ticket experience that AXS is known for, fans now have access to a platform that is easy to use, highly intuitive and will make buying tickets a breeze. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate this new chapter for our venue and for fans in the North-West and beyond”.
Blaine Legere, President of International, AXS, says "We are proud to partner with the iconic AO Arena which has played a vital role in shaping the UK’s live scene and add another massive venue to our growing portfolio in the UK. AXS has a strong track record of delivering stand out shows across the country, and by welcoming another ASM Global venue to AXS – our seventh this year – it means we can deliver the very best experiences to fans from all UK regions.”
This announcement follows ticket partnerships with a number of other notable UK venues across 2024 – Utilita Arena Newcastle, first direct arena in Leeds, P&J Live Aberdeen, Whitley Bay Playhouse, York Barbican and Connexin Live Hull - and is part of a continued growing partnership between AXS and ASM Global, the world's largest and most trusted venue management and services company. AXS has also recently partnered with bp pulse LIVE and Utilita Arena Birmingham to further serve fans with the very best ticketing experiences across the UK.
AO Arena has played a vital role in shaping Manchester’s music scene and has proudly supported artists from back-rooms to main stage. With its recent transformative £50million redevelopment, the reimagined AO Arena is attracting even more artists and fans, all of whom can enjoy secure access for many years to come thanks to this partnership. The comprehensive AXS approach includes robust fraud prevention measures, alongside the AXS Mobile ID digital entry system. This partnership will also see the AO Arena effectively utilise AXS Official Resale, which gives fans the best opportunity to access 100% valid tickets safely and simply – all in one place – for a fair price. For an inside look at how AXS ticketing works and how they improve the fan experience throughout the entire event process, check out AXS FAQ’s.
AXS continues to reach new audiences and gain momentum in the UK as a preferred ticketing platform, recognised for its cutting-edge technology and unparalleled customer service. AXS is already the proven ticketing partner for a host of major UK event venues, such as The O2 Arena, BST Hyde Park, All Points East and Dreamland Margate, amongst others. With a track record of success in delivering ticketing solutions for some of the world's most high-profile shows, AXS continues to set new standards for the industry.
In 2024, AO Arena has once again cemented its position as the city of Manchester’s arena, celebrating its best year yet as well as raising tens of thousands of pounds and giving hundreds of hours to local community projects. September saw the venue complete its second Davis Cup residency with record breaking attendances for the UK of 16,000. There’s plenty more to come, including Peter Kay Live, Chris Stapleton, Becky Hill, Les Misérables and many more, and 2025 is set to be another fabulous year for Manchester’s AO Arena.
Notes to editors:
For media enquiries please contact:
AXS
Rob Lievesley, Director of Marketing, Europe
rlievesley@axs.com
AO Arena
Ellice Eadie, Marketing Manager
Ellice.Eadie@ao-arena.com
ASM Global
Alex Sutton
alex@galapr.co.uk
About AXS
As a global leader in ticketing, AXS powers access to the world’s most iconic venues, sports teams, festivals, and global tours. With innovative technology and white glove client service, AXS is the ticketing partner of choice for more than 1300 of the most sought-after and recognizable brands in sports and entertainment including the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, The O2, BNP Paribas Open, WM Phoenix Open, and Japan’s B.League. AXS’ primary and secondary ticket marketplace and proprietary AXS Mobile ID technology make it the easiest and most reliable destination for buying and managing tickets. For more, visit axs.com.
About ASM Global
Award-winning ASM Global is the world’s No. 1 development and full-service venue company focused on client-first approaches for driving significant financial success. The company’s elite network spans five continents featuring a portfolio of more than 400 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention/exhibition centers and performing arts venues.
ASM Global translates its unique visionary ownership experience into innovative project development, planning and execution; content programming; curated guest-immersive experiences; locally tailored solutions; and optimized revenue streams for our client’s properties and surrounding communities. Focused on value creation and economic growth, ASM Global realizes venue business potential to elevate the profitability and profile of our clients and partners. We cultivate strong, inclusive relationships with the communities we work and live in while championing the welfare and development of our employees and small-business partners, resulting in a more cohesive, resilient and vibrant community.
ASM Global's expertise and commitment extends across existing venue management, new venue development, and transformative renovation projects across the most exciting properties in the industry, including Kai Tak Sports Park (Hong Kong), Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana), The Moscone Center (San Francisco, California), AO Arena (Manchester, U.K.), The Greek Theatre (Los Angeles, California), Desert Diamond Arena (Glendale, Arizona) and Fishers Event Center (Fishers, Indiana).
About AO Arena, Manchester
The AO Arena Manchester, managed and operated by ASM Global, is one of the busiest venues in the world and the largest indoor arena in Europe. Since opening in 1995, the arena has hosted the biggest names in live entertainment including U2, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Pavarotti and the record-breaking 2010/2011 residency by local comedian Peter Kay. In addition to live music, the venue has also staged some of the biggest events in the UK sporting calendar including several 2002 Commonwealth Games' events, the 2012 Olympic basketball warm-up match between team USA and GB, the 2008 FINA World Swimming Championships and international boxing bouts by Mike Tyson, David Haye, Joe Calzaghe and local champions Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan and Anthony Crolla. The arena has also played a key part in the city's rich musical heritage with historic shows by local bands Take That, Oasis, Elbow, New Order, James, Happy Mondays, The Charlatans, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, M People, Doves, Inspiral Carpets, The Verve, Simply Red and The Courteeners. In 2020, online electricals retailer AO became the headline sponsor of the Arena so fans and artists from all over the world can be greeted with the famous AO smile.