Manchester City announced details for the stadium expansion and a general renovation of the surrounding area. City first revealed their growth intent at the Etihad Stadium in December. The addition of 7,000 seats will bring the Etihad Stadium to over 60,000. That would make it the third largest football stadium in England behind Wembley and Old Trafford.
The biggest changes, however, would be to the fan zone connected to the North Stand, the location for the seating addition. Manchester City released drawings and concepts for a new hotel, club store, museum and square, all connected to that North Stand.
The city owners want to make the Etihad Campus a year-round entertainment hub. Right now, construction is underway on Co-op Live, a stadium that can host live music, sports, and other entertainment options. It will have the largest indoor arena capacity of any arena in the UK. That title currently belongs to the Manchester Arena, less than a mile away. Construction on that part of the Etihad campus is complete in December this year.
A hotel certainly adds to that, as does the museum and club shop in the area.
Manchester City shows potential stadium expansion
However, for football fans, the emphasis is on the North Stand of the City of Manchester Stadium. The addition of 7,000 seats completes the upper levels for all four sides of the ground. However, the north stand will look a bit different.
While the east, west and south stands create one large stadium, the north stand will have a unique design with the expansion of the stadium. The other two will have three stands, while the north stand will have two. That is, at least, according to the rendering above provided by Manchester City.
At the moment, there is no timetable for the completion of the stand and the hotel. However, Manchester fans and residents are encouraged to visit an exhibition about the plans at the Etihad Stadium over the next month.
PHOTO: IMAGO / News Images
