Etihad Stadium

Peppered steak meat pie and a bulmers cider. Great deal for 8.50. Pretty tasty also for a hungry guy before the game.

Pues tampoco es para tanto. Es la primera impresión que tuve al entrar la primera vez en el Etihad Stadium del Manchester City.
Para ser un estadio de nueva construcción (como la mayoría de las cosas de este club) me sorprendió la complicación en el acceso a la afición visitante. Una vez dentro, como había llovido, me sorprendió que siendo una ciudad donde llueve tanto, suelo de los pasillos internos del estadio está pintado de celeste y de un material resbaladizo que se encharca. Todo muy extraño, la verdad.
Luego, una vez en la grada, el estadio sí es lo que esperas en cuanto a visibilidad, sonido, ambiente, pantallas, etc… un estadio Champions.

Si vas a Manchester, tienes que visitar al menos un estadio. Si lo haces, que sea el del United. Puede que sea más feo que este, sí, pero al menos se respira fútbol. Esta es la casa del Manchester City y más bien parece un centro comercial o un festival. Barras por todos lados, carpas para jugar a la consola, un gran escenario, no le falta ni una modernidad.
Su acceso es bueno a través del metro. Te deja muy cerca la parada y para la vuelta está muy bien organizado. El exterior es un complejo arquitectónico moderno con muchas luces. Me llamó especialmente la atención los murales con hitos que adornan las paredes del estadio. Una goleada por aquí, un ascenso por allá. No hay que olvidar que es el City, y claro, la historia es la que es, eso no se compra con millones.
Los días de partido se forma una buena. Espectáculo puro. Hasta la entrada de los futbolistas en el recinto es portentosa. Con alfombra roja y todo, como si de unos grandes premios cinematográficos se tratase.
Las vistas desde el interior son bastante buena. Mucho más bonito por dentro. Hay una buena visión de toda la parcela de juego, nada de visibilidad reducida. La sonoridad también es buena, los ‘Yes’ retumban.
En definitiva, un estadio más. No le pongo las tres estrellas porque a pesar de tener todas las comodidades que los espectadores necesitan, yo quiero que un estadio de fútbol sea eso. De fútbol.

Mancunians always tell me they’ll arrive at 7, then they show up at 8. I say, «what’s your ETA», they say 7, they show up at 8. I always tell them, «your ETA had some flaws.» They took this concept and made a stadium out of it (ETAhad).
That was awful, but this stadium is not. I gave a low rating to the team that plays here because of the owners, but the stadium is a glowing neon blue mothership. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s one of the best stadiums I’ve ever been to. I was in here for the same game that Aaron was (City 3 Liverpool 1).
First-​Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium — Other than seeing LFC get beaten there in 2014 (just a few months ago), I’ve been to this stadium right when it opened too, when it was still called «City Of Manchester» Stadium. It’s even better now. It’s one of the most impressive and modern stadiums I’ve ever been inside.
I’ve been to every significant stadium in UK & US, due to a lifelong obsession with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later followed Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review — like all my reviews — are based on first-​hand personal experience, usually from multiple visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, visiting hundreds of stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was «stuck» in UK for 3 months, I went to most of them yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at many of them, which I will post later. Also, when back in the UK I plan to take more pix, and add more stadia! So watch this space!
*** return to regular review ***
I agree that a footy stadium shouldn’t charge for water but in my experience they all do, lately.
What I loved most about this place other than its looks, is (a) that the stewards were extremely friendly and the ticket office sold me tickets even though they were sold out, and (b) after the game, there is a big party zone outside and everyone hangs out and has fun. Incomparable, and it should happen at every stadium.
Of course Maine Road was more intense and all City fans miss it, but in and of itself, this 41k stadium (someday to be 60) is perfect.
However the name on Unilocal should be City Of Manchester Stadium because the sponsor name will eventually change.
By the way, when in Manchester, try a Chicken Madras from Akbars, try Fish & Chips from Neil’s Fryery on Langworthy Rd Salford, and most importantly try a Kobedeh Kebab from Rusholme Chippy.

