The city centre will be painted sky blue this evening as Manchester City is set to celebrate their 2021-22 Premier League title.
After what had been one of the closest title races of the past few years, Manchester City yesterday pipped North West rivals Liverpool to the post during an impressive comeback in their final match of the Premier League season to successfully retain their title as the winners of English football’s top flight.
The Citizens eventually made their dream a reality by beating Aston Villa 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium after first going 2-0 down.
Two goals came from İlkay Gündoğan, and one from Rodrigo, all in the second half.
The victory yesterday was Manchester City’s sixth Premier League title in total since returning to the top flight in 2002, and the fourth Premier League title in five years won under current manager, Pep Guardiola.
But the celebrations weren’t just limited to yesterday, as Manchester City has now confirmed plans to take over the city centre this evening for an open-top bus parade and a party fit for champions.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Open-Top Bus Parade
To show off the shiny Premier League trophy in all its glory to thousands of fans, Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City squad will set off on an hour-long open-top bus parade down the city’s main thoroughfare, before finishing at the Beetham Tower – where a live stage show will take place with the champions.
The parade bus will depart from Exchange Square near the National Football Museum at approximately 6pm, and then travel onto St Mary’s Gate.
The route will then head south on Deansgate, and finish up near Beetham Tower at 7pm.
While fans will be able to line the streets for the full parade route, entrance to the official parade stage viewing area is only accessible via Deansgate, and not by any other entrance, with all supporters to be subject to a search before entering.
The accessible viewing platform on Great Bridgewater Street is available accessed from the same entrance, and will be available on “a first come first served basis”.
The open-top bus parade route through the city centre / Credit: Manchester City
Stage Entertainment
The open-top bus parade is only part of the party, as onstage entertainment will start at 4:30pm, with the players expected to arrive at approximately 7pm.
The parade party will be hosted by Manchester City’s City Square presenters Danny Jackson and Natalie Pike, who will be joined by former players and special guests, and, as there has been in previous years, there will also be live music from bands and DJs.
As this is a non-ticketed event, Manchester City is suggesting that fans arrive early to get the best possible viewing experience.
There will also be screens throughout Deansgate showing all the action from the stage.
What is the Council saying?
Manchester City’s Premier League title-winning celebrations are being fully-supported and made possible with help from Manchester City Council.
Commenting on the parade, Councillor Bev Craig – Leader of Manchester City Council – said: “Winning back-to-back titles is a fantastic achievement which I’m sure City fans will be eager to celebrate, especially as the pandemic denied them the chance to do so last season.
“The Council are happy to support the parade and expect a memorable occasion as tens of thousands of fans gather in the city centre to share the moment”.
Manchester City were crowned 2021-22 Premier League champions at the Etihad Stadium yesterday / Credit: Manchester City (via Twitter)
What else do I need to know?
Manchester City and Manchester City Council have also released some top tips for people making their way to the celebrations, and for everyone else travelling in and around the city centre this evening.
This is an outdoor event and will take place come rain or shine, so it’s recommended that fans:
Check the weather forecast before leaving to attend the celebrations.
Wearing appropriate clothing for the weather.
If it’s sunny, bring sun cream, a hat, and drink lots of water.
If it’s raining, bring wet weather clothing as umbrellas are not allowed.
The weather forecast for this afternoon into the evening in Manchester city centre is predicting a combination of overcast skies and rain showers, with temperatures ranging from 12°C – 14°C.
For all travel advice – including details of bus diversions – refer to the TfGM website here.
The NBA is coming to Manchester for just the second time ever
Danny Jones
In another major coup for Manchester, the NBA is coming to our shores for just the second time in history, having only been played in the UK on a relative handful of occasions.
This is nothing short of a massive milestone for the city.
Having last crossed the pond back in 2019, the NBA has only visited 0161 once before over a decade ago at the old AO Arena, and there’s only been a total of 19 transatlantic meetings up until now.
As if that wasn’t exciting enough, being confirmed as part of the NBA’s new European slate, Manchester is also set to be one of the first venues in the UK to ever host a regular-season game.
JUST ANNOUNCED: @NBA The NBA, Co-op Live and @ManchesterCityCouncil have today announced that the NBA will bring a regular-season game to Manchester for the first time ever in 2027, a monumental moment for the city, the venue, and UK sport. Read more here: https://t.co/6hR5g8XsxXpic.twitter.com/PRCCqb2Zaw
NBA Europe have managed to secure a three-year programme of matches that will feature as part of the league’s normal competitive season.
