Parklife, Take That, the 20 Women’s World Cup, the Women’s Netball Final, and gigs at the AO Arena are all taking place in Greater Manchester this weekend
Thousands of people will be attending Parklife at Heaton Park this weekend(Image: Vincent Cole – Manchester Evening News)
A warning for Greater Manchester has been issued as the region gears up for one of its busiest weekends of the year with multiple events taking place across the city.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has said more than a quarter of a million people will be travelling to the various events over the weekend. Events taking place this weekend include Parklife Festival at Heaton Park, Take That at The Etihad Stadium and Lily Allen and the B52s at AO Arena.
The Bee Network and local roads are expected to be extra busy between Friday 19 and Sunday 21 June, and fans are being encouraged to plan their journeys using public transport.
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Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Officer at TfGM, said: “Greater Manchester is renowned for hosting major events, and this is no exception, with Manchester’s biggest music festival and international sport just some of the attractions taking place across a blockbuster weekend.
“We’re expecting it to be very busy across the network, with more than a quarter of a million fans travelling to various sports and music events.
Parklife returns this weekend with fans advised to make their travel plans in advance(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
“We will have as many staff as possible on the network, running as many services as we can to ensure that the Bee Network is here to help you get where you need to go.
“So, for everyone looking to get out and about, please plan ahead, check the Bee Network app for updates and have a safe journey.”
Manchester’s biggest music festival, Parklife, returns to Heaton Park on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June with tens of thousands of people expected to make the journey to see headliners Calvin Harris, Sammy Virji, Skepta and Zara Larsson.
Over at the Etihad Stadium, Take That are set to perform a series of shows on all three days. Etihad Campus will also host the Women’s Netball Final at the Co-op Live from 3pm on Saturday afternoon.
Take That’s Circus Live in Sunderland – Manchester, we get it next!(Image: Emma Tranter)
The city will also welcome Lily Allen and the B52s across three nights at the AO Arena; and the Women’s Cricket World Cup will draw thousands to Emirates Old Trafford on 21 June when South Africa take on India.
More than a quarter of a million people will be travelling to the various events over the weekend. Those travelling to the events or into the region are being everyone is advised to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journey and avoid the busiest areas and times.
A dedicated webpage has been set up to provide passengers with key travel and ticket advice for the weekend. The page details all of the gigs above, the travel advice, as well as the tram service pattern and closures.
To prepare for the increase in travel, there will be more trams serving event venues alongside extended tram operating times to ensure everyone gets home safely.
To prepare for the increase in travel, there will be more trams serving event venues alongside extended tram operating times to ensure everyone gets home safely(Image: MEN MEDIA)
For travel to and from Parklife, the specific Parklife travel ticket, available on the Bee Network app, is valid on trams and buses across Greater Manchester. This includes the shuttle bus which will operate every ten minutes from Aytoun Street, close to Piccadilly Station, and then from outside the park to Shudehill Interchange after the event.
Extra staff and TravelSafe Support Officers will also be out and about across the transport network to help passengers throughout the weekend. TfGM will be monitoring the transport network as usual, working closely with police and other partners to manage roads and the transport network around the clock.
Journey times on the roads around the city centre are expected to increase, especially on the northern part of the Inner Ring Road and the likes of Cheetham Hill Road, Oldham Road and Ashton Old Road.
Where possible, those travelling around the region are being asked to use public transport or avoid the busiest times; from 4pm to 7pm and then from 10pm to midnight on both Saturday and Sunday.