Manchester City today announced they have submitted a planning application for a new entertainment and leisure development that will expand their home ground. Discover what the new Etihad Stadium expansion will contain.
Manchester City FC’s home ground could be getting a new development that will not only increase the stadium’s capacity but also provide a “best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment and leisure destination”, as described by the club themselves on their website.
The development has been going through the works over the last few months, and the club has now confirmed that they have submitted a planning application for it, which if accepted, will see work begin to realise the state-of-the-art project concept.
Find out what plans Man City and the Etihad Stadium have for this new development, what features will be included, and how they’re adding to an already stellar fan experience at the stadium.
What are the Etihad Stadium Expansion Plans?
The Etihad Stadium expansion plans have been going through the works for some time now and have finally hit the last stage before they can start to work on it - the planning application.
The planning application has been submitted to Manchester City Council, and with that, the details of the development have been released by the club.
This new development will see a major overhaul to the overall fan experience, leading the way with new ideas and a revolutionary concept for English football to make the whole matchday more enjoyable for all.
The North Stand will be at the centre of the development, with the stand being expanded with one larger, single upper tier above the existing lower tier that will increase the capacity to above 60,000.
Within this newly expanded stand, there will be a sky bar that will sit on top of the upper tier and will provide unbeatable views of the pitch. There will also be a stadium roof walk experience added, a trend that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium may have started.
Its not just about the pitchside of the stand that will be getting an upgrade. Something that has been consistent with all of the club’s designs has been the development of a City Square fan zone.
This City Square fan zone will be a hub for the ultimate fan experience. With a capacity of 3,000 people, this fan zone will contain a wide variety of bars and restaurants, a new club shop, a museum, and even a 400-bed hotel.
There will also be modest workspaces installed for use by start-up and medium-sized organisations who are looking to “co-locate and collaborate with the Club, City Football Group and Etihad Campus partners” (source: Manchester City website).
What Has The Process for The Etihad Stadium Expansion Been Like?
So far, the process has been going fairly smoothly. Danny Wilson, Managing Director for Manchester City Operations, said that they have been developing concepts and designs over the last few months to be able to come up with something to bring to the public.
The concepts and designs were brought to the fans and local community to give their views and share their feedback during the club’s consultation period that took place between 28th February and 28th March.
After reviewing all the feedback, the club found the fans were in favour of the concepts and the proposals presented, which led to the club finalising and submitting the planning application.
How Does the City of Manchester Benefit from The Etihad Stadium Expansion Project?
The development will not only bring a host of benefits to the fans on matchdays, but will also provide for the city and local communities.
As described in their announcement on the Man City website earlier; “The Club’s proposals represent over £300m investment into East Manchester through a major construction project that would take up to three years to complete, offering 2,600 jobs prioritised for people from Greater Manchester”.
Will There Be Any New Hospitality Lounges Within the Etihad Stadium Expansion?
Man City have not explicitly announced any new hospitality lounges to be added with this expansion. However, with what it is bringing to the stadium, it wouldn’t be surprising to see new hospitality lounges or updates to previous ones added.
With the development expanding upon the North Stand, there is a possibility that any hospitality suites or lounges within the stand will be getting an upgrade.
There will also be a new Sky Bar built above the Upper Tier which could serve as a hospitality/ VIP lounge area, although this has not been confirmed by the club.
The Etihad Stadium is already an incredibly impressive venue, however, this new development will only add to its brilliance.
Man City are a brilliant team to watch live, and this sort of proposal is only right for one of the world’s greatest teams.
While they haven’t announced any new hospitality lounges or packages to come with the development, there is already a great range of spectacular hospitality packages available at the Etihad that ensure you will have a day to remember.
Experience the likes of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jack Grealish putting on a show from the very best seats in the house with Manchester City hospitality. Check out what we have available for their remaining home games this season and book your premium ticket package now!
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