Kicking off next year and running until 2028 at the very least, the current deal will see the much-loved sport watched worldwide first land on the continent for a pair of games next year in Berlin and London, before heading to Paris and our very own Manchester in 2027.
Florida’s Orlando Magic and Tennessee’s Memphis Grizzlies have already been announced for the first two games, although Manchester’s match-up is yet to be confirmed at this early stage.
With Basketball England being officially headquartered within the wider Etihad Campus, there was no question that the Manchester NBA fixture was going to be held at Co-op Live.
As well as being not just the biggest indoor entertainment venue of its kind in England but all of Europe, the arena has also recently welcomed the likes of the UFC, WWE and multiple boxing matches, proving it can serve as the perfect host for premier live sporting action on a global scale.
Speaking in the wake of the seismic news, the Leader of Manchester City Council and representative for Burnage, Bev Craig, could only echo how big a deal this is for the region.
“Manchester once again has shown what a magnificent draw it is for major events, and we are thrilled to welcome the NBA back to our city”, she said. “This city is known for big names, big games and a reputation for showcasing world-class events on the biggest stage possible.
“With a growing basketball scene in Manchester, this event feels like the perfect fit and will give so many people in our city the chance to see what the best athletes in the sport can do on our home turf.
“When it comes to delivering world-class events, we know that Manchester is now firmly on the map. Now, working with our partners, we want to continue driving investment towards our city, creating new jobs, increasing growth and providing new opportunities and experiences for all of our residents.”
Once again, the exact date, timings and teams set to play at the Co-op are still yet to be decided, but having also sealed the BRIT Awards ceremony for 2026, it’s set to be a truly momentous couple of years for the arena and the city as a whole.
Manchester Thunder and AO help provide grassroots netball teams with new kits
Danny Jones
Our native netball team, Manchester Thunder, and Bolton-based principal sponsor, AO, recently helped provide new kits to grassroots clubs in the region.
We love to see it.
Acting in collaboration not only with the local electrical retailer but with the team’s very own kit manufacturer and sportswear supplier, VX3, who design gear for all manner of disciplines, Manchester Thunder visited the Platt Lane Sports Complex in Fallowfield to visit some youth netball teams.
Surprising the girls at the popular Greater Manchester community sports venue – operated by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) – a trio of different outfits from the North West and beyond were kitted out with jerseys, shorts, netball dresses, t-shirts and more.
Ribble Valley NC, Bangor’s Thundercats, and Chester, who were named North West Netball Club of the Year back in 2023, were all presented the boxes of brand-new netball kit.
These training and match-ready sportswear packages were worth more than £500 each, with VX3 renowned for their top-quality products, particularly prominent in both netball and rugby.
With approximately 700,000 women and girls playing netball nationwide every year, and an estimated 3.1 million people playing the sport annually, it remains the highest female participation sport in the country.
Multiple Manchester Thunder players were also in attendance on the day to help dish out the new kits, delighting youngsters who are no doubt hoping to follow in their footsteps one day.
Better still, not only were the kits bespoke to each club, but they also included tickets to a Thunder match, as well as an exclusive training session with the senior stars themselves.
Thundercats Under 12sRibble Valley U11sChester Netball ClubManchester Thunder presented netball kits to dozens of aspiring young players. (Credit: Supplied)
When it comes to the likes of Chester, the nearby netball team saw their previous season hit by multiple obstacles, including their summer club tournament, which typically serves as a key annual fundraiser, being called off due to adverse weather conditions.
That being said, competitions and generous donations like these prove vital for spotting organisations up and down the UK.
Maya Nelson, Head Coach of Ribble’s under-11s squad, said of the heartwarming event: “Getting the kit means a lot to the club.
“I think the dress, especially with them being different to our usual kit, is a really nice touch, and it’s something that we can wear to competitions and different events, and feel a little bit special.
“We’re always trying to recycle kit through pre-loved sales, so it’s nice for the girls to be able to be gifted something new through the competition, and not having to wear second-hand kit. We were all absolutely buzzing and we couldn’t believe it.”
At the time of the launch, Arafa Heneghan, Director of Brand at AO, said: “We’re incredibly passionate about supporting young people and grassroots team sports at AO, so we’re thrilled to run this competition for the next generation of netball stars, alongside Manchester Thunder.
“We know how much pride players take in their kits, so ten lucky teams getting the chance to create something bespoke with VX3 is really exciting.”
As official partners of the legendary AO Arena, the city’s iconic venues will also host the return of the England Netball team for an important international test series.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd May 2022 
