With two huge sporting events taking place in and around the city centre this weekend, Transport for Greater Manchester has issued a travel warning to those travelling in and out of the area, along with some helpful advice to the thousands of spectators set to arrive from Saturday onwards.
In case you haven’t heard, not only will this weekend see Manchester host the 2024 Betfred Super League Grand Final over at Old Trafford but Sunday will also see 24,000 runners take on the 2024 Manchester Half Marathon, not to mention even more supporters set to line the streets.
With local side Wigan Warriors contesting the final for the 13th time against Hull KR, a crowd of more than 65,000 rugby fans is expected to fill up Old Trafford, with many of those travelling likely to arrive in the city a day prior.
All that being said, it’s going to be a massive sporting weekend in Manchester, so TfGM and the Bee Network are urging both those travelling into the region and locals to plan their journeys accordingly to avoid added congestion and delays.
The Super League Grand Final takes place at Old Trafford this Saturday [12 October] at 6pm.
A six-minute service will operate to the ground on the Altrincham line and a 12-minute service to Wharfside.
As always – not just with big sporting events but the usual weekend bustle – local authorities are urging people to take public transport wherever possible.
Those travelling to the Grand Final at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ are being encouraged to use the Metrolink network, which will be running trams every six minutes to Old Trafford on the Altrincham line.
There will also be services to the Wharfside stop right near the stadium every 12 minutes on the Trafford Park line and Exchange Quay along the Eccles Line.
For those who are driving into the city, be aware that there will be one lane out-of-use on the A56 heading northbound near Barton Road, with delays of around 10-15 minutes expected before the game which is set to kick off 6pm.
Less warning, more just good travel advice; you can find more info on the official Manchester Bee Network website HERE as well as an interactive map down below.
Travel advice for the 2024 Manchester Half – Sunday, 14 October
As for the Sunday and the return of the Manchester Half Marathon, with more than double the number of entrants this year, you can almost certainly expect even more people to turn up in support of those taking part, meaning the city and surrounding areas will be taken over by the event.
The MCR Half 2024 officially gets underway from 8:55am on Sunday but road closures will be in effect from the day prior, with traffic already being impacted by the rugby, so there’s lots to take into account if you’re travelling into any of the affected boroughs (mainly Manchester and Trafford).
For starters, the A56 (North and Southbound) as well as the M60 Junction 7 will be closed until the late afternoon. You can find more travel warning details and timings around Manchester road closures HERE.
As for the trams, runners should aim to use Old Trafford, Trafford Bar and Imperial War Museum as their closest stops when arriving ahead of the starting gun; access to other nearby stops like Pomona, Cornbrook, Exchange Quay and Wharfside will be challenging due to the half marathon course.
If you’re a spectator on the other hand, official cheering zones are located right near the Deansgate-Castelfield Interchange as well as Wharfside near the White City starting line in Trafford. You can find another interactive map to help plan your journey down below.
Director of Customer and Growth at TfGM, Frank Wilkinson, said of the upcoming busy weekend of sport: “It’s shaping up to be a really exciting weekend with two wonderful events that thousands of people will be heading out to enjoy – showcasing what Greater Manchester is all about.
“We want everyone to have a great time and avoid hold-ups and delays wherever possible, which is why I’d encourage anyone travelling in the half marathon area, in particular, to plan ahead and allow themselves plenty of time for their journey.
“Tram will definitely be the best way to get around and if you’re coming to cheer someone on why not avoid the busy start and finish points and cheer on your runner from one of the lovely places along the route, such as Sale or Chorlton.” She also added that those who do end up driving should make use of the park-and-ride sites – there are 24 of them across Greater Manchester and you can the full list HERE.
We wish all those taking part in the Manchester Half Marathon the best of luck and hope everyone turning up to cheer them gives it their all too; as for the Super League Grand Final, it’s sure to be an amazing game and we’re also buzzing to hear that the future will be remaining here for the foreseeable.
Five free places to watch Wimbledon on the big screen in Manchester this summer
Danny Jones
It’s grass court season, folks, and as a truly music and tournament-filled summer kicks into fifth gear, we’re making a civilised foray into the all sporting action with Wimbledon, which got underway at the end of June– and we’ve got the perfect places to watch every second here in Manchester.
Us Mancs love sports of pretty much any discipline, it practically makes up the fabric of our city, and in this case, that just so happens to be breathable white cotton or perhaps poly-blend suitable for running around and swinging a racket in.
On a serious note, everyone loves watching tennis for at least this one fortnight during this time of year, and with a record number of British players competing in the tournament right now, there’s all the more reason for you to tune in.
