Member Article

City’s Etihad Stadium redevelopment – Phase Two gets underway

Manchester City Football Club has announced Phase Two of the Etihad Stadium expansion, which will see a further three rows of seats built pitchside and take total capacity to more than 55,000.

The work, undertaken by Laing O’Rourke, began in March 2014 to add c.6,000 seats to the South Stand and both projects are due to be completed in time for the start of the 2015/16 Barclays Premier League season.

The club says that demand has “soared” from fans hoping to secure a seat following the news of the South Stand expansion, and the waiting list for new season-cards now stands at 7,500.

Planning permission has also been granted for a third phase which could see a further c.6,000 seats and a total capacity of c.61,000, making the Etihad the second largest stadium in the Premier League.

Tom Glick, the club’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We have always been committed to bringing fans closer to Manchester City, to the players and to the pitch.

“Whether that’s through digital innovation, community work, international tours, or as in this case, physically allowing fans to be right next to the action, it is our top priority.

“We are already looking forward to seeing the expanded stadium in action for the 15/16 season.

“For nine months of 2013, Manchester City held a free exhibition on the Etihad Campus in order to consult with local residents, fans and other stakeholders.

The decision to increase the capacity of the Etihad Stadium has enabled the club to provide even more £299 seasoncards and at the same time to improve the on-site hospitality offering.

The expansion provides both employment and procurement opportunities for the local community. Approximately 160 people will be employed through the project at its peak and up to 110 match day jobs will be created in these first phases.

The work begins immediately and will continue throughout the 2014/15 season

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