Last Update:
August 12, 2024
The Etihad Stadium has a bowl design and is totally enclosed. Now expanded to a capacity of over 55,000 it has become one of the best stadiums in the country, not only in terms of size but also in its fantastic facilities. Both stands on either side of the pitch are virtually identical, being semi-circular in shape, three-tiered, with a row of executive boxes running across the stands, located in-between the second and third tiers.
Both ends of the Manchester City ground were originally smaller in size, being two tiers high, but during the 2014/15 season, a large third tier was added to the South Stand, adding another 6,250 seats. At present, the North Stand remains two-tiered with a row of executive boxes, running across the back of the stand just below the roof. Both these ends are of the more traditional rectangular design. The second tier around the stadium slightly overhangs the lower.
However, planning permission has been approved to also expand the North Stand of the stadium which will increase the overall capacity of the Etihad Stadium to 61,474. This is expected to be completed by 2026.
The stadium also has two large video screens in opposite corners of the ground. Outside the ground near the main club entrance is a memorial garden, which includes a tribute to former city player Marc-Vivien Foe.
In addition to Foe, other club legends have been immortalised outside the Man City stadium with some form of art sculpture – amongst them are Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero.
Can the Etihad roof close?
No. The roof runs continuously around the stadium stretching up over the stands and down to the North end, creating a spectacular effect. There is a perspex strip just below the roof and the spectator areas, allowing light to reach the pitch.
In early 2023, major plans for an Etihad shakeup were put into the public domain. These plans touch on both the stadium itself and the wider area around the ground. From a stadium perspective, the plans revealed show the club are looking to expand the upper tier of the North Stand to add a further 7,900 seats to the capacity; this would bring the Man City stadium over the 60,000 mark.
Outside the ground there are extensive works planned. The star attraction will be the addition of a covered fanzone that will be able to house 3,000 fans. Beyond that the development will create a host of retail and wider commercial opportunities including office space, hotels and much more. The UK’s biggest indoor arena, Co-Op Live, is also set to open next to the Etihad Stadium in April 2024.
What is the away end at the Etihad Stadium?
Away fans are located on one side of the South Stand at one end of the ground, spread across the upper, middle, and lower tiers, where up to 3,000 fans can be accommodated (4,500 for cup games).
One review reads: “The view of the action is pretty impressive although the atmosphere within the stadium is a bit ‘hit and miss’ at times. I did hear though on my last visit one very good rendition of the Man City fans anthem ‘Blue Moon’. My only real complaint was the lack of distance between the home and away supporters. Only a few seats and a row of stewards stood in-between the two sets of fans, which led to a lot of unpleasant baiting between the two. And of course, it was always the away fans who were adjudged to be causing the problems by the stewards and this led a number of away fans on my visit being escorted out of the stadium.”
The facilities are also pretty good with spacious concourses and large plasma flat television screens showing the game. There is also the usual selection of food on offer; including Hot Dogs and a range of pies. The club are partnered with Asahi and pints can be purchased on the concourse.
After the game has finished fans are kept apart immediately outside via a large fence which is erected by the Police, which seems to lead to a lot of exchanges of unpleasant abuse. Some away fans have suggested that it may be best to keep colours covered on making your way back to your transport. It is also worth noting that before getting to the turnstiles, fans have to pass through a security cordon, where tickets are checked and pat-down searches are carried out.
Which pubs are away fans at Etihad Stadium?
There are not a great deal of pubs around the stadium, and the few available, including the FanZone at the ground, are predominantly for home support. However, ‘The Stanley’ (aka Sports Bar) pub does let in away fans in small numbers. It is about a ten minute walk away from the stadium, just set back from the main A6010 (Pottery Lane), going towards Ashburys train station. The easiest way to find it is to locate the large Asda store behind one side of the stadium (there is also a McDonalds outlet next door to the store, plus there is a cafe located inside it) and on facing the superstore turn right and proceed down the main road, you will come to the pub on the left.
Further away from the stadium, fans can enjoy countless pubs in Manchester City Centre. The Etihad is just about in walking distance from the most northern parts of the City Centre around Piccadilly and the Northern Quarter. However, failing that, you can just board a five-minute tram to the Etihad from one of the city-centre stops. (More on that later).
Alan Finneran informs us: “I would recommend the Townley on Albert Street, which is only a five-minute walk away from the stadium. The pub has a good atmosphere and as long as away fans arrive early and are discrete (i.e. no colours) then they should be okay. Also, the Manchester City Supporters Club have their own City Social bar opposite the North Stand. I have seen opposition supporters in there now and again, so if you are a member of your own team’s supporters club, then your branch secretary may be able to arrange a visit to the Social bar in advance.”
Dave Clinton adds: “If you want a pint beforehand then it is probably best to drink in the city centre. My tip, would be to head to the Printworks in Manchester, near Victoria station. There is a connecting tram service from Piccadilly. There are loads of pubs at the Printworks, with plenty of choice of food. The pubs around Piccadilly itself are not too clever. However, Deansgate or around the Town Hall, would be a good place to head for if you are taking in the City centre. This is about a 30 minute walk away from the stadium.”
Chris Fogarty warns: “Away fans should avoid the Queen Victoria pub at the bottom of Grey Mare Lane.”
Mary D’s on Grey Mare Lane is also not recommended for away supporters as well as pubs on Ashton New Road (both these roads are in the area behind the away end of the stadium). Otherwise, alcohol is available inside the stadium.
The stadium is located in the North East of Manchester.
From the South M6
Leave the M6 at Junction 19 and follow the A556 towards Stockport and then join the M56 going towards Stockport. Continue onto the M60 passing Stockport and heading on towards Ashton Under Lyne. Leave the M60 at Junction 23 and take the A635 towards Manchester. Branch off onto the A662 (Ashton New Road) towards Droylsden and Manchester. Stay on the A662 for around three miles and you will reach the Stadium on your right.
From The M62
Leave the M62 at Junction 18 and then join the M60 Ashton Under Lyne. Leave the M60 at Junction 23 and take the A635 towards Manchester. Branch off onto the A662 (Ashton New Road) towards Droylsden/Manchester. Stay on the A662 for around three miles and you will reach the Stadium on your right.
Whilst Iain Macintosh informs me: “I find this an easier route to the ground; Leave the M60 at Junction 24 and take the A57 (Hyde Road) towards Manchester. Turn right onto the A6010 (Pottery Lane). There are quite a number of unofficial car parks on both sides of Pottery Lane, costing around £5 per car. Pottery Lane becomes the Alan Turing Way and goes right past the stadium on your left.”
Where is the best place to park for Etihad Stadium?
There is some parking available at the stadium itself which costs £10 per car, £20 per minibus, whilst motorcycles are free. The East Car Park is nearest to the away entrance. Please be aware that there is a residents-only parking scheme in place in the streets near to the ground, which extends about a mile out from the stadium. So if you want to street park, it means parking further away and then walking to the stadium. Some unofficial car parks have sprung up mostly charging around £5 per car.
Terry Ireland a visiting Chelsea fan adds: “Plenty of car parking spaces were available when we arrived at the stadium around two hours before kick off. However, getting out after the game was a joke. It’s a little like a free for all and took us nearly an hour to exit the car park and be on our way. Meanwhile, the unofficial car parks, all but 400 yards away, had cleared, been locked-up and were long gone by the time we passed them on our way home. And they cost the same to park!”
Brian Lawes a visiting AFC Bournemouth fan tells me: “We managed to park at St Brigid’s Church on Grey Mare Lane (off the Ashton New Road behind the South Stand where the away fans are housed) which cost £6. It was very handy for the stadium, but being so close it did take quite a long time to get back out onto the main road after the match had ended.”
There is also the option of renting a private driveway near the Etihad Stadium via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.
Peter Llewellyn informs me; ‘The road links are busy even on non-match days so make sure you allow plenty of time. The stadium is part of Sportcity so car users should follow the brown Sportcity signs until near the stadium’.
Post Code for SAT NAV: M11 3FF
Etihad Campus Metrolink stop
The Etihad Stadium has its own Metrolink stop on the East Manchester line, called Etihad Campus; this is only a five minute walk from the away end.
