Co-op Live finally hosts first gig after spate of cancellations

£450m Manchester venue opens doors with Elbow concert two weeks after debris falling from ceiling forced shutdown

It has been billed by its American owners as the greatest music venue ever built: a state-of-the art arena to put Manchester back on the musical map.

But after a series of humiliating setbacks, the £450m Co-op Live – now referred to be some as Co-flop Live – opened its doors with a stagger rather than a swagger with a long-delayed concert by the local band Elbow on Tuesday night.