MANCHESTER CITY are set to play their first home game of the season this weekend, despite their stadium currently a “building site”.
The reigning champions host new boys Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and will do so in the midst of a £300million expansion of their home.
The Etihad sits surrounded by scaffolding and cranes while construction continues on a project to increase the stadium’s capacity.
The arena currently hold up to 53,400 fans, but will welcome another 6,600 once work is completed – taking City’s increased capacity to a whopping 60,000 supporters.
Fans can expect there to be ongoing work and scaffolding scattered around for some time with the development not expected to be completed until late 2026.
Former professional footballer turned journalist, Jan Age Fjortoft, described the ground as a “building site” just a matter of days before City’s opening home clash with Ipswich.
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While the Norwegian reporter also gave his followers a tour of the stadium, showing how the construction was coming along.
It’s not just an expansion of the stadium and a new stand that fans can expect at the Etihad though, but also some more exciting additions to the surrounding area.
The City Group are adding a 3,000-capacity fan zone, a new club shop, a museum and a 400-bed hotel.
While above the upper-tier of the new stand there will also be a sky bar and stadium roof walk.
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Man City have been in the Etihad for over 20 years now after ditching Maine Road in the 2003/04 season to take over the purpose built Commonwealth Games stadium.
They have already invested heavily to increase the ground’s original 38,000 seat capacity to the 53,400 seats it houses today.
City aren’t the only club investing in their home either with Crystal Palace just getting the green light to build an incredible new stand.
The redevelopment will see the Main Stand at Selhurst Park, which was built 100 years ago, knocked down.
In place of the 5,200 capacity stand will be a state-of-the-art structure that will house 15,300 fans.
While Aston Villa have also made changes to their iconic stadium Villa Park, booting 900 season ticket holders out of their seats in the process.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