Trams can be caught from either Victoria or Piccadilly railway stations (or Market Street, St Peter’s Square, and Piccadilly Gardens in the city centre).
Trams are frequent on matchdays (every 6 minutes). The journey time from Piccadilly Station to the Etihad Campus stop is 8 minutes.
The new Metrolink stop also makes it easier to park near the motorways and get a tram into the city as the Metrolink has other lines into the city from Oldham, Eccles and Altrincham with parking facilities at several (e.g. at Ladywell near the M62/M602 from Liverpool and Whitefield (near M60 junction 17). For a PDF map showing the stops around the stadium visit the Metrolink website.
The closest railway station is Ashburys which is a short five-minute train ride away from Manchester Piccadilly Station. The stadium is about a 15-minute walk away from Ashburys station. As you come out of the station, turn left and after proceeding up the road you will come to the stadium on your left.
Otherwise, if you have time on your hands then you can embark on the 20/25 minute walk from Piccadilly Station to the stadium. At the bottom of the main station approach turn right into Ducie Street. At the end of the road turn right onto Great Ancoats Street. Cross over the road, then the canal and turn left into Pollard Street – this is well marked as a walking route to “Sportcity”. Continue straight along Pollard Street which leads onto the A662 Ashton New Road and you will come to the stadium on your left.
A shorter route from the station is to use the new exit to Fairfield Street (the taxi rank). As you come off the platforms, it’s in the left hand corner of the main concourse. Lifts or escalators down. (There’s also an exit from the little concourse off the bridge near platforms 13/14.) At the street exit head toward the railway over bridge, under that, then left again under the railway (Travis Street continuing into Adair Street), left at the end and right into Pollard Street (then as above).
Alternatively, you can get a taxi from Piccadilly Station (around £10) or a bus from Piccadilly Gardens – Go down the main approach from the station, then along London Road to Piccadilly Gardens; normal service buses (216 and 231) leave from the right (north) side of the Gardens (between Lever Street and Oldham Street) and special matchday buses just across the road – £1.90 each way. Service 53 runs round the city’s ring road and past the stadium. On the return, the special buses leave from Ashton New Road just across from the away end (down from the Fish and Chip shop).
Manchester Airport is located South of the City and is around ten miles away from the Etihad Stadium. A taxi from the Airport to the stadium should cost around £35. You can also take a Metrolink tram from the Airport into the City Centre and change at Cornbrook for a tram going towards Aston Under Lyne. However the total journey time is around 90 minutes. If you buy a one day (off peak weakens and after 9.30am on weekdays) Adult travelcard, which gives you unlimited tram journeys for that day, then this will cost £5.
The entrances to the Etihad stadium can be accessed by Citizens Way, Sir Howard Bernstein Way and Joe Mercer Way, depending on which side of the stadium you are located in.
The East Stand is served by entrances C to K, the South Stand L to N, the Colin Bell stand P to X, and the North stand Y, Z and A.
Accessible entrances are on the East side.
The detailed map below shows more information.
- Official Programme: £4
- King Of The Kippax Fanzine: £4
The song most commonly associated to Man City is ‘Blue Moon’.
Below is a compilation of Manchester City fan songs.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
After playing at Maine Road for 80 years, the club moved three and a half miles to the then called City Of Manchester Stadium in August 2003.
The stadium was originally built for the Commonwealth Games, which were held in 2002 and cost in the region of £90m to construct. It was designed by Arup Sport, who were also involved with the Allianz Arena in Munich and the Olympic ‘Birds Nest’ Stadium in Beijing, it was built by Laing Construction.
It was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 25 July 2002. The stadium was constructed on the site of the former Bradford Coal Mine, in an area of Manchester known as Eastlands. The stadium had an initial seated capacity of 41,000 (including 3,000 temporary seats). The Etihad Stadium is still owned by Manchester City Council.
After that event, it was agreed that Manchester City Football Club would become the new tenants. £42m was spent in refitting costs, £20m of which was funded by the Club. The works included the removal of the running track and extending the stands further downwards, so that the spectator areas are closer to the playing action. This increased the capacity to 48,000. A roof was also added to one end of the stadium. In 2015, an additional third tier was added to the South Stand, as well as three further rows of seating in front of some of the existing stands, taking the capacity to 55,097.
Apart from hosting football matches, the Etihad Stadium has also hosted other sports such as Rugby and Boxing, as well as serving as a concert venue.
Man City ticket prices for 2023/24 are:
- Adult: £58 to £75
- Over 65: £40 to £65
- Young adult: £40 to £55
- Junior: £30 to £56.25
A look at the available tickets can be found on the official Man City website.
Given the results Man City have enjoyed on the pitch over the last decade, it is perhaps unsurprising to learn that City offer tours of their Etihad Stadium. The prices are as follows:
Off-Peak Prices
- Adult – £26
- Over 65s – £18
- Under 16s – £16
- Under 4s – £0
Peak Prices
- Adult – £30
- Over 65s – £23
- Under 16s – £18
- Under 4s – £0
Premium ‘Walk with a legend’ tours are also available but come at a higher price point. Tickets start at £50 but can vary in price depending on the date and legend involved.
Full details of the Manchester City stadium tours can be found on the club website.
Man City vs Man Utd rivalry: The fact both teams reside in Manchester is the key to this rivalry historically with very few miles between the two grounds. The rivalry has existed since the dawn of time and whilst moments like the Denis Law goal (the then City forward scored a back heel to all but relegate his former love, United) and Roy Keane vs Alf Haaland are huge paragraphs in the history its the shadow cast by the Red half that is the biggest chapter.
Most people disliked the big boys of Old Trafford but City had to live with it day in, day out. Sir Alex Ferguson put his side so far ahead of City that the derby game became insignificant for United. City have struck back in the last decade though and the match is absolutely massive again with many believing Manchester is indeed blue.
Man City vs Liverpool rivalry: Some is will question the legitimacy of Man City vs Liverpool as a rivalry with both definitely holding a greater dislike for Man Utd. That said, new rivalries have to emerge from somewhere and this game has some sauce to it nowadays. It’s underpinned by two factors; one it’s Pep Guardiola vs Jurgen Klopp and, two, the two teams have been the pacesetters in the Premier League for a few years now meaning the games between them usually have high stakes.
Record Attendance
At The Etihad Stadium:
54,693 v Leicester City
Premier League, 6th February 2016.
At Maine Road:
84,569 v Stoke City
FA Cup 6th Round, 3rd March 1934.
Average Attendance
2022-2023: 53,249 (Premier League)
2021-2022: 52,738 (Premier League)
2020-2021: N/A (Covid-19)
2019-2020: 54,219 (Premier League)
2018-2019: 54,130 (Premier League)
2017-2018: 54,070 (Premier League)
Etihad Campus
Just across the road from the Etihad Stadium and connected by a large white walkway, is the impressive looking Etihad Campus. This features the Manchester City Academy, including the 7,000 capacity Academy Stadium, which is used by amongst others, the Manchester City Womens Team. The Campus covers a total of 80 acres and includes training facilities, featuring 15 outdoor pitches, as well as indoor gyms and swimming pools. It is truly on a monumental scale and is far ahead of any other Club’s facilities in the league.
Athletics Stadium
Behind the Colin Bell Stand and main club entrance is a small athletics stadium. This was originally used as a warm up area, for athletes competing in the Commonwealth Games, which were held in 2002 at the then-called City Of Manchester Stadium.
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Manchester City v Fulham
FA Cup 4th Round
Sunday 26th January 2020, 1pm
John Meechan (Neutral)
Manchester City v Southampton
Premier League
Saturday 2nd November 2019, 3pm
Tim French (Southampton)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Etihad Stadium?
