CO-OP LIVE AND TRANSPORT FOR GREATER MANCHESTER CONFIRM FREE SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE FOR UFC 304

Co-op Live and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have today announced the addition of a free shuttle bus service to support fans arriving and departing from the highly anticipated UFC 304 event, scheduled to run from Saturday 27 July 2024 into Sunday 28 July 2024. 

From 22:00 on Saturday 27 July 2024 until 02:00 on Sunday 28 July 2024, the service will depart every five minutes to the venue from stand EQ on Manchester’s London Road.

Buses will then operate back to the city centre, from 04:00 until 08:00 on Sunday 28 July from Sports City Way on the Etihad Campus, home to Co-op Live.

Following the cancellation of planned industrial action, tram services will operate as normal to the venue. Services will run every six minutes to the venue from the city centre, with the last tram departing at 01:13 from Piccadilly to Etihad Campus. Services will then resume from 06:45 on Sunday morning. 

As part of Co-op Live and TfGM’s ground-breaking sustainable initiative, Metrolink travel is included across the network for UFC ticket holders four hours before and after the event. 

Fans will also have access to the ‘CityLink Presented by The Climate Pledge’ walking route, reimagining fans’ journeys from the city centre to the Etihad Campus. It marks more than £4 million of regenerative investment in East Manchester, delivered in partnership with Manchester City Football Club and Manchester City Council, and promotes the use of sustainable travel to and from the all-electric arena. 

UFC 304: EDWARDS vs MUHAMMAD 2 will be the first sporting event at Co-op Live, as welterweight champion Leon Edwards headlines against long-time rival Belal Muhammad in a highly anticipated rematch. The co-main event sees interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall go up against no.4 ranked Curtis Blaydes two years on from their first encounter.

Speaking at the time of the UFC announcement, Co-op Live said: 

“With the north of England home to so many of the world’s leading fighters, we are primed and ready for UFC and its knowledgeable, passionate fanbase. Offering a state-of-the-art platform for globally broadcast events, Co-op Live is extremely proud to welcome entertainment of this scale and calibre as the future home of combat sports in the UK.”

Rebecca Kane Burton, Interim General Manager, Co-op Live adds: 

“UFC is a global phenomenon with millions of fans worldwide. With many of those fans and fighters here in the northwest of England, it’s a great triumph to be bringing UFC 304 back to Manchester. With the eyes of the world about to be on us this weekend, we are determined to showcase what a great host city we are. 

This type of event is made possible through close collaboration with the city and its partners, and we truly value the huge opportunity and shared drive to bring shows and events of such prestige to the Northwest.

We are delighted to be working with Transport for Greater Manchester to secure additional shuttle bus services to support the fan journey.”

Fran Wilkinson, Customer and Growth Director at TfGM, adds: 

“I am delighted that we have been able to work with our partners at Co-op Live to provide this bespoke shuttle-bus service for people going to UFC 304 this weekend. 

“This is another example of our commitment to supporting Greater Manchester’s nighttime economy and ensuring travel is no barrier to people enjoying everything our city region has to offer.”