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History of City of Manchester Stadium

Full name:

Manchester Stadium

Nickname(s):

Location:

Rowsley Street, Manchester M11 3FF

Built:

1999

Opened:

2002

Owner:

Manchester City Council

Former names:

Tenants:

Manchester City FC

Capacity:

47,726 seats

Facts & History

1 Stadium Overview
2 Stadium History
3 Seating Chart
4 Getting There
- 4.1 Map
5 City Information
- 5.1 Area Pubs
- 5.2 Travel Tips
6 Important Links
7 References

Stadium Overview

The spectacular City of Manchester Stadium is the home of Manchester City Football Club. This modern venue is one of the largest stadiums in the English Premier League and is the host of the UEFA Cup Final in 2008. The City of Manchester Stadium has won a number of design awards, and aside from football it is also used as an arena for large-scale music concerts. The stadium is shaped like a bowl and has two continuous tiers of seating all the way around the ground, and a third tier along each long side. Each side of the stadium has its own name as is typical with most English football stadiums. Initially, all sides of the stadium were named by compass direction (North Stand and South Stand for the ends), but over time each side has been given a proper name. Manchester Stadium is currently the tenth largest stadium in the United Kingdom with an exact seating capacity of 47,726.

Stadium History

The City of Manchester Stadium was originally been built to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. The 48,000+ seat stadium was first used by Manchester City FC at the beginning of the season in August 2003. Man City inherited the stadium as their new home ground to replace the old Maine Road stadium in Moss Side to accommodate the club’s growing fan base. After the Games the Stadium was developed even further and a new seating on the north side was installed. The running track was removed, and new facilities were also added for ticket holders, including six restaurants and purpose-built function rooms which are available for hospitality and events on both match days and non-match days. The stadium has more than 2,000 parking spaces in a vast car park, which eclipses the street-only parking of the old Maine Road stadium.

Seating Chart

Getting There

City of Manchester Stadium is conveniently located just outside of Manchester City Center and easily accessible by car, train, taxi or bus.

By Car:
From the South, (Manchester Airport), follow sign posts for the City Centre on the M56 which becomes the A5103 (Princess Road), turn right onto Wilbraham Road (A6010), travel along this until you hit a set of traffic lights, turn left onto Wilmslow Road (A6010). Follow signs for Rusholme/City Centre. Come to a double set of traffic lights, take the right hand lane, at the first set go straight over, the 2nd turn right onto Dickinson Road (A6010). Stay on the A6010 which becomes Pottery Lane, over Ashton Old Road. The A6010 becomes the Alan Turing Way and the City of Manchester Stadium is on the left.

From the East, Sheffield (via A57) or Barnsley (via A628) follow the M67 and join the M60 at Junction 24, follow round to Junction 23, turn off left onto the Ashton New Road (A662). The City of Manchester Stadium can be seen at the next junction with Alan Turing Way (A6010).

From the West, Liverpool (via M62), Bolton (via M61) join the M60 at junctions 12 and 15 respectively and follow round to Junction 23, turn right onto the Ashton New Road (A662). The City of Manchester Stadium can be seen at the next junction with Alan Turing Way (A6010).

By Train:
Arrive at Manchester Piccadilly and catch the regular bus service to the stadium or take a taxi direct to the City of Manchester Stadium. Its about a one mile walk.

By Bus:
Catch either a 216 or 217 from Piccadilly Gardens bus station, at Stand C..

Map

City Information

Area Pubs

The Gunners, 204 Blackstock Road, London, N5 1NE, 020 7359 2467

Travel Tips

Glasgow has the most extensive urban rail network in the UK outside of London with rail services travelling to a large part of the West of Scotland. Central Station and Queen Street Station are the two main railway terminals, providing train services to the rest of the United Kingdom. The city's suburban network is currently divided by the River Clyde, and an initiative has been proposed to link them. In addition to the suburban rail network, SPT operates the Glasgow Subway.