Thousands of Fans Find Nicki Minaj Won't Perform at 'Cursed' Co-Op Live Arena After Amsterdam Arrest from check valve poppet Watch Video

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✓ Published: 26-May-2024

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Footage from inside the troubled Co-op Live Arena in Manchester shows the moment thousands of Nicki Minaj fans were told the singer would not be performing after her arrest in Amsterdam.<br/><br/>Ticketholders were allowed into the venue despite the 41-year-old star being detained at Schiphol Airport on suspicion of possessing soft drugs. She was fined and released from custody a few hours later. <br/><br/>Footage from inside Co-op Live, which is the UK's biggest indoor arena with a capacity of 23,500, showed fans waiting patiently for the star to arrive - despite seemingly receiving no updates on her whereabouts.<br/><br/>When an announcement was finally made, fans were heard booing and shouting in disbelief, with organizers saying they were 'deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused'. <br/><br/>It is just the latest problem to hit the £365 million arena, which belatedly opened this month after being plagued by setbacks - with disgruntled music fans now labeling the venue 'cursed'.<br/><br/>One fan told MailOnline that she was 'heartbroken' at Saturday's concert being called off. 'It's not exactly like the tickets were cheap,' said Alesha. 'We spent an absolute fortune to be there tonight, let alone the travel and outfits we got for it.'<br/><br/>'Absolute shambles that the Co-op live didn't just let us let us know beforehand that the show was going to be postponed,' she added, a sentiment shared by many other ticketholders.<br/><br/>Kian Young, 23, who had traveled from Scunthorpe, said that he was 'confused as to why the Co-op arena hasn't spoken to its fans' and asked why the venue hadn't canceled the event when news emerged of Minaj's arrest.<br/><br/>'Everyone's come - my missus is crying,' he told the BBC. 'Why not tell us it's canceled before bringing us in?'<br/><br/>But others blamed the singer for the chaos. Olivia Gibson from Newcastle said she was now an 'ex-fan' of Minaj. <br/><br/>'I feel appalled. But also, in a way, I'm not shocked,' the 21-year-old said, referring to the singer's track record of running late and saying she should have allowed more time to get to Manchester from Amsterdam.<br/><br/>'It's not the Co-op Live's fault. It's Nicki Minaj's fault,' she added. 'She's just let all her fans down.'<br/><br/>The American singer, known for the songs Starships, Super Bass, and Anaconda, had been due to take to the stage at 6.30 pm, but this was initially pushed back to 7 pm. <br/><br/>Footage emerged of supporters queuing up in the hours before the scheduled gig, chanting 'Free Nicki Minaj' as they held onto hope that the star would be allowed to fly to perform at the Manchester arena.<br/><br/>Fans in the packed venue were devastated when they were informed that the show would not be going ahead, with many slamming the decision.<br/><br/>It comes after the venue postponed its first official show several times after safety concerns. <br/><br/>The opening concert by rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was canceled three times, while shows by bands Take That, Keane, and The Black Keys and comedian Peter Kay were also postponed.