May 12 – Manchester City have reached a key milestone in their £300 million stadium expansion and entertainment complex, completing the highest structural point of the project as part of an ongoing redevelopment of the Etihad Stadium and surrounding area.
The redevelopment will increase capacity to over 60,000, placing it among the largest football venues in the UK Upon its completion. A new, fully covered fan zone with space for 3,000 supporters is being constructed as part of the project, alongside a state-of-the-art museum, hospitality areas, and a 401-room hotel developed in partnership with Radisson.
The development’s ‘topping out’ ceremony, which traditionally marks the end of major structural work, was held this week with club officials, construction partner Sisk, and representatives from Manchester City Council in attendance.
The new North Stand is scheduled to open during the 2025/26 season, while the hotel, fan zone, and wider hospitality infrastructure are expected to launch in late 2026. The project is designed to operate year-round, with food and beverage outlets and workspace facilities available beyond matchdays.
The development is expected to generate hundreds of new full-time, part-time, and casual roles. Both Manchester City and Manchester City Council have highlighted the project’s potential contribution to the ongoing regeneration of East Manchester, an area that has undergone significant change since the club relocated to the Etihad Campus in 2003.
The expansion sits adjacent to the 23,500-capacity Co-op Live arena, a nearby entertainment venue developed as a joint venture between City Football Group and Oak View Group, further establishing the site as a major sporting and entertainment hub in the region.
Commenting on the topping out ceremony, City Football Group, Chief Operating Officer, Roel de Vries, said: “This is a proud moment for Manchester City and for everyone involved in the Club’s project to create a year-round entertainment destination at the Etihad Campus.
“The delivery of this project will enable us to enhance and expand our offering to our fans and visitors, both on matchday and non-matchday, and create lasting long-term economic and social benefits for our local community, building on the regeneration work City Football Group has delivered in East Manchester since 2008.”
Leader of Manchester City Council, Cllr Bev Craig, said: “This is a major infrastructure investment which will create and support hundreds of jobs, adding to the remarkable regeneration of East Manchester in which the club has played a constructive role.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1747090147labto1747090147ofdlr1747090147owedi1747090147sni@g1747090147niwe.1747090147yrrah1747090147