Member Article

Manchester City seeking approval for plans to expand stadium

Manchester City FC are planning to expand the Etihad Stadium and develop the surrounding area to include a new training complex and other facilities.

The club is seeking planning permission to expand the stadium’s capacity by 14,500, meaning that the stadium would be able to accommodate just over 62,000 spectators. The plans involve adding 6,250 seats at each end of the stadium and another 2,000 in areas surrounding the pitch.

The development would create a stadium with the second biggest capacity in the Premier League, behind rivals Manchester United’s Old Trafford home.

Papers have been submitted to Manchester City Council’s planning committee, and a report recommends their approved. A decision is due to be made at a meeting on February 13.

The planned expansion would create 160 temporary jobs in the area, with demand for an extra 110 staff for match days.

The club’s submission states that “the expansion … will provide enhanced facilities which will help to create a stadium of national and international profile and improve the visitor experience, the appearance of the south and norths stands and create a more prominent landmark feature at the centre of the Etihad Campus and East Manchester.”

As well as bringing in more jobs to the area, hotels, restaurants and other businesses will benefit from extra traffic. A potential 14,500 extra people could attend matches - and spend their money.

Transport would be busier, but the addition of a new Metro stop outside the stadium eases the flow of people attending matches and other events at the Etihad.

The extra revenue generated would also help the club to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules, and allow for long-term reinvestment,

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .