Sport

Manchester City confirm ticket stance for next season

'A step in the right direction.'

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 9th April 2025

Manchester City have revealed their stance on Premier League admission for next season, announcing a price freeze on season cards and game-by-game tickets.

Regular match-going Blues will be buzzing to hear that the cost of going to the ground won’t be increasing as expected after all, with the East Manchester side delighting supporters with news of a ticket freeze on all domestic league games for the 2025/26 campaign.

Although this season has been an up-and-down one for the recent Treble winners and record-breaking four-time consecutive Premier League champions, this will come as a nice surprise.

For context, Man City season ticket prices have gone up almost every year bar 2020 – when football was being played behind closed doors during the pandemic – for the past half a decade.

Confirming the decision in a brief statement shared on the club website and social media channels, City said that the outcome arrives following “the latest consultation meeting with its elected fan engagement programme, City Matters”.

“The Club would like to thank City Matters representatives for the feedback they provide on a range of topics relating to ticketing, and for sharing a broad range of perspectives from the fans they represent”, the statement continues. 

“The Club and City Matters will continue their ongoing discussions and consultations throughout the coming months around the evolution of the fan experience on matchday in the redeveloped and expanded Etihad Stadium.”

In terms of the stadium expansion, not only do the ongoing works include increasing the fan capacity to more than 60,000, but they will also be accompanied by a new sky bar, roof walk and on-site hotel.

The official hotelier partners for ‘The Medlock’ were recently revealed too, which could prove to be a game-changer for making the Etihad Campus the ‘year-round entertainment destination’ they’ve been dreaming of.

Manchester City reveal name, official partner and more images of huge new Etihad Stadium hotel
No doubt, all-in-one ticket prices for Man City matches and hotel stay packages will be introduced too.

While a season ticket freeze is no doubt a good thing, the news has been met with a somewhat measured response by most fans, with one responding in the comments below: “That’s a good start, now let’s reduce them.”

Popular fan podcast The City Ramble went on to add: “A step in the right direction now time to make tickets more affordable for everyone.”

Moreover, it’s also worth noting that this decision to freeze season tickets and general matchday admission only relates to the Premier League; Manchester City has yet to detail the prices for 25/26 cup games and European fixtures.

The lowest possible season ticket price at the Etihad Stadium currently is around £540 in the Family Stand/Colin Bell Stand/South Stand pitchside, with single match tickets starting from roughly £30 for juniors and approximately £58 for standard adults.

On the other hand, while averages range close to £800-900, the top end touch four figures and some single matchday tickets push the £75 mark.

Happy, Blues?

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

Sport

Family-friendly places watch the 2025 Women’s Euros in Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones family places showing 2025 women's euros in manchester city centre

It’s not just festival season we’re right in the midst of enjoying; a fantastic summer of sport is well underway, and with the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euros having now kicked off, we thought we’d round up some of the best places to watch the games in central Manchester.

With the Lionesses still reigning European champions following that unbelievable final against Germany back in 2022, we can’t wait to see if they can retain England’s first major trophy since 1966.

One of our favourite parts about the Women’s Euros is that it tends to attract a much more family-friendly crowd, meaning that wherever you choose to watch it here in the city centre, out into Greater Manchester or anywhere else for that matter, it’s a safe, wholesome and wonderful atmosphere.

So, without further delay, here are 10 of the best places to watch our girls bring football back home once again – because you’re damn right we’re winning it.

10 of the best places to watch the Women’s Euros in Manchester

1. Tony Wilson Place – First Street

First up, rather fittingly, we’re returning to one of our go-to spots pretty much every summer: the big temporary lawn laid out over on the square at Tony Wilson Place. A sun-trap with deck chairs and plenty of places for food and drink around you – what more could you ask for?

The ever-thriving First Street complex has been paving the way for free social listening/watch parties here in Manchester, especially when it comes to utilising public open-air spaces, and it’s sure to be backed once again for this year’s Women’s Euros too. Trendsetters, they are. It’s also the biggest screen.

2. MediaCityUK – Salford Quays

Heading out of the city centre for a spell – though only a tram ride away – the waterside viewing zone at the similarly titled ‘Screen on the Docks’ over at Media City is back for summer 2025 with a wide range of live sport, including the F1, Wimbledon, cricket and, of course, this year’s Women’s Euros.

Situated on the steps right next to the old harbour area, turned home of Greater Manchester mainstay, Box on the Docks, there are all kinds of entertainment to catch for free. Make sure you check their socials for the regular schedule this summer, even after the tournament is over.

It also happens to be one of the best places to watch Wimbledon in Greater Manchester.

3. Freight Island – Depot Mayfield

Next up is another regular favourite for any big sporting competition: the ever-busy, family-friendly and massive screens at Freight Island. Not only is it right next to Piccadilly station for those who are travelling into Manchester city centre, but you have all the food and drink vendors you’ll ever need.

With an entire room dedicated to watching live sports all year-round, not to mention quieter, family-friendly spaces like the ‘Plant Room’, outdoor spaces and so on, the Depot’s neighbour is always set up perfectly for big competitions like this, and you can bank on the big room being filled with England fans.

4. Deansgate Square – New Jackson

Heading over towards Castlefield direction and the emerging area known as New Jackson, next on the list of family-friendly places to watch the Women’s Euros in Manchester is Deansgate Square, where property developers Renaker have set up a special dedicated section for a jam-packed summer of sport.

Simply called ‘Screen on the Square’, the viewing zone not only sits in the shade of the city’s now skyline-defining towers but also catches plenty of rays throughout certain periods of the day. This space will also be doubling up as a free outdoor cinema throughout the season.

A free open-air cinema is opening in the heart of Manchester’s skyscraper district
Read more about what’s on at The Residences.

5. Factory International – Aviva Studios

Heading across to the other side of Castlefield and over to the back of St John’s, Aviva Studios – a.k.a. the home of Factory International – are also showing the women’s football this tournament season as part of their current Football City, Art United. exhibition, which began on Thursday, 4 July.

Tickets are available for just a tenner, and children 16 or under go completely free. As well as getting to view the incredible installation as part of this year’s Manchester International Festival (MIF), there are also areas dedicated to watching the 2025 Women’s Euros. Sorted.

6. The Carlton Club – Whalley Range

Perhaps one of our favourite options this summer is The Cartlon Club’s collaboration with Baller FC, who host accessible, inclusive football watch parties all over the country, but have a particular strong following here in Manchester and down in London.

In this case, FC doesn’t just mean for football club: it stands for ‘Friends Collective’, as the idea is that everyone is welcome, serving as a reminder that the beautiful game is also the people’s sport and no one should feel excluded. You can grab tickets for the games HERE.

Credit: Baller FC (supplied)

7. The Sisterhood* – Central

Next up is one of the most popular after-work and weekend Manchester sports bars full stop, but in honour of the Women’s Euros, they renamed from The Brotherhood of Pasttimes and Pursuits to The Sisterhood, instead. A nice little touch, don’t you think?

With two floors to choose from, kid-friendly games like pool and shuffleboard to be enjoyed, as well as plenty of pub classic food to keep everyone’s bellies full for 90 minutes, it’s pretty much one of the perfect spots to watch all the action.

8. National Football Museum – Cathedral Gardens

Moving over to the other side of town towards Victoria now, the National Football Museum is one of the best family-friendly and, most notably, completely FREE places to watch some of the best female players in the world shine on the European stage.

While the local institution and home of Manc footy culture will be open as normal throughout the day as normal, since many of the games are being broadcast during the evenings here in the UK, 2025 Women’s Euros matches will be screened after hours at no extra charge. Find out more down below.

Manchester’s National Football Museum to screen England’s Euro 2025 matches for free this summer

9. North Bar – Circle Square

The penultimate stop on our list of the best places to watch Euro 2025 might surprise some of you, but North Bat over on Circle Square – formerly known as North Taproom (just off Oxford Road Corridor) – has quietly become a great place for watching live sport with a more chilled atmosphere.

It might night have the box on all the time, but when they do for big occasions like this, we do sometimes whisper it is an alternative suggestion among friends to avoid the rowdier pub scenes. Maybe give it a try this month and decide for yourselves – and grab some street food from Koto while you’re at it.

10. Hyatt Regency Hotel – Central

And finally, this may be one of the least-known options in the city centre, but the free screenings inside the Hyatt Regency Manchester are also some of the best family-friendly places to watch football, making them a perfect out-of-the-way spot to enjoy the Women’s Euros too.

Credit: FJones2123 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press shots (supplied)

Sport

Catterall vs Eubank at AO Arena: will confidence or cocksureness pay off?

Danny Jones Danny Jones Jack Catterall vs Harlem Eubank presser

The official press conference between Jack Catterall and Harlem Eubank got a touch heated in Manchester today, and not necessarily for the reasons you’d think.

Although there was certainly a bit of covert bite between the local lad and Eubank (nephew of Chris Eubank Sr.) most of bickering came as a result of an exchange between the latter and promoter and boxing manager, Sam Jones.

Who knows how much of the needle between entourages is genuine and what is simply for show, but there was plenty of jokes made about minced words, stuttering, wearing shades in doors and dodging on multiple levels. Catterall himself remained quiet and calm throughout.

Harlem’s backers firmly believe there is a lot more “skill” in his corner than can be said of his Chorley-born counterpart ahead of this weekend.

Nevertheless, the Manchester regular may have stayed largely modest throughout – as has always been his way – but he still had plenty of confidence and his own team reiterated that there he’ll prove “very difficult to beat.”

He even went on argue that he is “levels above him”, rubbishing any talk of a potential knockout risk.

On the other hand, they did admit that he “can’t afford an 8 or 10-rounder” at this point in his career and a need him to put in a performance.

Meanwhile, Harlem could not have been cocksure of himself and was happy to play into the Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn’s hands in terms of the stereotypical ‘arrogant’ back-yourself kind of boxer vs the quiet, understated, underdog.

Insisting that he wants to “become a world champion” and even squeezing in a dig at fellow Brit, Conor Benn – who will be facing his cousin Eubank Jr. in a rematch this September – labelling the 28-year-old an “alleged drug cheat”.

There was even more excitement over in the ‘Small Talk’ studio set up inside the AO Arena, as recently retired MMA fighter, ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann, had an announcement of her own.

meatball molly mccann signs for matchroom boxing
meatball molly now a boxer
The Catterall vs Eubank press conference had another big bonus up its sleeve.

Over in the ‘Small Talk’ studio over to the side, confirmation from Eddie Hearn that Molly McCann, was announced as the latest Matchroom signing.

It was said that she expects to undertake her first seven or eight fights within the space of year, telling media that “this was always the plan” and despite “lots of offers” from different promotions, “There’s no other place [she’d] rather be.”

Hearn went on to state that he can see her competing for a title “within months”, adding: “I truly believe she’ll be a world champion.”

As for Catterall vs Eubank, who are you fancying this Saturday, 5 July?

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Featured Images — The Manc Group/press shots (supplied)

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