Manchester City Football Club has received approval for their £300M plan to upgrade the Etihad Stadium from the local city council’s planning committee. This green light will initiate an expansion project to increase the Premier League stadium’s capacity. It entails revamping the north stand with an additional 7,900 seats, bringing the total seating to 61,958.
In addition to the expansion, plans include the construction of a nine-story, 391-bedroom hotel and an eight-story building. The developments were given the go-ahead by the Manchester City Council’s planning and highways committee on July 27. The north stand extension will expand the upper tier, including a sky bar overlooking the pitch and a stadium roof walk experience. It will also have a covered City Square fan zone accommodating 3,000 people as part of the upgraded Man City Stadium.
In alignment with these plans, the club shop will be replaced with a new eight-story building housing the shop and ticket office. Additional attractions will include a museum linking directly to the north stand and an interactive visitor experience venue, further enhancing the Man City Stadium tour. An expansive 4,000m2 workspace will occupy the four upper levels of the new structure.
Commencement of Etihad Stadium Expansion
The construction work is expected to commence in November. It will thus aim to complete the north stand during the 2025/26 football season. The hotel, workspace, and public realm works, including the City Square, are scheduled for completion by late 2026. As a result, it will offer the fans a chance to step inside the upgraded Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City Operations Managing Director Danny Wilson expressed excitement about the development. “This development will not only enable the Club to enhance and expand its offering to fans and visitors on both matchday and non-matchday. It will also create lasting long-term economic and social benefits for our local community.”
The application for the expansion was submitted in April following consultation between February and March. Despite some objections, the proposal garnered support and is now ready to proceed. John Sisk and Son are the frontrunners for building the expansion after initial plans with Laing O’Rourke fell through. Regardless of the chosen contractor, the club aims to start the construction as planned.
This comprehensive Etihad Stadium expansion promises an exciting future for Manchester City fans and the local community. Thus, it marks a new era in Premier League stadium expansions.