This was my first time at the Etihad. I'm not really a fan of the modern stadium design but I was looking forward to seeing what it was like, and to watching City in action on home turf. Nervous, though… this was Saints' first league game since being mauled by Leicester City (I won't repeat the scoreline here), as well as having been stuffed out of the EFL cup by City at this ground just a few days earlier.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I came up on the train from Euston, arrived in the city reasonably early (just after midday). The ground is clearly visible off to the right as you approach Piccadilly station, and the location is an easy walk if you want to do it on foot from the city centre, rather than taking bus or tram.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I'm not familiar with the city and wanted to explore the Northern Quarter, so stopped off at the Tib Street Tavern first; probably shouldn't have bothered, it was rammed and the beer selection excluding lagers and keg was very limited, with only two hand pumps on. Big screens showing two matches simultaneously – only saw City shirts here. Staff were friendly and helpful, but the beer was pricey and bang average, for me. The Castle Hotel (Oldham Street) wasn't yet open, strangely, so I found the Crown and Kettle, where there were a few away-shirted fans although I'd decided not to wear colours that day. I had the weakest beer at a paltry 4.5% (the seven others on offer were between 5-11% at an average of 6.7%, so fair play to the Mancs). Tempted to stay, but pressed on in the direction of the ground, putting my head in a couple of local boozers on the way – and went back in time to memories of pubs in the early eighties (great!), but as I wanted decent ale, I headed to the Port Street Beer House. Immediately wished I'd gone there first as I would've stayed put; the beer was top-notch, as was lunch – Manchester Egg pie. Shame I didn't have time for more than one pint here, I would definitely return (although be aware they don't permit fans wearing any colours).
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Etihad Stadium?
I found an interesting route along the Ashton Canal towpath; the further east you head, the further back in time you travel. Walking past former warehouses and mills, the rain was persistent, the scene very Lowryish, a band was making a decent racket in an old Victorian red-brick building (which turned out to be Brunswick Mill Rehearsal Studios), sheltering couples shooting up under towpath bridges – all very rock-n-roll. (I'm not judging, just describing what I saw.) Climbing up to join the main road just past the gas works, the stadium appears closer than it really is. Externally it doesn't look or feel like a football ground (which of course it originally wasn't). For away fans, this route isn't ideal unless you want to walk right round to the opposite side of the stadium, past loads of food and merch outlets before getting into the ground itself; just as you think you're there, you're redirected onto the road to become segregated from home fans entering the South Stand. I didn't see the logic here – no segregation elsewhere – but no queuing when I arrived ten minutes before kickoff.
In the lower section of the away end, you don't get the full sense of how huge the venue is, as the enlarged stand extends upwards beyond your field of vision behind you, much bigger than the North End opposite. It's still an impressive sight all around, and unlike a lot of other large modern grounds, it feels pretty close to the pitch – and my view was excellent, although it's a huge pitch, and the goalmouth action at the far end seemed a long way off.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was really good; our section was packed out, while in the rest of the ground there were some empty seats dotted about, and the home fans' atmosphere was a bit muted because although we were being pelted by repeated waves of City attacks, we scored (it felt almost unbelievable) inside the opening quarter of an hour, and held on with some superb defending for most of the match. An admittedly premature celebratory half-time beer was called for (it's the hope that kills you, right?), I was impressed by the facilities and service: Amstell was £4 a pint with virtually no queues; pies etc looked okay, all bar staff and stewards were very friendly.
Inevitably we succumbed to a brace of goals in the last 20 minutes and the ground was really rocking when they scored the winner a couple of minutes from time, but we came away with a renewed belief in the spirit and performance of our team. The City players were World Class, especially Sterling I thought (although he made a couple of very nasty challenges for which he was lucky to only get a single yellow). I was expecting some hostility inside the ground, especially as I was located at the end of the away section closest to the home fans (to the left as you look at the pitch, towards the rear of the goal about 2/3rds of the way back), but apart from a couple of unsavoury characters (every team has them and there was a guy a few rows in front of me doing some inoffensive but unnecessary goading) the Blues seemed a not unfriendly bunch. I'd echo a previous comment on this site: there's surprisingly little distance between barriers separating home and away fans, but I saw no trouble and there were plenty of stewards (and police were close at hand if necessary). Perhaps because City players gave us a bombardment on the pitch – it really was an onslaught – their fans were going easy on us.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very spacious exits enable you to get going without any issues at all – I didn't notice any segregation of fans upon departure, but there were no problems here. It's an easy walk back to the city along the main road (on the A662 it's about half an hour to Piccadilly). I noticed buses were really slow, glad I didn't bother; trams were a good option but looked rammed.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I look forward to coming back to this stadium – I'm only hoping we can do so next season, we're currently in the relegation zone and expecting a bit of a scrap. Even without the football, I came away thinking that I need to plan a stay over in Manchester, with my partner or with my mates; haven't visited the city in years and it's great.
Manchester City v Aston Villa
Premier League
Saturday 26th October 2019, 12.30pm
Andy Newman (Aston Villa)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Etihad Stadium?
I had visited several seasons ago but since then the ground has been extended so it was good to see the changes.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Very easy, I rented a space from a car parking website – 15 minute walk from the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went straight into the ground as we couldn't find anywhere else to go before the game. The concourse was quite small and with over an hour to kick off the food options were limited (only a few pies left!). The home fans seemed reasonably friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Etihad Stadium?
The stadium from the outside is very impressive, we were on the top tier so had a great scenic view of the pitch, although a long way off.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was predictable, City attacking Villa non-stop and Villa trying to break out whenever possible. No goals at half time although City missed two sitters! However, they scored very early in the second half and two more on the hour although VAR didn't help the Villa cause. The atmosphere from the home fans was non-existent but Villa fans sang throughout. The stewards were fine, no programme sellers outside the away fans entrance or inside the stadium.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No issues, back on the motorway fairly quickly and back home for tea!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A predictable result, City were much the better team and we were relieved they only scored three goals. Apart from the pies, lack of programmes and the result, very enjoyable and well worth the trip.
Manchester City v Aston Villa
Premier League
Saturday 26th October 2019, 12.30pm
Martin H (Aston Villa)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Etihad Stadium?
Only my second ever visit to the Eithad so coming here again still had a bit of a 'novelty value' to it compared to other stadiums that I have visited many times. Also on the back of couple of successive wins, we were coming here with some hope. Forlorn as it turned out though.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Very easy as I travelled on an organised coach from the Midlands. With it being a 12.30pm kick-off, we left bright and early (probably more early than bright though!) and were in Manchester for our breakfast/pub stop about 8.30am. We stopped at a pub in Stretford for a few hours before the coach took us to the stadium. The pub had plenty of TVs so we were able to watch England's superb performance in their Rugby World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand. We left the pub and arrived at the Eithad about midday for the 12.30pm kick-off. The away coaches park immediately outside the stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As there was only half an hour to go before kick-off, and it was a typical Manchester day weather-wise (the rain was hammering down!) I went straight into the stadium. I wanted to buy a matchday programme but these were nowhere to be seen. There was a programme stall outside the stadium, but it looked like this hadn't opened at all on the day and the one programme stall inside the stadium on level 2, where I was located, was being used as a shelf by Villa fans to rest their drinks on. I didn't see a single Villa fan with a programme, so clearly they were not on sale to us. No idea why that might have been. As I went straight into the stadium I had no contact whatsoever with the home fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Etihad Stadium?
The away fans are spread over three tiers behind the goal – as mentioned above I was on level 2 – and the view from here is very good. The ground has increased in size since my previous visit with the capacity now about 55,000 whereas before it was approx 42,000 I seem to remember. The ground is quite good but not a lot different to many of the modern stadiums nowadays.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
As expected, Manchester City dominated from the start and missed a couple of glorious chance in the first half. That said, I thought the Villa made a good fist of it in the first half, defending well in the main, and attacked on the break quickly whenever the chance presented itself. In fact, with a little more composure we could have made more of the one or two good attacking situations that we had. At half-time I was pleased with the first-half performance and 0-0 scoreline.
The second half started badly for us though with Manchester City taking the lead within 25 seconds of the kick-off (and Aston Villa kicked off!) which pretty much set the trend for all of the second period. Man City scored a second not long afterwards and the third sealed what, for them, was a pretty routine victory in the end. I found the atmosphere strangely lacking from the City fans. Not sure if this was due to the early kick-off, the awful weather, or the fact is was just another routine win. I know for us, if we were to have a 3-0 home win, Villa Park would be rocking by comparison. A lot of the City fans had left a long time before the end of the match and there were lots of empty seats at the final whistle. Glad to say that most, if not all, of the Villa fans, stayed until the end, to clap the team off despite the 3-0 defeat.
