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Where to park near the Etihad Stadium

Are you heading to the Etihad Stadium for a football match or concert and need somewhere to park? Below, we have all the information you need on where to park near the Etihad Stadium from official club parking to cheap on-street parking nearby.

The Etihad Stadium was initially built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and at the time, there was no Metrolink station at the stadium which meant car parking facilities were a necessity for attendees. As a result, you won't be short of options.

Where to park near the Etihad Stadium
There are several options available when parking at the Etihad Stadium – Photo by Icon sport

How much is the Etihad Stadium Official Parking?

Ahead of attending the Etihad Stadium, you can pre-book an official car parking spot on a match-by-match basis. The official car parks use Auto Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology which means you will only be able to gain access to the car park on matchday if your number plate matches the details you provide the club when making the booking.

The price for an official car parking spot at the Etihad Stadium is £12 for single occupancy and £10 if there are two or more passengers. Car parking is included if you have a hospitality ticket for the match as it is included in the package.

Supporters are able to use the official car park three hours before kick-off on match day and it will remain open for an hour after the final whistle so you don't need to rush back after the match finishes. However, the earlier you return to your car the quicker you will get out of the stadium and the surrounding area.

Season ticket holders are given priority when it comes to booking car parking at the Etihad Stadium with any remaining tickets then being offered to everyone else with a ticket. The latest you can book a parking space is four hours before kick-off and the club urges fans to only book the space if they intend on using it.

Fans fume at price of disabled parking at Etihad

Blue Badge holders must send a copy of the front and back of their Blue Badge to [email protected]. From there, your Blue Badge will be verified and then linked to your account on the Man City website. Once that has all gone through, you will be able to pre-book your Blue Badge space in the official car park via the club website.

However, it is worth noting that there is currently an ongoing feud between disabled Manchester City fans and the club after the reigning champions of England decided to raise the price of seasonal permits for blue badge parking.

Before the 2024/25 campaign, such parking came at no cost, but officials at the club have now confirmed that this service will be charged at £228 per season in a decision that has been heavily criticised by supporters.

One fan took to X, formerly Twitter, to say: “As a season card holder for 25 years and a disabled fan I am disgusted to read this, unfortunately, it's not the first time the club have decided to do something which inhibits disabled fans in favour of profits.”

While another added: “Horrible by the club, no excuse for changes like that. They don't need the money, that's for sure.”

What have the Manchester City Disabled Supporters Association said?

In short, the Man City DSA have echoed the concerns raised by the aforementioned fans, releasing an official statement on August 7, explaining that they were appalled with the announcement and would be meeting with officials to discuss it further.

They have since released a further statement, pictured above, on August 9, stating that while a conversation had been had between the club and organisation, during which several criticisms were put forward, Manchester City have stuck to their original decision.

At the time of writing then, it appears as though disabled fans will have no choice but to pay the £228 fee if they wish to continue to attend matches at the Etihad.

Is there any on-street parking near the Etihad Stadium?

The Etihad Stadium is built close to a residential area but these roads are a no-go in terms of parking as they are protected by permit-parking only. If you try to park here, there is a high probability that you will receive a parking ticket.

As you approach the stadium by car, you will see signs for unofficial car parking with prices varying from £5-10. These car parks aren't endorsed by the club and you park at your own risk, however, a lot of them do employ someone to ‘guard' the car park while the match is on.

Insider tips on Etihad Stadium parking

Hancocks cash & carry

Townley pub

Clayton Lane

Is there any free parking near the Etihad Stadium?

There are no free car parks in the immediate vicinity of the Etihad Stadium. To get free parking, your best bet is to head to Riverpark Road which is around a 20-minute walk to the stadium. Further afield, you can try your luck in Manchester City Centre, although it is rare to find a free parking spot here.

Park and ride options for the Etihad Stadium

If you don't want to pay for car parking then you can always park at a Metrolink station and board a tram to the Etihad Stadium (Etihad Campus). The closest park and ride stations to the Etihad Stadium are:

  • Ashton Moss: 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces.
  • Ashton West: 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces.

There is also the option of parking in one of the countless Manchester city centre car parks before the match and then boarding a tram to the match. You could even enjoy a drink in one of the best Manchester pubs for football fans to add to your matchday experience.

Avatar of Andy Delaney

Andy Delaney

Andy is a freelance sports writer with ten years of experience covering major sporting events across Europe. He has also been a season ticket holder at Old Trafford since 2008 and has visited over 40 football stadiums in the United Kingdom and abroad following the Reds.

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