Co-op Live lures Birmingham NEC’s Arena man to run venue

Manchester live music venue Co-op Live has got over its teething problems and is firmly established as a well-run, popular venue, according to the new General Manager and Senior Vice President who is joining in October.

An experienced venue manager, Guy Dunstan joins from the Birmingham NEC Group where he was the Managing Director of Arenas and responsible for the Resorts World Arena and Utilita Arena in Birmingham for four years. He succeeds Rebecca Kane Burton who stepped in as interim manager after a disastrous launch.

The calamitous opening week saw Gary Roden, the general manager of the £365m Arena, take the rap for the unfolding disaster, and dramatically resigned after the opening of the venue was delayed.

Kane Burton will now become Executive Vice President of Venue Management for OVG International, where she will lead OVG’s international business development strategy for its Facilities, Sports, Entertainment, and Hospitality Divisions.  

In his new role as General Manager, Dunstan will oversee the management of the venue’s executive team. He will be influential in guiding the strategic leadership of Co-op Live as Senior Vice President. Dunstan will also be instrumental in developing Co-op Live’s commercial and operational strategy and will lead the full venue team. 

Guy Dunstan insisted the reputation of the Arena was now solid following the shaky start, and told TheBusinessDesk.com: “Liam Gallagher, after his show, said, this venue is up there with Madison Square Gardens as a global venue in terms of what it’s offering. That’s a great endorsement from someone who will tell you as it is. Feedback from artists such as The Eagles were also very positive about the acoustics and the design of the venue.

“Our business moves on very, very quickly, and the feedback I’m seeing now is that we’re open and up and running and that is really, really positive and will continue. My job is to ensure that we are really focused on the future and making sure that we really benefit from those shows that we’ve already delivered.”

He said of his new job: “It’s a privilege to be joining the team at Co-op Live and leading the UK’s largest live entertainment arena after its impressive opening season hosting world-class acts. The design, technology and acoustics of the arena are the best I have experienced throughout my time in the industry, so I’m excited to build on its success so far and put Co-op Live further on the world stage to add to Manchester’s cultural legacy and music heritage.”

Dunstan told TheBusinessDesk.com that the best event he ever had involvement with was Black Sabbath’s final ever gig in Birmingham.

“It was just a phenomenal evening to experience and it actually felt like a sporting Cup Final that had an electric atmosphere before the first song started.”

Dunstan’s new appointment comes as Co-op Live confirms its 40 additional shows for the remainder of 2024, including the highly anticipated MTV EMAs, which will be held in Manchester for the first time this November. These shows will attract global music stars and drive a significant economic boost to the city region. 

Since recovering from the shaky opening in May 2024, Co-op Live has put on over 35 events, with more than 900,000 tickets sold. The venue has hosted acclaimed exclusive events within its opening season, including the Eagles’ final UK shows, Pearl Jam’s only indoor concerts on their most recent tour, and the first UFC event in Manchester since 2016.

Take That at Co-Op Live

In its first four months, the arena has also driven forward its commitment to raise £1 million annually for the Co-op Foundation to support good causes, alongside wider charitable involvement including a recent donation to Liam Gallagher’s chosen charity, Happy Doggo. 

Jess Koravos, President of OVG International, commented: “Guy has a wealth of experience in leading live entertainment venues, so we’re thrilled to be welcoming him to the team at Co-op Live and the wider OVG Group. As we move into the next chapter of the venue’s story, Guy’s leadership will be a significant asset in helping us achieve our goals for Co-op Live to become the most sustainable arena in Europe and a first-choice venue for artists and fans worldwide.”