Olivia Rodrigo fans angered by Co-Op Live arena cancellations

Ticket-holders for Olivia Rodrigo’s gigs at Manchester’s crisis-hit Co-op Live arena have told the BBC they are angry and devastated after her shows were called off.

The US singer was due to launch her UK tour with two sold-out gigs at the new £365m venue this weekend.

Those were due to be among the arena’s first shows, but its opening plans have been hit by a string of delays and technical problems.

The venue was finally expected to officially launch with a show by US rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie on Wednesday. But that was called off at the last minute as thousands of fans were already queuing outside, after an incident when part of the heating and ventilation system was detached.

There is now uncertainty about when the venue will open, with Keane and Take That still scheduled to perform there in the coming days.

The arena, which is set to be the UK’s largest indoor arena with space for 23,500 people, was originally due to be opened by comedian Peter Kay last week. His shows have been postponed twice.

Rodrigo, one of the world’s biggest pop stars, was due to perform for about 40,000 people at the venue on Friday and Saturday.

“I’m so bummed and I really hope to see you all soon,” the Drivers License hitmaker wrote on Instagram, saying she and her team were “doing our best” to reschedule the concerts.

Catherine Pugh, from near Leeds, told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Nicky Campbell she bought tickets for her daughter, who had spent three months in hospital last year.

Her daughter “instantly put a countdown on her phone” and the family splashed out on new outfits and booked a hotel, she said.

When the concert was postponed, she said “the devastation my daughter is feeling is palpable and the concern is it impacts her recovery, I feel so sad for her”.

Dean McAllister, from Newcastle, told the station he bought tickets for his daughter as a surprise Christmas present.

He said he didn’t know how to tell his daughter the bad news.

“I was angry last night and I’ve been up since 05:30 wondering what to do. She took it better than I did – it’s been poorly managed from the top to the bottom,” he added.

Scott Tostevin was due to fly from Guernsey with his friend and her daughter to see Rodrigo to celebrate her 18th birthday.

He estimated the trio had spent more than £1,000 on flights and hotels.

In a statement, the arena’s operators Oak View Group said they were “deeply sorry” for the upheaval.

They blamed Wednesday’s problems on an incident during the soundcheck when “a component of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, used to direct air, separated from the ductwork”.

They said no-one was injured, but the whole system would need to be tested for further defects.

The Co-operative Group, which sponsors the venue, said it was “shocked” by the developments and was “seeking a full explanation from Oak View Group”.

Co-op Live has been built next to Manchester City’s Etihad stadium.

It is a joint venture between Oak View Group, co-founded by US music mogul Irving Azoff, and City Football Group, owned by billionaire UAE royal and deputy prime minister Sheikh Mansour.

Singer Harry Styles is among the other investors.