Manchester City Football Club has announced its plan to go ahead with the second phase of the Etihad Stadium expansion, which will increase the stadium’s total capacity to more than 55,000 seats.
The new Etihad stadium is expected to be the second largest stadium in the Premier League.
Laing O’Rourke has been appointed as the main contractor for the project. It will deliver a further three rows of seats pitchside.
The contractor has produced a video for the project showing the entire construction process for the south stand phase one expansion.
The developer has already acquired a planning permission for the third phase, which can potentially increase the stadium’s capacity up to 61,000. Construction works on the stadium have already begun in March of this year and will see the creation of extra 6,000 seats to the South Stand.
Both project phases are set to be completed in time for the start of the 2015/16 Barclays Premier League season.
Throughout the project’s construction phase around 160 construction jobs will be created.
Tom Glick, Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We have always been committed to bringing fans closer to Manchester City, to the players and to the pitch.
“Whether that’s through digital innovation, community work, international tours, or as in this case, physically allowing fans to be right next to the action, it is our top priority.
“We are already looking forward to seeing the expanded stadium in action for the 15/16 season.”
The planned expansion will provide both procurement and employment opportunities for the local people. It is expected that around 160 people will be employed through the project’s construction phase, and up to 110 match day jobs will be created in these first phases.
Photo Source: Manchester City Football Club
