Etihad Stadium expansion: Andy Cole makes Tottenham comparison as £300m Man City project advances (exclusive)

Manchester United legend Andy Cole believes Manchester City's plans to turn the Etihad Stadium into a year-round entertainment destination can only benefit the club and the city.

City's £300m project is transforming the North Stand and surrounding area, with the stadium capacity increasing to more than 60,000 alongside the development of a new 3,000-capacity covered fan zone, 400-bed hotel, museum, club shop, sky bar and roof walk.

The project is part of City's wider ambition to create an entertainment destination at the Etihad Campus rather than relying solely on football matchdays to generate revenue. The hotel, fan zone and other public facilities are scheduled to open in late 2026.

Cole believes Tottenham Hotspur have already demonstrated the potential benefits of such an approach following their move from White Hart Lane to their new stadium.

Andy Cole backs Manchester City to follow Tottenham model

Asked whether football stadiums should remain primarily football venues or whether clubs should continue expanding their commercial footprint, Cole pointed to Tottenham's ability to host events beyond football.

“If you look at, obviously, what Tottenham have done going from White Hart Lane to the new stadium, and the fact that they have the boxing there, they have concerts there, and all these other sports events there, it can only increase revenue,” Cole told Football Ground Guide.

“So if at Tottenham, they're more than happy with it, then if Man City want to do it, why not?”

Tottenham's stadium has established itself as a multi-purpose venue since opening in 2019, while City's plans take a similar philosophy and extend it across the Etihad Campus.

The Manchester project is being developed alongside the 23,500-capacity Co-op Live arena, which sits opposite the Etihad, creating a much larger sports and entertainment destination in East Manchester.

Cole says Etihad expansion can benefit Manchester

For Cole, the benefits of City's investment extend beyond the club's balance sheet.

“What it also is, is that it's good for the city of Manchester. It brings revenue, doesn't it? And ultimately, if it brings revenue, it brings jobs,” he said.

“So that means it's more than good enough for Manchester, and for me.”

That community impact is also a major part of City's stated reasoning behind the project. The club says the development represents more than £300m of investment in East Manchester and will create hundreds of jobs, building on its wider regeneration work in the area.

The completed development will also allow the Etihad to operate as a destination outside matchdays, with the new museum, hotel, food and drink outlets and fan zone designed to attract visitors throughout the year. The new Manchester City Museum Experience is due to open later in 2026 and will operate as a year-round attraction.

FGG Says

Cole's Tottenham comparison is particularly relevant because the Premier League's biggest clubs are increasingly looking at what happens around the football itself.

City are not simply adding seats, as they are building a hotel, entertainment spaces, retail facilities and attractions that can generate activity throughout the year.

For the club, that creates additional revenue opportunities, and for Manchester, as Cole points out, the wider development also means investment, jobs and another major entertainment destination.

Andy Cole was speaking to FGG on behalf of Unibet Casino