Etihad Stadium – construction description

When were the plans for Etihad Stadium expansion conceived?

City of Manchester Stadium or Etihad Stadium (commercial name, in force since 2011) was built between 1999 and 2002, and was inaugurated at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on July 25, 2002. After the Games, the venue was converted to football and reopened in 2003, and has served Manchester City's footballers ever since.

An upgrade of Etihad Stadium was confirmed in spring 2013. The plan was to extend the stands behind the gates, north and south. Acclaimed design studio Populous was in charge of the project and the cost was to be £50 million.

When was the south stand at Etihad Stadium extended?

The first stage was the superstructure of the third level above the south stand, increasing the capacity by 6,250 people. In the process, the facilities in this part of the stadium were to increase significantly, with new commercial areas planned.

Manchester City applied for planning permission in December 2013 and the first groundworks, including piling for the new development behind the south stand, began in early 2014. The actual construction began in April 2014 and was completed before the start of the 2015/16 season, with Laing O'Rourke as the main contractor.

When will the north stand at Etihad Stadium undergo expansion?

An identical operation was due to take place at the north end of the stadium, although it was delayed for at least a couple of years. The matter only gained momentum at the end of 2022, when the club announced that it was in the process of exploring various options and aspects for further expansion.

Consultations with fans and the local community took place in February and March 2023, and a planning application was submitted in April. Consent from the city was obtained in July 2023. Later that summer, demolition of the City store located in front of the north stand began.

The actual construction work began in autumn 2023. The extended stand is expected to be ready for the start of the 2025/26 season, with the whole project to be completed by the end of 2026.

What does the plan to expand the north stand at Etihad Stadium include?

The concept for Etihad Stadium expansion can be viewed on a separate subpage

Prior to the expansion of the north stand, a significant change was made to the plans. In addition to the expansion of the stand itself, the project now also included the construction of new commercial and entertainment buildings connected to it, as well as a covered fan zone with a capacity of up to 3,000 people. The cost of development was estimated at £300 million.

The new buildings will include restaurants, a museum, a new club shop and a 400-bed hotel. The stand extension will increase the capacity of the stadium from 53,400 to nearly 62,000 spectators. In contrast to the south stand, where the third tier was added, the extension of the north stand will result in a significant enlargement of the second tier.

A so-called sky bar is to be built at the top of the stand, and a special pathway is planned for the roof of the stand to allow for an experiential walk, similar to the one created at Tottenham's new stadium.

How is Etihad Stadium's surroundings changing during its expansion?

It is important to note that while the stadium is being expanded, there are also significant changes to its surroundings. Between 2011 and 2014, a short distance to the south-east, Manchester City's training complex was built along with the Academy Stadium, and between 2021 and 2024, a short distance to the north of the stadium, a large Co-op Live event center is to be built.