We recognised that there is a gulf in class between the two sides, but the Villa had at least put a good shift in and did all they could to try to get a result. I had read before on this website about the baiting the away fans get from the City fans due to the close proximity of the opposing sets of supporters. I was quite close to the City fans who were located to the right of me on level 2. Sure enough, there was plenty of baiting going on all through the game. Have to say that I didn't find it intimidating, more annoying and irritating as this was from fans who are old enough to know better. The stewards didn't seem to do much, if anything, about it either. To be fair, its not all the City fans doing this, just a few who seem to find it fun. However, for me, although it didn't really worry me in the slightest, this was something we could do without. Especially if there were any younger fans in this area, who may have felt a little uncomfortable from this.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
With the coaches parked immediately outside the away end, we were back on the coaches in a matter of minutes. It had actually stopped raining at long last as well! The police escorted the coaches in convoy out of the coach compound, but that was it. I thought that they might escort us through the traffic back to the motorway. No such luck though. Once we were out of the coach park, the coaches had to fend for themselves through all the football traffic so it was rather a long haul back to the motorway. The M6 was also its usual difficult self with roadworks, traffic, etc, so it took quite a while to get back to the Midlands. However, one advantage of the early kick-off is that despite the hold-ups on the return journey, we still did not get back too late.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Although we were well beaten in the end, it is still great to be back in the Premiership (after three years away) so we can take on the likes of Manchester City and visit grounds such as the Etihad. If we manage to stay in the Premier League there is every chance that I will return to the Etihad next season. Hopefully with a better result, not to mention a drier day as well!
Manchester City v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 21st September 2019, 3pm
Pete Woodhead (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Etihad Stadium?
This was my first time seeing City play at the Etihad. My sons favourite player is Kevin de Bruyne and this match was his birthday treat.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We took a train to Manchester. You can walk along a canal to the ground, however, this is a good 20-25 minute walk. I would advise walking along the first part of the canal, until the lock where you can see the tram line which takes you to the stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Outside the stadium has plenty to do from food vans, live singers, 5-a-side footy and 2 pub/beer areas, although these are only available by showing home tickets. If a nice day I advise to get there early and soak it all up.
What you thought on seei ng the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Etihad Stadium?
The ground is lovely, however, the away end is pretty basic once inside. From what seems like a modern stadium on the outside, becomes rather poor and dated once inside.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
What can I say, 8-0 and a neutral sitting in the away end meant I could not enjoy the beauty of the performance sitting next to angry Watford fans. Although even at 8-0 down Watford were singing louder than City, I've never seen such a quiet team. The food options were awful, basically just pies, not even chips for my son to eat. At least they had a screen in this area to watch scores etc at half time.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A long walk back as the tram is so packed I would advise you to walk if a nice day. By the time you get on a tram, you could have walked for half hour into town.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great match, complete 1 sided display and something many people would not see live again (except me who was at Southampton 0-9 Leicester a few weeks after). Amazing place outside the stadium fit for the Champions, inside area fit for relegation.
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Saturday 17th August 2019, 5:30pm
Mark (Tottenham Hotspur)
Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Premier League
Monday 14th January 2019, 8pm
Jack (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Manchester City v Rotherham United
FA Cup 3rd Round
Sunday 6th January 2019, 2pm
Ian Bradley (Rotherham United)
Manchester City v Liverpool
Premier League
Thursday 3rd January 2019, 8pm
Stefan (Liverpool)
Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Premier League
Saturday 5th September 2018, 3pm
Viv Johnson (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Etihad Stadium?
My first visit to the Etihad Stadium and to the current champions.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We stayed at a McDonald Hotel in the city centre, near Manchester Picadilly Railway Station. Nice place and a good gym but virtually impossible to find the hotel car park and that cost £20 a day! We thought of getting a tram to the ground but as it was a nice day, we walked from there along the canal path to the Etihad. A really nice walk and no problems with the Man City fans.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The home fans really friendly – one even gave me a Knockaert Match Attax card! We ate in a Wetherspoons in the city centre beforehand.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Etihad Stadium?
The Etihad is a truly impressive stadium with loads of activities in the many forecourts. As we approached the away fans area they made us walk a long way round to be searched – totally unnecessary as we had been mingling and drinking with home fans on the forecourt! The stand is really steep so however high you get a good view of the pitch – we were Block 314, Row FF Seat 359. Quite high up in the top third tier.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The facilities inside were surprisingly poor. One guy serving in a tiny area so absolutely no chance of getting food or drink inside the stadium – get it outside. The female loos were fine but gents crammed! Difficult to see the scoreboard screens as we were so far away. We could see over the stadium roof of the other end into Manchester.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
There was a 30 minute queue for the tram so we were pleased not to have bought tickets and just walked back down the canal path. It seemed like walking was a better option as the queues for all public transport were long.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
We lost 2-0 and we told the staff on the way out that we would see them next year – they laughed at the time! We shall see.
Manchester City v Bristol City
League Cup Semi Final 1st Leg
Tuesday 9th January 2018, 7:45pm
David Smith (Bristol City fan)
Manchester City v Bristol City
League Cup Semi Final 1st Leg
Tuesday 9th January 2018, 7:45pm
Ryan Hunt (Bristol City fan)
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Saturday 16th December 2017, 5.30pm
Dan Smith (Doing the 92)
Manchester City v Southampton
Premier League
Wednesday 29th November 2017, 8pm
Eric Spreng (Southampton fan)
Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
League Cup Fourth Round
Tuesday 24th October 2017, 8pm
John Hague (Neutral fan)
Manchester City v Chelsea
Premier League
Saturday 3rd December 2016, 12.30pm
Will Donaghue (Chelsea fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Etihad Stadium?
I hadn't been to the Etihad Stadium since 2009 so I was looking forward to going back! And with Chelsea on a 7 game winning streak, I was quite confident we could get a win!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We took a train to Manchester Piccadilly from our local train station which took about 20 minutes or so. After getting off the train, we walked to the Etihad Stadium which took about 25 minutes to walk to.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We picked up a programme and walked straight in to the stadium. The Manchester City fans seemed friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions o f away end then other sides of the Etihad Stadium?
Seeing the away end outside the stadium, it gave me a great impression as obviously Man City expanded this stand for last season. It looked a lot different from when I last saw it 7 years ago when it was just two tiers. We were located in the lower tier and had a good view of the pitch.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Well what can I say? Chelsea won the game 3-1 thanks to goals from Diego Costa, Willian and Eden Hazard! The atmosphere in the away end was mental! It felt like one big party once Chelsea got going in the second half. The Man City fans were quiet for most of the game apart from when they got their goal. The stewards were quite laid back as they al lowed us to stand through the whole game which was great.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away after the game was quite simple. A 25 minute walk back to Manchester Piccadilly and back on the train.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The Etihad Stadium is a great ground for an away game. I would like to go back there next season. Overall the day out was fantastic! A Chelsea win, three points and we're top of the league! What more could you want!? Off to the King Power Stadium next month! Come on Chelsea!
Manchester City v AFC Bournemouth
Premier League
Saturday 17th September 2016, 3pm
Paul Sheppard (AFC Bournemouth fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Etihad Stadium?
As an exiled Cherry living seven miles outside Manchester, then the Etihad Stadium is my second closest ground after Old Trafford. so I was looking forward to a short trip to and f rom the ground as I wasn't expecting a win or even draw!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelling by car from Swinton it was an easy journey. I was advised to park off Old Mill Street, which is about a 10-15 minute walk from the Etihad Stadium. There was plenty of parking on and around Weybridge Road and the surrounding streets just over an hour before kick off.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
My friend who I normally go with couldn't make the match, so I went straight into the ground. I had a chat with a few home fans outside the ground as I sat down to have a quick drink and they were friendly and knowledgeable, so much so they knew the entire Bournemouth line up for the match! Last season we had a drink in the Port Street Beer House in the 'Northern Quarter' and will probably so so if we play at the Etihad again next season.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Etihad Stadium?
I had been to our match last season and as a neutral previously so knew what to expect but the ground is impressive inside and out. I have to say though the view from the second tier is better than from the third (where we were last season).
