The arena was temporarily closed following a terror attack on 22 May 2017, in which suicide bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people, and injured 500 more, at the end of an Ariana Grande concert during her Dangerous Woman Tour.

Shows and events that were scheduled to take place at the arena were either moved to alternative venues, or cancelled completely.

The arena was reopened on 9 September with a special benefit concert headlined by Manchester-born singer Noel Gallagher.

[5] First proposed during the regeneration of Manchester city centre during the 1980s, the structure was designed by DLA Ellerbe Beckett, Ove Arup & Partners, and Austin-Smith:Lord.

When 14,151 people watched Manchester Giants play London Leopards, it set a British record for attendance at a basketball match.

In 2009, it was the world's second busiest arena behind The O2, and ahead of the Sportpaleis in Antwerp and Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Led Zeppelin legends Jimmy Page and Robert Plant performed a sell out concert at the arena on 3 November 1998 as part of their Walking into Clarksdale tour.

[24] Barbadian singer Rihanna would perform her first concert in England here, as part of her worldwide Good Girl Gone Bad Tour that ran September 2006 to January 2009, starting and ending in North America.

The full concert, named Good Girl Gone Bad Live was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 9 June 2008, by Def Jam Recordings.

Madonna was late on stage in 2015 on the Rebel Heart Tour due to problems with the screen visuals resulting in a shortened set.

On 12 December 2006 comedy rock duo Tenacious D performed as part of their Pick of Destiny Tour, Neil Hamburger was opening act.

[30] In July 2010, the arena celebrated its 15th birthday with a multi-artist gig, presented by Real Radio (North West).

The arena was reopened by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and a cohort of local stars such as The Courteeners, Blossoms, Rick Astley and comedian Peter Kay as part of the "We Are Manchester" event on 9 September 2017.

On 16 December 2017, Liam Gallagher performed here as part of his UK tour to celebrate the release of his debut album As You Were.

Six time Grammy award-winning artist Christina Aguilera performed her 14th date of The X Tour to full attendance on 12 November 2019.

On 15 April 2022, Dua Lipa performed the 1st date of the European leg of highly anticipated Future Nostalgia Tour.

On 10 and 15 November rapper 50 Cent performed at the arena as part of his The Final Lap Tour with Busta Rhymes as opening act.

[37] Hong Kong boy group MIRROR performed their second UK arena concert on 14 March 2024 as part of the FEEL THE PASSION CONCERT TOUR 2024[38] Queens of the Stone Age played here as part of their The End Is Nero tour on 14 November 2023.

Many boxers have had bouts in the arena, such as Amir Khan, Jermaine Johnson, Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe, Mike Tyson, and David Haye.

In April 2008, the arena hosted the FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships, the first time the event has been held in the UK.

Monster truck racing events have been staged but the floor space has to be extended and the front section of seating in the lower tier removed.

On 13–15 April 2018, Universal's Fast & Furious: LIVE performed at the arena, as part of the tour's second UK leg.

[41] On 12-17 September 2023, the arena hosted all Group B matches of the 2023 Davis Cup Finals, in which Great Britain participated.

[42] On 14 October 2023, KSI and Logan Paul returned to the arena fighting a double main event, with KSI taking on the brother of Tyson Fury and WBC Diriyah Champion, Tommy Fury, and Logan Paul taking on Dillon Danis.

From 10 to 15 September 2024, the arena will host all Group D matches of the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, in which Great Britain is participating.

On 19 July 2011, (with a final dress rehearsal in front of an audience on 16 July 2011) the arena hosted the world premiere of Batman Live, a touring stage show, including theatrical, circus and stage-magic elements, that focuses on the DC Comics superhero Batman.

Following the Dangerous Woman Tour concert by American pop singer Ariana Grande on 22 May 2017, a suicide bombing occurred in the arena's foyer area.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that twenty-three adults and children were killed, including the bomber, and 500 were injured.

[50] On 14 June 2017, it was confirmed that the arena would remain closed until September, with scheduled concerts either cancelled or moved to other venues.

[51] On 9 September 2017, the arena re-opened with a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other acts associated with the North West.