Co-op Live

You'll spot this gleaming behemoth from the M60, rising like a silver spaceship next to the Etihad Stadium. Inside, the acoustics actually work – a minor miracle for a 23,500-capacity arena that's clearly been designed by people who understand how sound travels. The bars pour proper measures without the usual arena markup shock, and you can actually move between levels without feeling like cattle. The programming spans everything from chart-toppers to indie darlings, with sightlines that don't leave you squinting at ants on stage. Yes, it's corporate and shiny, but when you're watching your favourite band in a space that doesn't sound like they're performing underwater, you'll forgive the sterile aesthetics.