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Let's just say City were very good and we weren't. Sterling and De Bruyne especially were sensational and the football City played was brilliant in parts. Wilshere made his full debut but was off the pace and disappointing but I think many sides will suffer heavy defeats at the Etihad this season. The atmosphere was okay and even though I was close to home fans did not feel intimidated. Didn't have anything to eat or drink but I was shown to my seat by one very helpful young female steward who even got one old fella his programme from the seller, but her equally young colleague was as miserable as sin and neither helpful nor friendly. Decent, spacious toilets as is the norm for modern stadia.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Pretty straight forward as I had parked facing away from the ground a good ten minutes away. I was driving round the outskirts of the city centre towards Salford and although the traffic was fairly heavy I was home about an hour after the match, although it helps when you know the area.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I had been looking forward to our opening league away match at West Ham's new ground a few weeks earlier but even though we got hammered by City this was a better day out, helped by lovely summer weather and a lack of the tension that was palpable in and outside the Olympic Stadium. I wasn't expecting anything other than a defeat and it was interesting to see Guardiola's team in the flesh. I was just relieved Aguero was suspended or it might have been more than four. Great ground with great views of the action and the fans I encountered were sound.
Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion
Premiership League
Saturday 9th April 2016, 5.30pm
Steve Roper (West Bromwich Albion fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Etihad Stadium?
This was my first visit to the Etihad Stadium. I have been a committed groundhopper for ten years and most of my time had been taken up going to lower league grounds. I had been to Maine Road six times in the 70's and 80's so was looking forward to seeing the new stadium.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I had taken the train from Wolverhampton and could see the stadium as the train approached Piccadilly station. It wasn't as far from the city centre as Maine Road was.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the match I went to the Crown and Kettle pub in Ancoats Street. It was one I used to frequent on my away days to Manchester many years ago. Clientele is mainly mature, this included home fans, but it was a relaxed atmosphere. The bus which runs from the city centre to the Etihad, the 216, passes the pub. The bus stop is fifty yards along Ancoats Street.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Etihad Stadium?
I had a good walk around the ground taking photos. It really is a top notch stadium. Home and away fans mixed freely at the fan zone and I found it a lot less intimidating than Maine Road. Away fans are sandwiched in the enclosure between the home fans sections. There was a lot of banter between the two sets, but at the same time fans were chatting to each other over the fences. Unfortunately if you sit on the front rows of seats you are open to the elements, and on this day it never stopped raining.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere was good and I thought it was fantastic stadium. The stewards were friendly enough, and they came round handing out free ponchos to help us stay dry. There was a good choice of food, hot drinks and alcohol. Pies were £4 each, though there was a vegetarian option for me. Hot drinks were an average price at £2.
Albion played well. City scored from a dubious penalty, and the referee failed to award one to us which left the pundits on Match of the Day gobsmacked. City won the game 2-1.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Fans are kept apart exiting the ground but then come together once out of the car park. It takes about half an hour to get back to the city centre but its possible to get one of the special buses which stop opposite the stadium near the chip shop. The fare is £1.90 but I would have walked if I had known how bad the traffic congestion was going to be.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I really enjoyed the day out. Just like the old days, going away by train. The ground was great, but being a traditionalist I'd have Maine Road every time. Bit of advice to fans visiting the Etihad though, if you are seated on the front half dozen rows, if it rains, you will get wet!
Manchester City v Liverpool
Premier League
Saturday 28th November 2015, 5.30pm
Rob Lawler (Liverpool fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Etihad Stadium?
I had been to the Etihad Stadium for a look around when I visited Manchester in August. I asked my friend if he could get me a ticket for our game in November. It was a ground I wanted to visit as it seems a lot less hostile than Old Trafford, plus the new stand had been opened at the start of the season making the stadium even more impressive.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled on the 'Spirit of Shankly' coach which leaves from the Rocket pub at the start of the M62 in Liverpool. The journey was straightforward enough but the traffic was bad coming into Manchester as there were a lot of roadworks in the city centre. The good thing about the stadium is that there is a large car park behind the away end and you can literally walk off your coach and straight up to the turnstiles.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had a few drinks in the Rocket before getting on the coach. As we were going straight to the Etihad Stadium there was no opportunity to get off to go to any nearby pubs.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Etihad Stadium?
The Etihad Stadium looks very impressive, especially at night when it is lit up. Even the nearby training ground opposite the away end looks larger than some Championship clubs stadiums. The inside is very impressive too and the new additional tier to the South Stand which we were sitting in was very steep. I was right on the top row but still had a good view of the pitch.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was fantastic as Liverpool were 3-0 up inside twenty minutes and won 4-1. It is probably the best I've seen us play for a number of years. As you can imagine the home fans were very quiet and the away fans were loud and boisterous. The stewards were fine, it was shortly after the Paris terror attacks so the stewards were searching everyone but did it with the minimum of fuss and were friendly towards the away fans.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Most of the home fans left after Liverpool scored their fourth goal but it was still very difficult leaving Manchester due to the roadworks and the Police condoning off some roads. It took two hours to get back to the Rocket pub, normally this takes less than an hour.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A brilliant day out and an impressive performance by Liverpool. The stadium is great albeit a little quiet but probably expected when you lose 4-1 at home. Only downside is the price of the ticket. I thought £58 is extortionate, maybe not as expensive as Arsenal but still a rip off to watch a game of footy. At least there wasn't much travel costs too.
Manchester City v AFC Bournemouth
Premier League
Saturday 17th October 2015, 3pm
Brian Lawes (AFC Bournemouth fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Etihad Stadium?
As an AFC Bournemouth supporter it is still amazing that we are playing the likes of Manchester City in the Premier League and in these types of stadium. So I was looking forward to the experience more than the result – though of course always hopeful.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It seems impossible, these days, to travel long distances on motorways without getting held up, so we left Blandford at 7.40am, duly got held up on the M42 and had to leave the M6 early to avoid another jam. However we got into the Etihad Stadium just before 2pm having found an unofficial car park opposite the away fan entrance. It was a church car park charging £6.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went straight into the ground and had the obligatory pie and a pint – though the queues moved very slowly. They did seem a tad under staffed, but those staff coped admirably and with good humour. The home fans outside the ground were absolutely fine, even with our colours showing.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Etihad Stadium?
The Etihad Stadium is simply huge and very impressive, it is what makes being in the Premiership such a great experience. However the spacing between the home and away fans was minimal, maybe 10 feet, with a metal Bannister and a few stewards as a barrier. It almost seems designed to encourage antagonism and sure enough 2 or 3 fans, from both sides, were escorted away after continually baiting each other, which inevitably got over heated. A strange set up and a little bit intimidating.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I really enjoyed the game, if not the result. Our fans were understandably a little subdued after conceding twice in the first 15 minutes, but rallied later, with the usual tooing and froing between the rival fans. The City fans were in good voice and produced good noise throughout. All the staff were friendly and seemed to be enjoying their work – always a plus. Food and drink was all good, if you were happy to wait for it.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Took an hour to get back to the M56, but from them on it was fine, returning to Blandford around 10.40pm – just in time for Match of the Day.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a long day but worth the time just to say we had seen the Cherries play at the Etihad. Although we lost 5-1 we played some good football for sustained periods. As Eddie Howe said, these types of games are a learning experience for Bournemouth. Let's hope they are quick learners!
Manchester City v Southampton
Premier league
Sunday 24th May 2015, 3pm
Alex Squires (Southampton fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the Etihad Stadium?
It was to be a new ground for me to see the Saints play at. Plus it was the last game of the season, so I wasn't going to miss it.
How easy was your journey/finding the Etihad Stadium/car parking?
As we are exiled Saints fans living up north, we travelled through Bradford to reach the M62. We were in Manchester for 12:45. We parked in the official car park at a cost of £10.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went towards the club shop where there was a stage with live entertainment including a former live X factor contestant. I'm not a big fan of the show but I was very impressed with city for their work. It puts all the other clubs in the league to shame. We bought a decent burger from a van outside the ground. I didn't experience troubles with city fans.
What you thought on seeing the Etihad, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The Etihad Stadium is certainly very impressive. There was building work going on in the away end and it looked a little precarious, not to mention the temporary removal of the roof. Thankfully it didn't rain! The rest of the ground is eye catching particular the side stands with their semi circular design.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was very disappointing from a Southampton point of view. We put in a strong performance but we didn't deserve to lose 2-0. It was Frank Lampard's last game in England and he scored. He got some applause from the Saints fans when he was substituted. We tried hard but some poor refereeing decisions and our lack of power up front meant Aguero killed the game off with nine minutes to go. Stewarding was over zealous with a police dog even performing a drugs check on us. Didn't have a pie as we'd already eaten but heard complaints that they were overpriced. Toilets were fine.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Surprisingly we were out of the car park very quickly. Within no time we were on our way home grateful we weren't going to face a 5 hour journey like mode saints fans.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A fantastic day out despite the result. A world class stadium. The end of another fantastic season for Saints.
Manchester City v West Ham United
Premier League
Sunday 19th April 2015, 1.30pm
Les Middleton (West Ham United fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the Etihad Stadium:
This was to be my first visit to the Ethiad Stadium, so was very much looking forward to it.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We drove up. The Etihad was very easy to find and also had plenty of parking close. This cost £8 which was not too bad.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We parked up and asked the attendant for the nearest pub. He sent us to Mary Ds, which turned out to be home fans only, which I later found out! Lucky I had my wife, son and daughter with me. But to be fair no trouble or abuse from the City fans. We met a great bunch of city fans inside, who knew we were West Ham supporters, but still made us very welcome, with a bit of banter. One City fan wanted my crossed hammers badge, so I swapped it with him for a City one. Look after it Phil Walsh!!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Etihad?
It looks very nice from the outside, although we could not get beer from the outside bars, as they were for home fans only. This was a shame, as it was a good atmosphere, with live bands etc…
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Well West Ham were poor, we lost 2-0. The atmosphere was a bit flat, but that was probably because we had nothing to play for and City knew the title was gone. Stewards were fine, a bit of abuse from the home fans next to the away section, but nothing too bad. The beer on tap was good and the food was okay, the usual really
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Leaving the ground was easy with no trouble. Lots of West Ham with claret and blue on walking along with City fans. It only took 5 minutes to walk back to the car. Once underway we found that the traffic was not too bad, unlike at West Ham which can be awful.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall a great day apart from the result and West Ham performance. I would definitely go to the Etihad Stadium again.
Manchester City v Hull City
Premier League
2nd February 2015, 3pm
Jonny Walker (Hull City fan)
Why you were looking forward to visiting the Etihad Stadium?
I love Manchester and Manchester City is in my opinion, one of the best away days in the league (I have been there every time we've player them).
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The in-laws live in Blackburn so got a train direct to Piccadilly, then a taxi to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I visited Wetherspoons near Piccadilly station for breakfast and a few beers (plenty of Man City & Salford Reds fans in the pub, friendly banter throughout) Then headed to The Waldorf to watch a bit of the Spurs v Arsenal game on tv. Then jumped in a cab up to the stadium.
What you thought on seeing the Etihad, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Always impressed with what Man City have done with the new stadium, including the football village outside.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Stewards were a bit petty outside the ground but once inside they were fine. Stood up throughout and the atmosphere from the Hull City faithful was awesome. Nearly nicked all three points too. Typical that an ex-Leeds player should get the equaliser in injury time!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Walked back to the train station stopping at a few pubs on the way. Busy but no hassle. Adopted a few Man City fans who came for a few beers with us round Piccadilly. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out A near perfect away day!
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Sunday, November 24th 2013, 1.30pm
By Jonny Laybourn (Tottenham Hotspur fan)
After a fantastic visit to Manchester last season, featuring a long-awaited victory at Old Trafford, I thought it would be apt to visit the other club in Manchester with Spurs. As Manchester is such a fine city with a rich cultural heritage as well a plethora of excellent pubs, I wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity to visit a second time.
As the kick-off was fairly early on a Sunday and I wanted a bit of breathing space between my arrival in Manchester and kick-off, I caught the 8:10 train from Euston. The trip was fairly smooth, as you’d expect. After arriving at Piccadilly station two and a half hours later, I proceeded to pick a sandwich up as a snack, and then walked to the Grey Horse on Portland Street for a couple of pre-match pints. I was one of the first customers to arrive after the pub opened at 11am, which soon filled up with City fans, as well as a few Spurs fans. The barwoman handed out some warm homemade sausage rolls for free, which I gladly accepted as I was still a bit hungry. Note to City fans – how I wish you could, but don’t expect the same from London pubs when you come down here! The home fans at the pub were friendly too. The pub seemed like an oasis of ‘local’ in the heart of Manchester.
I then decided to take the long walk to the ground, back past Piccadilly station. It took around half an hour, and became easier once groups of City fans began to appear on the roads leading to the stadium. The ground came into view after passing the station, and it was very impressive. Some have derided the steel masts as ugly, but I think they offer a unique charm to what might have otherwise been a bland bowl. I took a lap walk of the ground and was pleased to see a makeshift stage and a band playing. I was a bit annoyed at the obligatory searching at the turnstiles, which alas happens more often than not these days. I was towards the back of the lower tier and had a good view of the pitch. The leg room was fine and the stewards allowed us to stand throughout. The Bovril was standard matchday fare; pleasing on such a cold day.
Nothing to say about the match. We conceded after fourteen seconds and ended up losing six nil. Our fans were fine: sometimes when the going is so tough you might as well just accept your fate and enjoy the rest of the day out. I was rather annoyed that a fellow ‘fan’ had taken to stealing my programme as I was clapping the team off – maybe I deserved it after being so steadfast after such an awful display!
I again walked back into the city centre, back to the pub. I got chatting to a few City fans who offered me their condolences, before heading back to London on the train. It was a pity I didn’t see much of Manchester as I did on my last visit, but the day was somewhat soured by the match and the programme incident. Hopefully our team will wake up and smell the coffee after this stern lesson. I’ll definitely be back to the Etihad in due course and will hope for a better display from my team.
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Premier League
Monday, August 19th 2013, 8pm
Michael Potter (Newcastle United fan)
I was really looking forward to visiting Manchester City – partly to see what looked like a magnificent ground and savour the atmosphere but also to see the moneybags Citizens playing on their home turf.
I was a bit anxious beforehand because I had read about problems such as extreme hostility from home fans and even coins being thrown but all these worries were misplaced – Man City fans were mainly friendly and even helpful, before and after the game, but then again we did get thrashed 4-0, they probably felt sorry for us! 🙂 However it's worth saying several Man City fans struck up conversations with me and other Newcastle fans and I did think there was a lot of goodwill towards us which was great and certainly needs to be reciprocated when Man City play at St James' Park.
I parked at the ground which cost £10, you pay the stewards as you drive in. It's a good set-up although you face a very long wait to get out after the game. I then got the tram into the city (All day ticket costs £4.90) because I arrived early in the day so I could go into town for something to eat etc.. That was easy for me to do because it was a night game but for normal 3pm kick offs you need to be aware there is very little in terms of places to get food or have a drink near the ground. However there are catering facilities provided by the club outside the stadium and these include bars.
Overall I was very impressed by the stadium, with wide, safe concourses and architectural features that make it a stunning place to watch a football game. The club deserve a lot of praise for their efforts to entertain fans before the game – there are two stages with live music outside the ground and a live Man City TV hype up with interviews of players etc. Many clubs including my own have a lot to learn here.
Security was strict but friendly getting into the ground and I found all the Man City staff approachable and helpful. The catering is okay but the range of beers is a bit grim, Fosters, Amstel, John Smiths and Heineken. I would have loved to see some real ale or even just Guinness.
I enjoyed reading the programme (£3) which was one of the best I've seen although I also recommend the excellent fanzine which is on sale outside the ground, it's called King of the Kippax (£3)
The atmosphere during the game was electric at the start as both sets of fans unleashed their excitement and enthusiasm pent up from a whole summer without football. There were some aggressive exchanges between some idiot Newcastle fans and some equally daft Man City fans but overall the two sets of fans showed each other a lot of respect, with Newcastle fans taking full part in the one minute applause to mark the recent death of Man City great Bert Trautmann.
Coming out of the ground was a bit full-on because the police were not letting anyone from the away end walk any direction but one – too bad if your car was parked in the other direction like mine, I just had to wait. Once I got to the car and out of the traffic clogged streets near the ground the drive out of the city and back to Geordieland was easy and straightforward.
Overall despite seeing the Mags play very badly and get a spanking from a far superior team on the night I did really enjoy the experience. I can't help reflect that not too long ago Man City were a passionately supported great underachiever just like Newcastle still are – hopefully next time I come back to Eastlands we will have undergone some kind of Man City-like transformation and it won't be a case of men and boys on the pitch like it was this time!
Manchester City v Reading
Premier League
Saturday, December 22nd 2012, 3pm
By Phil Rutter (Reading fan)
Despite being rock bottom in the league and half expecting a cricket score in favour of the home side, this was a fixture that I had been looking forward to for some time. I had seen the impressive stadium from the train on several occasions, while travelling to other grounds, but I had never actually been there. I even avoided the work’s Christmas drink, the night before, so that I didn’t feel awful for the trip.
I went by train, arriving at Manchester Piccadilly at around 11am. The weather was grim, in fact it never stopped raining all day. The city was full of soaked Christmas shoppers. I’m sure that there are numerous pubs in the centre, but to the stranger, they weren’t really obvious. I headed through the shopping centre and found the Printworks. Here there were several bars and restaurants and I had a drink and some lunch in a Lloyds Bar/Wetherspoons pub.
Getting to the ground was easy. I walked back towards the station and turned down Dulcie Street. From here, the ground was signposted as Sportcity all the way there. Unless you have a real aversion to walking, I would recommend getting there by foot. After the final whistle, I stayed back to applaud the Reading players and still made the half-five train. I passed two pubs on the way; one shut, the other up for sale with a ‘Home Fans Only’ sign at the door.
Don’t expect to find much to do enroute to the Etihad. The stadium is in a residential area, consisting mostly of post-war housing. There is an athletics stadium, with covered seating, adjacent to the much larger football ground. Outside the ground are several outdoor bars selling both alcohol and food. I decided to go into the ground early and have a few beers on the concourse while watching the Wigan v Arsenal game on TV. Unfortunately, the match was not being shown. The screens had only something called CityTV, where you could watch Tevez and Balotelli struggling to wrap up Christmas presents. Before getting through the turnstiles, away fans were given a full head to toe body search. Reading fans are hardly a notorious bunch and this seemed rather over the top.
The food was the usually overpriced stuff; for example £3.50 for a pie. John Smiths was on offer at £3.40 a pint. The loos were fine and coped even at half time, though admittedly we didn’t fill our allocated area.
I paid £40 for a ticket in the lower tier behind the goal. The stand was not steep enough for a really good view and if people stood, it could be difficult for kids and shorter fans to see properly. I reckon the upper tier would a better option if available to the visiting supporter. If you are in a seat in the first five rows or so and it is raining, you’ll probably get wet. I was on the end of a row, close to the City fans, to my left. Rows of three empty seats and a human fence of stewards, one on every step, separated us. here were even more stewards stood next to the home fans and police on standby to the rear. It seemed a bit like a throwback to the hooligan days of the eighties.
At kick-off, the Reading fans sat down to watch the game. This really riled the City fans, who presumably hoped we would remain standing, to be more easily baited. The stewards sat when we sat and stood, when we occasionally got excited and stood up. At times they displayed some strange manoeuvres and on 75 minutes, they all suddenly left their seats in unison, with military precision. I was surprised by the venom hurled at us by some of the home fans. It was neither a tense nor aggressive fixture and there is little rivalry between the two clubs. I got the impression that the stewards would not hesitate to throw out a visiting fan who responded and I avoided even glancing across to the baiting home fans. It should be said that they were in a small minority and most of them were fine. hey struggled to get many songs going and the atmosphere was honestly, worse than Wigan. Rarely did any songs ripple around that ground as I had expected to happen.
The game was hardly a classic, which perhaps accounted for some of the lack of atmosphere. City were the best team, but Reading, with players behind the ball, nearly held out for a point. An injury time header from Gareth Barry really ruined my day. The home fans that had not already left, finally had something to cheer. The wet weather and the score didn’t help matters, but the whole experience was a bit of a let down. It was a visit to supposedly one of Europe’s top clubs, but it just didn’t feel that way.
Manchester City v Southampton
Premier League
Sunday, August 19th 2012, 4pm
By James Dowling (Southampton fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was really looking forward to visiting as it was our first game since The Saints got relegated back in 2005. It was one of the grounds I wanted to go to as I have had great review from friends that have been before and said the atmosphere is amazing.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled up by coach. We left St Mary's Stadium at 7.30am and arrived just after 1pm. It was a very quick journey and also there was not a lot of traffic on the motorway so it was much quicker than everyone thought we would. When we got into Manchester it was easy as the signage was perfect and as we were there early so we didn't have any problems.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I went into the City store and bought a souvenir keyring to add to my collection of away grounds that I have visited. I also got a programme which I have to say is a brilliant matchday programme. Probably one of the best I have read and it was in a sealed bag which helped as it was raining heavily. It cost £3. It is real value for money as I have never seen a 100 page programme on sale at that price and with not many advert pages in it so was a great programme to read. I went behind the Main stand where I fans from both Southampton and Manchester City fans were mingling. The home fans were really friendly; they were congratulating us on promotion and we were congratulating them on winning the Premier League.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
When I saw the ground it was now a reality that we were back in the top flight of English Football and the excitement was beginning to build. But I was also feeling concerned that we would be battered 5 or 6-0 before the game. First impressions of the away end were fantastic. I was in the upper tier and I was guaranteed a good view of the game. I have a fear of heights and it wasn't as high as I'd expected. I was glad I wasn't in the top tier of the East or West Stand as I would of been suffering vertigo being very high up and looking down. It was a lot bigger inside then it looked outside the ground thats the other thing that made me think I'm glad to be there. The stadium on the whole is very impressive and I would recommend fans to visit.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a game that I went home not disappointed despite losing 3-2 to the reigning champions. Our performance was exceptional and more than held our own against the likes of David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Vincent Kompany. Southampton to be honest got battered in the first half and the game should of been well gone before half time but we defended really well. Second half was the most entertaining half football I have experienced it was end to end and when we equalised it was party time because no one expected us to score and then take the lead was amazing and something I will never forget.
But City woke up after conceding the 2 goals and scored twice in the last 20 minutes to win and was not disappointed. The performance from the lads was top class and I think it showed our clubs that you can cause City big problems at the back if you keep the ball. Stewards were very good with us, they were fair to the fans that couldn't see anything because of fans standing, they kindly asked people to sit down so everyone can enjoy the game. They were very helpful helping us to find our seats and always approachable if you had a question. The atmosphere was amazing both set of supporters were singing there hearts out and that is what I was expecting when we arrived so it was no real surprise that it was very buzzing atmosphere, Facilities were very good for an away end , nice bar and catering concourse. Chips were really nice even if expensive and they had hot dogs, burgers etc .
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting out of the ground was easy as we all got back on the coaches and started the trip back home. The police stopped traffic so we could get out of the area and that doesn't happen at many grounds so was easy to get away from the Etihad.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was an amazing day, it was worth the £51 I paid for my ticket and I would come back to the Etihad anytime as fans and staff at Manchester City Football Club were very approachable and very friendly. It was a day where I left with a big smile even if we lost because we played very well against a very good Manchester City team that I think will retain there title come May.
Manchester City v Everton
Premier League
Monday, December 20th 2010, 8pm
By Patrick Burke (Everton fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
After an embarrassing performance against Wigan in our last match, I had never been so down about going to a football match and neither had most Evertonians. We were all praying it was called off! We all agreed if it went pear-shaped we would leave at half-time.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was a rather simple journey down the M56 but when we got into Manchester, the traffic was heaving, it took us an hour to get to the ground from there, luckily, we left early. On the main road to the ground, most car parks were full but we found one called 'MCFC secure' in a local factory which was presumably loaned out. It was £5 and the men occupying it were very pleasant. Other than crossing the main road, which was a nightmare, it was an easy 5 minute walk to the stadium which was very clearly signposted.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We couldn't find a single pub or chippy which was very disappointing. Home fans were helpful.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground looked very impressive from both the inside and the outside but the away stand was poorly signposted and one steward directed you one way, the other directed you the other which was very annoying. I bought a match programme outside the stadium, which turned out to be very good. When we got to the away entrance there were a row of stewards checking your tickets and then once through that line we then underwent a full body search carried out by the clubs' security, which seemed a bit over the top. The automatic turnstile system itself was quick and wide as well.
We were seated in the upper tier near the back and the stairs were steep and a fair climb up to it. Still once there we were rewarded with some fantastic views of the ground.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The fact we were in all blue against a team in another blue was very confusing but we got used to it. All that dreading before the game was soon dispelled as Tim Cahill put us in front – after just 4 minutes. Great work by Anichebe and Coleman and a great header. The second goal was fantastic football, pass, pass, stun and Baines curved it beautifully past Joe Hart and we honestly thought we were watching Barcelona. At half-time us leading 2-0, it was great to rub it in the faces of the City. The only way they were going to get back into it was through another dodgy ref, which they got. Anichebe sent off for a very very soft challenge on Joe Hart and for one with less complaints – a lunge on someone? A jamy goal as well – a wicked deflection of Phil Jagielka. Still we held on for the victory. The way the ground is designed, the atmosphere seems to go nowhere, you can't hear a thing from anyone other than people in your block. The toilets were large and of high standards but the pies were very poor.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Amazingly, getting home was 10 times easier than getting there, no traffic through Manchester and a simple drive on the M56, after dropping 3 people of in Halewood, Aigburth and Speke, we were back home on the Wirral for just before midnight.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great night out, perhaps made better by our dreading to actually go. Nice to see City failing to go top after trying everything to get it on, and Lescott getting so of his own back! Some poor aspects, over the top security etc… but still a great night.
2nd visit Game attended:
Manchester City vs Fulham Competition:
Barclays Premier league
Date & Time of match: Sunday 27th February 2011, 15:00
Team supported (or neutral, or Doing the 92): Neutral
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
After one visit already to Eastlands this season, I was sent complimentary tickets and Manchester City deserve a huge applause for that.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the train from Lime Street to Piccadilly and then another train to Ashburys. Many fans suggested hoping on the 216 from Piccadilly gardens however apart from the Sunday timetable, I found Ashburys an excellent option. It is a short ride and a shorter walk than most people say, it took us under 10 minutes and the ground was visible from after the railway bridge. Car parking seemed very easy, there were a number of special match day car parks scattered around the ground and its surroundings. Most of these are under £4. Even better news is a new tram line is being built and there will be a stop adjacent to the stadium, this should be ready for the start of next season.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Seen as we unexpectedly got the early train to Ashburys which was leaving a minute after the train from Liverpool arrived, we were at Ashburys for 12:25 and almost everywhere was empty. We found a very friendly pub called 'The Leigh Arms' which took just 5 minutes from Ashburys. Just a right turn at the first set of traffic lights. They sell possibly the best sandwiches in the UK, have a seat from Maine Road and a very friendly atmosphere, we met several City fans who gave us advice on how to get to the ground and we even had time for a game of cards (as usual I lost!) Inside the ground, I was amazed at how well behaved City fans where, unlike most clubs can say, no swearing! If fans want to know how to behave go to Man City.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Like in December, the ground is a spectacle and lights up a gloomy area. I was in the North stand not the South and we came in from the East so the away end was invisible. We were in the lower tier which offered great views of the goalmouth. We were near the front but from what I saw, the back looked even better. The upper tier offers just as good views so don't worry about where you're sitting!
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game was flat and the less said about it the better, 1-1 it finished. A friendly atmosphere was created and in the lower tier, you could hear the sound much more clearly than the upper tier which might give it an advantage if you're choosing where to sit. The stewards weren't the best, they were very rude when we asked if we could take a photo and almost took our bag away because it was left a few rows up from were we eventually took a photo. The pies were good and the toilets were well set up.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting out the ground was easy and so was getting to the station. Do ensure to time trains well from Ashburys, particularly on Sundays and leave early if necessary, we stayed behind at the end of the match and had to wait a good 20 minutes for a train, it worked well though because as we came in to Piccadilly, the hourly 'quicker' service to Liverpool was arriving in five minutes.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Poor game, fans and stewards surprisingly chalk and cheese, good views and a friendly club. Thank you to Manchester City!
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Premier League
Sunday October 3rd 2010, 1.30pm
By John Price (Newcastle United fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
It wasn't so much I was looking forward to the trip as it was one of the many I was planning to go to this season and I knew we'd no doubt be beat; however, I still always look forward to away games hoping for a valuable point or an almost impossible.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We normally go by train, but as my mum wanted to go shopping at the Trafford centre, we decided to drive down from Newcastle instead. The ground unlike Newcastle is pretty much in a residential area. It's pretty easy to find and I know from past experience it's also easy by train (just use Ashbury's Station and it's a short and direct ten minutes walk away max).
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
As the ground doesn't really have too many pubs around (or any away fans would dare to go to!) I, like pretty much all the Newcastle fans just went to the ground for a few pints, a pie and a sing song despite the astronomical prices!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground from the outside looks pretty good and new, but still hasn't really got any wow factor or any real character like Villa Park for example but it certainly isn't naff looking like most new..ish ground such as the Reebok and the DW Stadium. On the inside again fairly similar story, no wow factor and it certainly doesn't feel as big as it actually is.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
After a fairly even start, City got an incorrectly awarded penalty which unsurprisingly Carlos Tevez converted. Jonas Gutierrez got a well deserved equaliser five or so minutes later. After half time, the game opened out and was end to end stuff. Adam Johnson later made it 2-1 to city. Then Shola was fouled in the area but a blatant penalty wasn't given so the game finished 2-1 to city. As per normal, the Geordies made themselves heard and for about 85 minutes of the game out sang the City fans who if I'm honest were truly quiet! There was no real problems with stewards, they seemed fairly laid back, and concourse was spacious and kiosks were ok, well staffed etc..
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Had an easy exit from the stadium, don't know if that would of been the case had we won. I got picked up at Ashbury's Station, no real traffic etc…
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Although we were beat i still enjoyed the day, it was a real good game. However, Eastland's is only what i would consider an average stadium. As for the trip I wouldn't put people off going but it certainly wouldn't be a high recommendation.
Manchester City v Blackburn Rovers
Premier League
Monday January 10th 2010, 8pm
Peter Radford (Doing The 92)
I had visited the stadium for the Commonwealth games in 2002 and I was fascinated to see how it had been converted into a football ground.
I guess, as a Wycombe fan, I am used to having plenty of parking on offer 10 minutes walk from the ground. At Eastlands however the traffic around the ground was chaotic for this evening fixture and car parking options difficult to find. The snow lying in most car parks and alongside most of the roads didn’t help but I’m guessing that the experience is similar on a warm Saturday in April.
I had booked my ticket online and had to collect it from the shop on the North side of the ground. The collection point however was chaotic with people purchasing tickets for other matches and buying memorabilia from the shop. What I thought was a leisurely stroll to a pre-match drink turned into a frustrating wait and a dash for my seat – there has to be a better way?
It is a new build but has a certain character due to the high sides and tiered design, probably better viewed from inside than outside. My seat at the highest point on the east side of the ground was however too far from the pitch to feel part of the experience (it reminded me of being in the top tier of the new Wembley).
What made the occasion and justified the ticket price and queuing was the goal-scoring of Carlos Tevez. The football was not great but in Tevez City have a player worth the 400 mile round trip alone. The home fans were in raptures which I guess made for a great atmosphere for those within 30m of the pitch who weren’t from Ewood!
Traffic was equally challenging after the game in the immediate vicinity of the ground however having parked on the west side of the ground it made for an easier escape west to the M6.
Impressive stadium but diabolical ticket collection system and make sure that you don’t end up with a seat up “in the gods”.
Final score: Manchester City 4:1 Blackburn Rovers Attendance: 40,292 Ground No: 33 (of the 92)