Seeing my team win their first Premier League title here was amazing! I have had a season ticket for six years and the facilities were more than good enough. I am determined that there is not a bad seat in the house!
Atmosphere was great when i had my ticket but unfortunately lately it hasn’t been fantastic.

With all the stadium developments and it being a new season, I thought It would be appropriate to review the Etihad again for the new season, considering I go every week being a season-​card holder. This review is based on Manchester City’s 3 – 1 win over Liverpool on Monday 25^th August 2014.
I must remember not to be bias, reviewing it positively because my beloved Manchester City plays here because to be honest, it isn’t the best football stadium in the world and it does need to improve quite a few things, including the availability of Gluten Free food as they is still nothing at the ground I can eat! When I try to contact the catering company, I either keep getting put through to a different extension and voicemail or just hung up on, what is very common when I call City. Another thing about City’s call centre which suprises me is that it isn’t based in Manchester at the Stadium, it is based in Nottingham.
At Half Time, I got a Coffee at the match and the coffee was very hard to get hold of, once I got to the front of the queue I was told, they had coffee, they had burgers, they had chips, they had milk but they had no cups, So I had to go to another drink stall futher down the stadium to get my drink and then only to find out they had no travel cups, just a paper cup, no lids. These facilities for coffee are equivalent to Hyde FC, A Premier League team should be able to provide a lid for your coffee especially with City’s style of attacking football, you have got to try not to scholde yourself and stand up! The Coffee was very watery and a poor quality as well, I was angry this happened after all that! I understand this is the first game of the season and they have not got their numbers yet, but with it being a night game alot of people will want a hot drink, so they should be ready for demand! Someone else might have to go quite a few stalls down as many are closed, these are Food Kiosks at 213 and 218 and betting kiosks at 211 and 217, which I think is in the South Stand but I am not 100% sure on that!
The Stadium is planned to look very nice and seat 61,000 once all the work is done however for now due to work round the stadium, due to adding 6,000 seats to the south stand at the minute a few entrances are closed and quite a few will suffer delays. Something what shocks me in the development process is the fail to install a temporary roof in the 2 corners, this was planned to happen ready for the new season and it hasn’t, instead fans will get wet, yes they will hand out rain ponchos but that isn’t enough really, it doesn’t effect me apart from the big screen which shows what is going on, on the pitch at half time, replays and fans at certain points before the start of the game is not on my side, but instead behind my stand so It is impossible for me to see it. The roof should be back for the Chelsea game on September 21^st but I can’t see the screen coming back in the near future due to it being electronical and with all the building work that is going on.
A new introduction for the new season is LED Screens across the second tier, I like this as it makes the stadium look alot more modern and with the ongoing expansion they is a screen to show the score and how many minutes have played as well as some nice intresting club information going around, such as the team, subsitutes, offers and player meet and greets at the City store, one thing this has stopped though is the flags, I do think fans should be able to bring in their flags as it brings in support, makes the stadium more personal instead of ones that digitally appear on the screen.
Another thing I do like is that the Ground has wi-​fi, the wi-​fi has never been great for me due to everyone using it at the same time but it is still good as it can work and as far as I am aware it is one of the only stadiums to offer this, I know Wembley does but that requires a password and I couldn’t find a steward who knew it! Away Supporters and everyone else in the South Stand just make sure you understand due to building work the wifi will be intermittent.
The £2.50 charge for a bottle of water, which I had to pay at the game versus Stoke is just terrible, I know places that offer free glasses of water and even a Football Stadium should not be charging that for it!
I attended the stadium tour and it was very good, the guy who done the tour was patient and a very nice guy, we started the tour a few minutes late in the City Store. The tour was excellent seeing all areas of the stadium apart from the Away Dressing Room, we learn’t facts about the clubs history and the stadiums future with the CFA Complex being completed and the stadium expansion. I was even given a free programme from both the Stoke and Liverpool games, which Something similar had been given at St James Park’. If it wouldn’t of been for the stadium tour, as the Etihad can’t provide Gluten Free food I would of given perhaps 2 stars, but the stadium tour is worthy of making it 3.

