Multi-Purpose Venue, Performance Venue, Music Venue
Over Stage Engineering, Drapery, Manufacturing
Co-op Live, located in Manchester, England, opened on 14th May 2024. It has the largest maximum capacity of any indoor arena in the United Kingdom, with space for 23,500 people.
J&C Joel provided 10 perimeter divider drapes. These drapes can be raised and lowered via our Festoon Systems. Each Festoon System consists of a double-braked motor gearbox, drive shafts, bearings and pulleys. These are mounted within a custom 0.3m Box Truss.
The systems have various working travels of 9.15m up to 11.7m and evenly spaced pick-up lines that terminate to a bar sewn into a pocket at the base of the drapes. In addition, each Festoon System has an independent control system operating at a fixed speed of 0.2m/s.
Hung from each Festoon System is J&C Joel’s black IFR Premier Wool Serge (WS090) drapes. The drapes are sewn flat and headed with ties for a secure attachment. On the rear face of the drapes, “D” rings are sewn in line with Kevlar drop lines to guide them through.
J&C Joel also provided a Stage End Drapery System, which they achieved thanks to a triangular demountable truss system that has been suspended from 500kg D8+ Chain Hoists at a high level. Premier Wool Serge (WS090) drapes have been hung from this.
The drapes can be manoeuvred into position to ensure the seating behind the stage isn’t visible during concerts and shows, providing a black backdrop. This ensured the system successfully met the multi-purpose requirements of the venue. At the lower level, a Unibeam track system was installed to provide further masking of the shutter doors at the rear of the stage area.
Finally, J&C Joel supplied and installed runs of track and drapery to the North and South hangouts. The North hangout totalled 65m with the South hangout totalling 68m. From the track, we installed J&C Joel’s black IFR Premier Wool Serge (WS090) drapes. Our systems also provided masking to bar areas located on level 4 of the arena.
