THING OF THE WEEK

JONAS BONUS… New Jersey sibling pop trio the Jonas Brothers has been confirmed as the first act to perform at Manchester’s newest music venue, Co-op Live. The show will take place in June 2024 and while the brothers – or at least one of them – are global stars, the jury is out on whether their band is a big enough name to warrant kicking off proceedings at the much-hyped Co-op Live. Taylor Swift, whose European tour coincides with the arena’s launch, would have been a more high-profile get but she has swerved Manchester completely, opting instead for two dates in Liverpool. And what about Harry Styles? As an investor in the project, would the former One Direction star not have been the perfect person to cut the Co-op Live ribbon?

The update nobody wanted…

We’re going to be heavily delayed at Old Trafford as the rain is still falling in Manchester 🌧 #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/LIwEfSIQy3

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 22, 2023

RAIN PAIN… After a good old fashioned Manchester summer deluge put paid to England’s hopes of regaining the Ashes, many have called on the powers that be to put measures in place to make test cricket less beholden to the weather. Reserve days, earlier starts, and later finishes have all been suggested as ways to avoid rain-ruined matches. But what about backup venues? If it is tipping it down at Old Trafford, could everyone just grab their bats and scurry on over to the AO Arena? Perhaps Aviva Studios could recoup some of its overspend by charging the ECB a fortune to host a days’ play when it is soggy out. Failing that, there is always that covered bit on Market Street. 

Credit: via planning documents

STAND BY ME… After Everton FC announced its new stadium would complete midway through a season rather than the start as initially planned, the Toffees’ city rivals have now done the same. Liverpool FC had hoped its expanded Anfield Road stand would be completed in time for the upcoming Premier League campaign, however, the club announced this week that it would not be ready until October – hopefully just in time for the Merseyside derby on the 21st. 

The Lincoln, formerly known as Brazennose House, was designed by Jon Matthew’s Architects. Credit: PNW

FLURRY… Lettings at Manchester’s Lincoln office building are like London buses. You wait years for one and then two come at once. This week flexible workspace provider Cubo signed a 12.5-year lease to occupy 16,000 sq ft at M&G’s 100,000 sq ft block and the rapidly expanding company is not alone. On the ground floor, Thai restaurant Zaap has picked The Lincoln as the location for its first Manchester venture. The chain, which has sites in Leeds and Sheffield, has submitted a planning application to Manchester City Council for the project.

Credit: Place North West

LEGO LOGO… What makes a wellness room? Is it a beach landscape photo so you can envision yourself elsewhere? Mood lighting? Comfy furniture? AECOM’s offices at 100 Embankment in Salford go one step further. Employees can soothe their souls by playing with branded building blocks. Who doesn’t feel calmer after constructing a tower and then smashing it to pieces? Wellness is a journey and a peaceful mind takes time to build – and now you can do so, AECOM brick by AECOM brick.

Credit: via Cumberland Council

BOREDWALK… While we love democracy at Place, there’s a time and a place for consultation. Does the average Joe really need to weigh in on the colour of the boardwalk at Maryport? Cumberland Council seems to think so, creating a poll for the shade of the pathway at La’al Harbour. We might have been more on board if the options were a bit more exciting – but with the only options being green, teak, sand, light grey, and dark grey… well, it all feels a bit lacklustre. That being said, we obviously have an opinion. We’re team light grey ‘til we die.