Im not a huge football fan but my partner is, so decided to go and see a game at the Manchester Ethiad Stadium, Its around a 20 – 30 minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly and the city centre or you can catch a tram to the Ethiad Campus or catch a shuttle bus on match days from Piccadilly Gardens.
On Match days they seem to have live entertainment on around the stadium with a live band playing, its a fun atmosphere and everyone is gearing themselves up for the game, We was sat right up at the back of the stadium though it had a superb view of the whole stadium.
The Game was between Man City and Southampton and Man City won 4 – 1 when they scored it was amazing to see.
Pints of beer are around £4 a pint and a pie can cost you about £3
We have also seen Coldplay perform here and its absolutely amazing to see a live concert here! I don’t think any seat has a bad view.
i believe that One Direction are performing here in May-​June.
So if you want a fun day out even if you’re not a huge football fan like myself you will have a great time or look out for the summer concerts what they have on here.

I visited the stadium on Tuesday (two days ago) and when reading all the reviews here was wondering if I actually went to the same stadium! Well, it has been renamed; the shiek who owns the team pays 3 billion pounds a year to Manchester City Council for that and also to rent the stadium each season. It is now called Ethiad Stadium.
I went on the stadium tour which cost 14 quid (which is a lot considering plays make 150,000 — 200,000 a week for playing for the team. The tour starts out in a room where you get to read the walls and learn about the team’s history, then the photographs and scale model of what the team has in store for the future with new training facilities, apartments and schools for the youth players, and so on. Quite impressive what they’re going to do.
The saddest, possibly funniest (is «funniest» a word?!) room is the one where they have a replica of the Premiership trophy that they won a couple years ago. Lots of fanfare with atmosphere written all over the walls and a video constantly running of them winning and the team captain, Vincent Kompany, hoisting the trophy. This is really the only significant trophy that they have. They did win the FA Cup a few years ago too but made it to the final and lost to a Premiership minnow, so that cup is now some place else.
Entering the stadium where the field is, it becomes obvious that this was not built for football. (It was for the Commonwealth games back in, I think, 2002). Except for the lines on the field and the goals, nothing else about this stadium says «football/​soccer». As others have stated in their reviews, there has been a lack of atmosphere at the stadium during games. To me, a hardcore football fans who has been to hundreds of games in probably a hundred different stadiums, it feels that way too.
I have done many stadium tours in the past — Real Madrid, Barca, Atletico Madrid, etc. and this one, this modern stadium stuck in a hole in the ground, has got to be the worse one for a tour and also perhaps for a game. Still, they try. There is a lot of money behind the team and I think that they should have built their own «football» stadium.

Amazing stadium, lots of places around the ground to go to and the whole area is clean. Can’t wait to go again.

oui cet stade est lieu de rencontre d’émotion forte

Hmm, also ich als bekennender HSV– und Man United-​Fan kann mich irgendwie nicht so recht entscheiden, wie mir dieses Stadion nun gefällt. Ich habe es nur von außen gesehen und umrundet, und es ist irgendwie wie ein großes, hellblaues ParkhausIch ging hinein und fragte, ob ich irgendwo ein WC benutzen dürfte (der Weg von Manchester Piccadilly ist doch etwas weiter, als ich erwartet habe), und mir wurde gesagt, es gäbe keine WCsöööhm, ja née, is klar!
Und irgendwie stößt mir auch der Name sauer auf, der ja übersetzt united bedeutet.
Wie gesagt, ich kann mich nicht so recht entscheidenaber ich wollte es bei meinem diesjährigen Aufenthalt in Manchester endlich einmal aus der Nähe sehen, denn beim letzten Mal hatte ich es nur vom Zug aus sehen können und ich war dann doch neugierig.
Das Drumherum gefiel mir ganz gut (siehe Fotos), aber das Stadion selbst? Ick weeß et einfach nich :/

This is a wonderful stadium even if you are not a fan of City. The tour is awesome, great photo ops in the manager’s chair, press room, dressing room etc.

