Manchester City take steps to reach southern fans with new travel partner

Manchester City have secured Virgin Trains as the Official Travel Partner of their behind-the-scenes City in the City events.

The train operator is the second brand to sponsor City in the City, with private equity real estate firm Henley Investments also signed up.

City’s director of stadium sales and operations, Danny Wilson, said: “We’re delighted to launch this exciting initiative with Virgin Trains and look forward to working together in order to ensure Manchester City and the Etihad Stadium are as accessible as possible to our loyal fan base.

“Virgin Trains has played an integral part of our supporters’ matchday experience for nearly two decades.”

As part of the deal, the club’s Cityzen members will have access to discounts on advance off-peak fares with Virgin Trains. City fans based in London and the South East, meanwhile, will get discounts on first-class matchday trains running from London to Manchester.

Danny continued: “The new discount available to our Cityzen members and southern based fans will provide real value for money, whether they are travelling on a matchday or for other non-football purposes.”

Now in its second year, the City in the City events series offers fans in the South of England the chance to see the Blues’ inner workings and hear from key figures in the club. Previous guest speakers include City manager Manuel Pellegrini and captain Vincent Kompany

Virgin Trains’ general manager for the North West, Gary Iddon, commented: “We are very proud to be the Official Travel Provider of City in the City, and excited to be working with Manchester City FC on a number of initiatives aimed at improving the experience of matchday travel for both their supporters and our non-football customers as well as on the series of events which makes City in the City unique.”

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