Footy fan? Manchester City are looking to revamp the current Etihad Stadium and have a massive £300 million budget on the cards. The football club want to increase the current capacity of their stadium from 53,400 up to 60,000 by expanding the North Stand.
In an application to Manchester City Council, the club outlined a proposal for the expansion alongside plans for a sky bar overlooking the pitch, a ‘stadium roof walk experience’, a 3,000 capacity fan zone, a new club shop and museum, and a 400-bed hotel.
According to Manchester City, the expansion and new aspects of the Etihad would create a ‘best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment and leisure destination’.
The Etihad stadium was originally built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games before becoming Manchester City’s permanent home. It was last renovated back in 2015 when 6,000 seats were added, but its capacity doesn’t quite match the *other* Manchester stadium, Old Trafford, which has a capacity of 74,000.
Alongside the expansion to the stadium, there are also plans for new office spaces for businesses that want to collaborate with the club and its partners on new projects.
Danny Wilson, managing director of Manchester City Operations, said that the application followed a consultation with fans and the local community on how the new expansion could benefit them. ‘We believe these proposals will deliver long-term economic and social opportunities, building on the regeneration work delivered in east Manchester by City Football Group since 2008,’ he added.
But it’s not just City football fans that’ll get a kick out of this news. Manchester City have said the proposals will inject more than £300 million investment into East Manchester and could create 2,600 jobs, with priority for people from Greater Manchester.
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