Speaking on the condition of anonymity to the BBC , the workers revealed how construction staff at the venue warned back in February that works were 35 weeks behind schedule.
Costing £365million, it is the most expensive and largest purpose-built concert venue in Britain and the jewel in the crown for an American-based firm that owns 300 venues around the world.
Tim Leiweke put his arm around an excitable BBC reporter and promised we re never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down - a nod to Rick Astley who was playing in the first gig that night.