Manchester City are set to invest a staggering £1billion of investment into the Etihad Stadium, with the plans centred on adding 7,700 additional seats to the second tier of the North Stand, which will take the capacity to around 61,000. The eye–watering finance will be used to build a hotel, fan park, megastore, museum and other modern facilities.
Manchester City are investing £300million into revamping the Etihad’s North Stand (top)
The redevelopment project is set to include work on a hotel, fan park megastore and live arena
The club have consulted with fans and local residents about the project, with the next step being to secure planning permission. Manchester City are confident that if permission is granted, work will begin in November and the expansion to capacity will be complete for the start of the 2025–26 season. The increased capacity will bring City in line with the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and West Ham United and Liverpool’s development of Anfield is also expected to hit the 61,000 mark.
The Etihad’s maximum capacity will be increased to around 61,000
Renowned architectural firm Populous have designed the remodel, with their past projects including the world‘s largest cricket stadium in India as well as new stadiums at Tottenham and Lyon. Feasibility studies undertaken at the end of last year brought 434 formal responses, with 79 per cent of those comments either voicing support or positively contributing ideas for the club to consider.
The club estimate that the project will create 2,600 jobs with prior given to local applicants
Manchester City estimate that the project will create 2,600 jobs, with priority given to local applicants. Part of the overhaul will include further bars and eateries as well as a covered fan enclosure designed to cater for 3,000 people. The new builds, transforming the look of the campus, will sit alongside the Co–op Live Arena, the largest indoor music venue in the UK set to house 23,500 people, which is due to open this December and lists City as a stakeholder.
The revamp of the Etihad Stadium will be a huge improvement for Manchester City and their fans. It will not only add an extra 7,700 seats, taking the capacity to around 61,000 to match the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and West Ham United, but also provide a range of other facilities. The new hotel, fan park and megastore will provide further entertainment for the thousands of fans and the Co–op Live Arena will be the largest indoor music venue in the UK. With a potential £1billion of investment and the creation of 2,600 jobs, the revamp of the Etihad Stadium is set to be a great boost for the local community.
