MANCHESTER CITY have submitted plans to increase the capacity of the Etihad to 61,000.
Reports of the Premier League champions’ plans to renovate their ground emerged last month as they look to extend the 53,400-seater.
And now the club has confirmed that a planning application has been sent to the council for the £300million renovation.
A club statement read: “Manchester City is today announcing that it has submitted a planning application to Manchester City Council for the development of a best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment and leisure destination at the Etihad Stadium.
“This follows the conclusion of the Club’s consultation held between Tuesday 28 February and Sunday 26 March, where fans and the local community were invited to share their feedback on concepts and designs.
“Having reviewed all of the feedback submitted via the consultation questionnaire, the Club is delighted to confirm that fans were in favour of the concepts and proposals presented.”
The expanded capacity is set to come as a result of an extended North Stand with “one larger, single upper tier above the existing lower tier”.
And a host of other new features are also set to be implemented at the ground.
They include a sky bar overlooking the pitch and a stadium roof walk – much like the one on offer at Tottenham.
A 3,000-person fan zone, new club shop, museum, 400-bed hotel, and a variety of food and drink outlets are also in the submitted plan.
If approved, Man City will hope to start work in November and have the stadium expansion completed for the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
They believe 2,600 jobs will be created – with locals being given priority.
City have hired architectural firm Populous for the job following their work at Tottenham’s new state-of-the-art venue.
Speaking about the plans, Man City’s managing director Danny Wilson said: “Over several months we have been developing concepts and designs for a best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment and leisure destination at the Etihad Stadium and are delighted to have now submitted a planning application to Manchester City Council.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our fans and the local community for their participation in our recent consultation, not only for completing the questionnaire but sharing their detailed comments and feedback with us, all of which has been carefully reviewed and considered.
“As with all Club developments, ensuring our local community benefit is a key priority and we believe these proposals will deliver long-term economic and social opportunities, building on the regeneration work delivered in East Manchester by City Football Group since 2008.”
SOURCE: thesun.co.uk
