Accessibility

As an Attitude is Everything GOLD standard venue, the AO Arena Manchester offers a warm and friendly welcome to everyone with excellent levels of service.

All of our customer facing staff have undertaken Deaf and disability awareness training and will always do their best to ensure your visit is both enjoyable and safe.

We really want you to enjoy your time with us so if anything happens whilst you are at AO Arena, please speak to one of our staff who will help as best as they can.

Working alongside Attitude is Everything, and our ticketing partner Ticketmaster, we have developed an access scheme to improve the way that we allocate complimentary personal assistant tickets. 

Accessible tickets can be purchased online via our offiical ticketing partner Ticketmaster. 

If you require additional support, please contact the Accessibility Team at the AO Arena.

Personal Assistants

A complimentary Personal Assistant ticket is available at AO Arena’s discretion to those who need assistance from another person in order to move around safely within the venue.

Personal assistant tickets are available via the venue's official ticketing partner, Ticketmaster.

Personal Assistants must be able to assist the person they are attending with to leave the building in an emergency. They are expected attend to the customer in a responsible manner at all times and be able to meet the customer’s access requirements at all times during the event.

The AO Arena is working to ensure that the allocation of personal assistant tickets is a fair process and that all tickets are only available for those individuals who would be unable to attend an event without the support of another person. In order to do this we have a strict policy that requires all individuals booking tickets through our accessible ticket line to submit a completed access form with supporting evidence before any ticket can be processed.

To register for your personal assistant ticket for an event please complete and return our Access Scheme Form with your supporting evidence by post to the ACCESSIBILITIY DEPARTMENT AO Arena, Victoria Station, Hunts Bank, Manchester, M3 1AR or via email to accessibility@ao-arena.com.

Download Access Scheme Form

Assistance Dogs

ADUK registered assistance dogs are welcome at the AO Arena  Arena.

 

We also welcome other trained assistance dogs.  In this case, as we would not have a registration document to demonstrate the dog’s level of training, we need to ask that you confirm the following.  In order that we can allow them entry to an event, you must be able to guarantee that your dog complies with the following:

• is able to sit quietly without being distracted by the usual noise and bustle of an event. 
• is trained not to toilet anywhere inside the venue.  Staff will not be responsible for picking up after your dog if they are taking care of them during an event.
• will not jump on or approach any other members of the public
• must be clearly marked – by lead, harness or coat – as an assistance dog.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission states that ‘Assistance Dogs’ are highly trained.  This means that they:

• will not wander freely around the premises
• will sit or lie quietly on the floor next to their owner
• are unlikely to foul in a public place 

If your dog does not comply with these points, we may ask you to take it out of the venue. 

Please contact us at least two working days before the event you are attending so that we can make arrangements for your comfort and safety during your visit.

 

The dog can either accompany you into the auditorium, if you have appropriate seating booked, or venue staff will willingly look after your dog whilst you enjoy the event. We can provide a water bowl and blanket for your dog if required.

 

It is possible that we may need to find an alternative seat for you if your seat is not appropriate for your dog to sit with you.  In any event, we will discuss the best options for you and your dog.

 

Please note, pet dogs are not permitted into the venue.

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Contact Details

If you would like to contact us about booking accessible tickets, getting to the venue, our access facilities, or if you require any further information, please contact our Accessibility Team.

All customer facing staff have undertaken Deaf and disability awareness training. If you require any information in an alternative format please contact us via the following channels: