Stadium

History of the stadium

Welcome to the home of Manchester City, Etihad Stadium. The ground is one of the biggest in the UK with a capacity of 53,400 spectators, making it the fifth-largest to host a current Premier League side.

Manchester City moved to Etihad Stadium in 2003 whilst it was still known as the City of Manchester Stadium after 80 years at Maine Road. The Citizens later renamed the ground in 2011 for sponsorship reasons after buying the naming rights. Manchester City Council owns the site and leases it to them.

Etihad Stadium was originally an athletics venue and hosted events during the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Per The Guardian, Manchester City Council used £112m of lottery and public money to build the stadium. It later spent a further £22m of council taxpayers’ money to remove the running track.

Manchester City gave up Maine Road to move into Etihad Stadium

Manchester City handed over control of Maine Road to Manchester City Council as part of their 250-year lease agreement. The Citizens also agreed to pay their local council a fixed £3m rent which rises with inflation. While they paid £20m to add bars, restaurants and corporate areas before moving in.

Naming rights were not initially a part of the lease agreement but Manchester City renegotiated the terms in 2010. It gave the club the green light to go ahead with their lucrative sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways. The airline of Abu Dhabi also sponsors Manchester City’s training ground and kits.

Strong attendances in the early 2010s saw Manchester City move to increase the capacity of Etihad Stadium. The club began work on extending the South Stand with a third tier in 2014 and completed the project in 2015. Plans are also now in place to further expand its capacity to in excess of 60,000.

Manchester City submitted a planning application in April 2023 to expand the North Stand with one larger upper tier. It would also add a sky bar overlooking the pitch, plus a walkway on the roof of the stadium. The Citizens also hope to build a fan zone and a 400-bed hotel, plus food and drink outlets.

How to get to Etihad Stadium

Fans can get to Etihad Stadium through a number of means given the location of Manchester City’s home venue. It is located in the east of the city and is also serviced by a variety of public transport links. There is a Metrolink station outside of the ground with journeys running from the city centre.

A well-lit, sign-posted walking route that takes around 35 minutes also takes fans from Manchester Piccadilly station. While Ashburys station is a 15-minute walk from the stadium with connections from Manchester Piccadilly. Alternatively, you can use the East Manchester Metrolink line to Etihad Campus.

Stagecoach Manchester also runs a special service on matchdays between Manchester Piccadilly and Etihad Campus. While routes 53, 188, 216, 217 and 231 service the venue from around the city. The club only offer limited pre-booked parking for visitors getting to Etihad Stadium by personal vehicle.

Fans travelling from the north by personal vehicle should use the A6010 or M60, while those arriving from the south should use the M6, M56 or M60. Those travelling from the east should use the M62 or A628, while those arriving from the west can get to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium on the M62.

Stadium tour info

Manchester City run tours of Etihad Stadium for fans seeking a behind-the-scenes look at their home. Tours of the venue are also an immersive experience offering virtual interactions with Pep Guardiola in a 360-degree cinema. While the Citizens’ exhibition space also offers visitors holographic content.

Fans attending tours of Etihad Stadium also get an audio-visual experience inside Manchester City’s home dressing room. The tours also offer access to the players’ tunnel, the chance to get pitchside, the home dugout and the first-team warm-up area. The content of the tours on matchdays can vary.

Booking tickets in advance gives a discount of up to 15% on tours of Manchester City’s stadium. The price of the tour is also cheaper Monday to Friday, excluding school or bank holidays and match days.

Address:

Etihad Stadium: Ashton New Rd, Manchester, M11 3FF, United Kingdom