243 Etihad Stadium

The Etihad Stadium, originally known as the City of Manchester Stadium, was constructed to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Following the event, the stadium underwent significant modifications to transform it into a football-specific venue. These changes included lowering the playing surface and adding an additional tier of seating, increasing its capacity to approximately 53,000 spectators. Manchester City Football Club relocated from their historic Maine Road ground to this newly adapted stadium in 2003.

In 2011, a sponsorship agreement led to the renaming of the venue as the Etihad Stadium. Further developments have taken place since, including the addition of a third tier to the South Stand in 2015, which increased the capacity to over 55,000. Plans are underway to expand the North Stand, aiming to raise the total capacity to around 61,000 seats. The Etihad Stadium has not only been the stage for Manchester City’s domestic and European successes but has also hosted various international matches, concerts, and other significant events, solidifying its status as a premier sporting venue in the United Kingdom.