The 12 major fan takeaways from huge Man City Etihad Stadium revamp announcement

The Etihad Stadium is set for major renovation and rejuvenation as Manchester City confirms plans for the future of its home.

On Tuesday morning the club announced plans to expand the stadium to a new capacity of over 60,000 alongside numerous projects to improve the off-the-pitch fan experience.

Overall, Manchester City is looking to make the Etihad Stadium and campus into an entertainment, education and business hub as well as the home of the football team.

ManchesterWorld has been digging through the pages of announcements to bring you 12 key takeaways from the Etihad Stadium news.

North Stand expansion

The flagship piece of news in the Manchester City announcement today is an expansion to the North Stand at the Etihad stadium. One larger, single upper tier is planned for above the existing lower tier. This would increase the stadium’s capacity from 53,400 to over 60,000.

The club said: “In line with our ambition to create a destination with multiple facilities and factoring in the current configuration and design of the stadium, we have worked closely with architects to propose the development of a larger upper tier with a steeper gradient than the existing lower tier.

“Rail seating is currently installed in the South Stand of the Etihad Stadium. During the Club’s feasibility studies, fans told us that they would like rail seating to be considered within an expanded North Stand. We would like to hear views from more of our fans on this topic.”

City Square fan zone

A new fan zone for Manchester City supporters with a capacity of 3,000 has been announced. The City Square fan zone will be covered and hold a wide variety of food and drink outlets. These will be undercover and there will be large screens for viewing.

The club said: “City Square would be open all day on matchday giving fans the opportunity to arrive early or stay after the match to make more of their visit to the stadium. In addition, other sporting and community events would be held at the venue on non-matchdays.”

New destination club shop

The current City Store would be relocated and given a new lease of life.

The club said: “Relocation of the City Store would help to establish a much more enjoyable arrival experience from Joe Mercer Way and the Metrolink, opening up a direct visual connection with the stadium, with the North Stand and a new covered City Square acting as a focal point. This is a design move that has influenced our overall form and layout.”

Etihad Stadium hotel

The stadium does not currently have the means to host on-site accommodation and this is set to change in the new plans. A large new hotel will be built for use by fans and visitors on matchdays and throughout the week. Hospitality and ticket packages are set to be added to hotel room booking options.

Demand for this development is cited as concert events, 250,000 annual tour and museum visitors and the Etihad Campus as a growing business space.

Manchester City museum experience

The club currently has a museum and exhibition space on the second floor of the City Store.

Plans hope to bolster the museum to better showcase the club’s success in a ‘Manchester City museum experience’. This will be located in the City Square fan zone area.

Workspace for businesses

Plans include a ‘modest’ workspace targeted for use by start-ups and medium-sized organisations.

It is hoped that the 4,000 square metre space will attract businesses wanting to co-locate and collaborate with the Club, City Football Group and Etihad Campus partners.

Benefits of the workspace include a “highly accessible location with an increasing range of amenities and proximity to creative, tech and digital hubs across Ancoats” and the “opportunity for more organisations to collaborate with Manchester City Football Club, City Football Group and other Etihad Campus partners”.

Renewed stadium transport

Matchday travel measures are currently being explored with the club’s partners from across the city, with a view to enhancing existing services. Alongside this, Manchester City is developing alternative methods for fans to travel to and from the stadium as part of its wider sustainable transport strategy.

These include 240 new cycle stands at the ground, improving the three primary walking and cycling routes between the Etihad Campus and the city centre and shuttle bus trials.

Eastlands Residents Parking Scheme

Manchester City Council is in the ‘final stages’ of legal consultation for the implementation of an expanded Residents Parking Scheme to ensure local residents, businesses and their visitors can park at their homes and properties when events are taking place. This is set to be in operation before Co-op Live holds its first event.

Service Sector Training and Skills Academy

The club hopes to work with Manchester City Council and an education provider to develop a Service Sector Training and Skills Academy.

This comes after the club identified that “formal education routes available for people who aspire to build a career in the hospitality sector, particularly those which offer real-life practical experience as part of gaining qualifications, are low in number”. The academy is hoped to attract those interested in working in hospitality across ages.

The announcement stated: “Our plans would ensure that the hospitality sector expertise required to manage our entertainment destination would be drawn from local neighbourhoods. We would support the development of skilled and qualified local people, who would be empowered to create an exceptional fan and visitor experience at the Etihad Campus, adopting hospitality as a career of choice.”

Etihad Stadium Jobs

In the shorter term, Manchester City has shared its hopes that the Etihad Stadium revamp would create new jobs for local people.

In the hotel and across additional food and drink operators these would include; Catering and service; Hospitality; Event management; Customer Care; Cleaning; Stewarding and security Facilities management; Hotel management.

The club added: “We would ensure that new employment opportunities arising from our proposed development are accessible to East Manchester residents and support the retention and attraction of talent to the city.”

Minimal construction disruption on football season

Manchester City has reassured fans that the ambitious project will have minimal disruption to the football season.

Should a planning application be submitted and successfully approved, the construction programme is planned to take place over three years, with works staged to minimise disruption during the football season. It is anticipated that a main construction contract would be awarded in September 2023.

As such, it is anticipated that main construction works would likely commence on-site in November 2023, so the North Stand itself would be complete and open for the beginning of the 2025/26 football season i.e. August 2025.

The hotel, workspace and public realm works, including City Square, would subsequently complete by mid-late 2026.

Fans to have a say

The club has emphasised that it is keen to hear from supporters about the plans before applications are formally submitted.

There is an online feedback form online and the local community can also visit a temporary exhibition space in City Square at the Etihad Stadium, which will be open from March 4 - March 26, or attend one of three consultation events in East Manchester, where you can complete a paper feedback form.