So, all that being said, here a five free, largely family-friendly places to watch Wimbledon 2025 on the big screen here in Manchester city centre.
Where to watch Wimbledon 2025 in Manchester for free
1. Tony Wilson Place – First Street
First up, rather fittingly, we’re returning to one of our go-tos whenever Wimbledon rolls around these days: the big temporary lawn laid out over on the big 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.
Heading over towards Castlefield direction and the emerging area known as New Jackson, next on the list of free places to watch Wimbledon in central 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 (if you’ll pardon the pun) as a free outdoor cinema throughout the season.
Entertainment of all forms over at The Residences.
3. Courts Club – St John’s
From the outskirts of Deansgate to the area’s newest addition, the thriving St John’s district has the perfect home for all things court-based, with a free outdoor screen whilst the sun is out and another big project inside the venue, where you’ll also find plenty of food and drink options.
Courts Club has genuinely started realising its potential as a genuinely popular social hangout as well as being a bar, pub quiz destination, food spot and places to enjoy a rally or shoot a few hoops. Not unlike First St, the faux beach and lawn layout is ideal for a laid-back Wimbledon watchalong.
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 cricket, F1 and, yes, Wimbledon.
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 even after the tournament is over.
5. The Lawn Club
Finally, the last one on this list isn’t necessarily a free viewing area; however, we’ll confess to having wandered in here and taken in the big screen without getting so much as a water before. Also part of the Shiko Group, like Courts, The Lawn Club is exactly as on brand as it sounds.
Located in Spinningfields just a short walk from St John’s around the corner, the bottomless brunch favourite once again has a big screen out on the artificial garden terrace out back. That being said, you might as well give them your custom and grab a Pimm’s while you’re at it.
Best of luck to all our UK stars taking part in Wimbledon this year, and we hope these Manchester venues and their big screens serve as an ace place to watch the games with Hawk-Eyes…
Chloe Kelly leaves Manchester City for Arsenal on a permanent deal
Danny Jones
England forward Chloe Kelly has officially left Manchester City after five years and is joining her girlhood club Arsenal following her contract expiry.
As one of the biggest stars in the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) and hero of the current Lionesses squad, most Man City supporters would have been hoping to keep hold of Chloe Kelly for as long as possible, but now the talented attacker has returned to Arsenal on a permanent deal.
The 27-year-old London-born star spent the end of last season on loan there, where she came through the academy as a youngster, but has now made the move back down south full-time after a successful 2024/25 campaign, which saw the Gunners win their first Women’s Champions League in 18 years.
Securing the switch on a free transfer, pending the completion of standard regulatory processes, she is reported to have signed a three-year deal and will keep the number 18 shirt.
— DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) July 2, 2025
Although the fee is yet to be confirmed, it looks to be a deal that suits both parties.
Speaking on the move, Kelly – who previously shone on Merseyside as part of Everton’s women’s team, too – said she is “excited to win more trophies”, insisting, “This is the place I want to be.”
In her full statement shared via club media, she added: “Putting pen to paper on a permanent contract at Arsenal is a standout moment for me. Learning from an incredible manager and continuing to build relationships with an excellent team is a journey I’m looking forward to continuing…
“I’ve always said that Arsenal supporters are the best, and to have them on my side, singing my name, means so much to me.”
Meanwhile, City Women expressed their gratitude for her time in sky blue, writing, “Everyone at City would like to thank Chloe for her efforts during her time at the Joie Stadium and would like to wish her the best for the future.”
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) July 2, 2025
Kelly leaves the Etihad Campus having scored on 34 occasions across a total of 113 appearances for City, including 14 assists in her last full year with the club, as well as an impressive 16 goals in her debut season as MCWFC women the FA Cup.
Her time with Gareth Taylor’s team was largely curtailed by an unfortunate ACL injury which brought a premature end to her maiden term, but she was still voted fans’ Player of the Season at the end of 20/21, as well as picking up the Women’s Player of the Year at the North West Football Awards in November.
She was also named in the PFA’s Team of the Year and, most famously, scored the winning goal as Sarina Weigman’s Lionesses beat Germany in that thrilling 2022 UEFA Women’s Euros final – the nation’s first major honour since 1966.
Many will be sad to see her go, but the club have at least signed an exciting new replacement to bolster the forward line, with highly-rated teenager, Iman Beney, arriving in Manchester from BSC YB Frauen on a four-year deal at just 18.
Danny Jones -
9th October 2024 
