Premier League champions Manchester City have revealed the new seating configuration for their North Stand as the plans to expand the stadium and surrounding Etihad Campus continue.
Initial work on the stadium expansion commenced earlier this year after the City Football Group’s (CFG) grand plans to turn the ground into a world-leading and year-round entertainment destination were finally approved back in July 2023.
Beyond just increasing the capacity of the stadium itself, the designs include a brand-new hotel, museum and club shop, sky bar and many other features, with all facets slated to be finished sometime in 2026.
However, it’s fair to say that the fans are most excited to see the crowd get even bigger and with a new seating configuration now revealed, the wheels are in finally motion.
As detailed in a full announcement, the new seating arrangements with the North Stand will soon see a new max total of 60,000 fans able to attend games at the Etihad.
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They go on to explain that once done, the expanded home end will feature a broad range of seating options, including a large rail-seating area and dedicated family zones.
An estimated 3,000 rail seats are scheduled to be installed as part of the expansion, “with the option of increasing this allocation ahead of opening should there be further demand”, the statement continues.
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Given how much clamour there has been for revisiting and/or furthering safe standing in the UK, this could prove to be a hugely popular decision, with plans to create rails eating at opposite ends of the pitch to generate “an electric atmosphere.”
The stadium as a whole has already been named among the best in the UK when it comes to the likes of stadium tours, but they’re also hoping to create “new pathways for the next generation of Manchester City fans to enjoy matches at the Etihad Stadium” with options such as a ringfenced section specifically for fans aged 21 and under.
But it goes much further than this too, with level one of the North Stand set to be bolstered with a range of new breakout spaces such as religious rooms and alcohol-free areas.
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City are yet to outline an estimated completion date for the new North Stand seating plan or which of the other aspects of the Etihad Campus expansion are being prioritised.
Nevertheless, the club has assured they will continue to speak with the fan base and official supporter groups on how best to use these new spaces.
Meanwhile, the red half of Manchester looks like it might be finally getting a clearer picture of what the ‘new Old Trafford‘ might look like as their own expansion plans are starting to move forward.
Premier League Darts is returning to Manchester’s AO Arena in 2027
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Premier League Darts is confirmed to be returning to Manchester next year.
Now’s your chance to see the youngest world champion in darts history, AKA Warrington’s very-own Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, show us how it’s done, as next year’s BetMGM Premier League Darts lineup has just been announced this week – with various dates confirmed across 17 different cities in the UK and Europe.
And Manchester is one of those cities, as the AO Arena has shared that they are set to host an evening next April, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
This means that we will be lucky enough to witness the biggest names in world darts all under one roof, including headliners Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries, as well as Littler.
Manchester is the only northern city to get the pleasure of hosting the event next year, as Liverpool is also on the lineup, as is Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle, while elsewhere in the UK, the stars will travel to Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and several other major locations.
BetMGM Premier League Darts is to be held on Thursday 8 April at the AO Arena in Manchester, and to avoid being disappointed, fans are advised to register for presale ticket access.
Following a successful season of events in 2026, tickets are expected to be like gold-dust, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.
To access the first wave of tickets, fans must become an active PDCTV Annual Member before 23:59pm on Friday 9 October. Alternatively, general sale is on Thursday 22 October 2026, but make sure not to hang about.
Featured Image – Sandro Halank (via Wikimedia Commons)
Sport
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has claimed he wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on fans getting to drink alcohol in football stands.
It’s a ban that’s been in place in the top five tiers of men’s football since 1985, when fears over violence and hooliganism were at their height, but now the Prime Minister has raised the question of whether drinking in football stands – or ‘drinking in sight / view of the pitch’, as it’s known formally – is actually unjust, due to the fact that same rules don’t apply to fans of other sports.
“I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way,” Andy Burnham has declared this week, grabbing headlines in the process.
He continued: “I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different, and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.
“I’m not going to back away from what’s been a long-held view of mine. I don’t see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently.”
The Prime Minister’s comments have been met with mixed response.
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands / Credit: James Kirkup | Julia Nastogadka (via Unsplash)
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), for example, has very much welcomed the idea, saying that it ‘totally agrees’ the legislation is ‘outdated’ and ‘deserves to be reviewed’.
Tom Greatrex, chair of the FSA, said in a statement: “The FSA has always argued that it’s unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match – especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league.”
However, on the flip side, the UK Football Policing Unit said it would be ‘incredibly rash’ to change the rules without proper consultation.
“Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour,” it said in a statement on the matter.
The Prime Minister did state in his initial proposition though that ‘there are different ways it could be done’, hinting that it could be done ‘on a trial basis’ perhaps.
The English Football League (EFL) added that it would be ‘receptive to discussions around reviewing current legislation and permitting alcoholic drinks within view of the pitch’.
No formal details on a review have been confirmed as of yet, so fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates in due course.
Danny Jones -
26th September 2024 