I was invited to the City — Via Real game a couple of weeks ago. I have to say that I am not a big soccer fan, I normally watch only the World Cup on TV. So needless to say I have not been to a live soccer game in quite some time, so I was even more excited to go to this game Manchester City game.
My friend has one of this boxes on top of the stadium, which was really nice because it was only 38 °F outside and the wind was blowing. Since I am from California you can imagine that I will not last long in 38 °F, right? Back in the box we were sipping on some ice cold beer and snacking on some Lasagne, chicken and desert, while watching the game — all the food was really good (i was positively surprised from the English cooking, did not expect that) The box comes with your peronal waiter and beside all different kind of beers you can have wine or other liquor.
The Stadium is quite new and state of the art, you can see every inch of the field, nothing will block your view, the huge score boards located in the corners are nice and visible for everybody. The atmosphere in the stadium, when all the fans start singing, is just amazing, almost 50.000 people singing their club’s song, you just hear this huge choir of fans singing fear into the opponent team, this is live soccer in Europe — wonderful. hard to explain you need to experience this one day.
Of course City won the game in the last couple seconds, probably because I was yelling and screaming too.

A modern well equiped stadium just outside Manchester. Somehow manages to run out of beer at every match or event.

Manchester City Football Club, awh, I still miss the days when MCFC had it’s home at Maine Road, and it’s almost a little sad to think of it not being there any more. Moving on to bigger and better things, I guess it got a promotion, and the new stadium is FANTASTIC! It’s brilliant. It’s huge! It’s great for stadium gigs, and surprisingly, they sound great too! A little chilly yes, but it’s worth it! Suck it up it’s Manchester, chances are it’s gonna rain when there’s an open air gig! It’s part of the experience!
As much as I loved rolling up to Maine Road, there is something rather nice about pulling in on the train and seeing the City of Manchester Stadium, and knowing I’m home. As a life long Manchester City Fan, I’m glad that the club has gone on to bigger and better things, growth and improvement, that’s also bloody impressive, and goes some way to cease the negative comparisons between City and United.

Man City’s stadium is from the future.
Being a visiting fan, I dribbled with excitement as I swiped my match ticket on the frame of some space door which granted me access to the ground.
I liked it so much that I asked the steward if I could do it again.
Once inside, it’s a thoroughly modern affair and not too bad for it. It feels more like a European ground than a Premiership one, and I mean that in the nicest possible way.
It’s been some years since I went and unfortunately for the City fans, who had not long been at Eastlands, some bright spark decided to pipe crowd chants through the PA to give the impression of atmosphere. This did not go down well with the City fans at all and I actually felt a bit sorry for them.
It’s easy enough to get to (you can walk there in 15mins from the City centre) and is a credit to the city.
If I remember rightly, the pies were rather good as well.

Man City headed to the east of the city when they moved into the Commonwealth games stadium a few years ago. Fresh with new investment, this is a club on the up and as a consequence matches at this huge, new stadium have a great atmosphere and usually a fair amount of drama.
You can get a bus out to the ground from town and soon you’ll be able to get a Metrolink out in that direction when they finally finish the line. It’s actually not too far to walk as well, so maybe that’s an option.

A few weeks back I became an honorary City fan for the evening, as the blonde is something of a die-​hard. We watched the derby match in the Crescent and I have to say, there’s something about Mancunian rivalry that’s kind of cute, even if people are shouting ‘you Red bastard’ at the tops of their voices. I love the whole process. Bear in mind I wouldn’t engage in this behaviour in a more rowdy pub, but in the fringe ambience of the Crescent, it works really well.
Derbies are always interesting affairs, but with the Manchester crowd it feels so much more intense, particularly because the two clubs practically have the same name and the opposing colours are so perfect, red and blue. It’s always been said that true born and bred Mancunians support City whereas the drifters or even those from across the pond jump on the United bandwagon. I have a lot of London friends for example who are Reds, and have never even visited Manchester in their lives. Blues are definitely the fiercer fans, and matters are made even more interesting by the fact that they’re now so rich. The underdogs they ain’t any more, and they’re playing with the big boys and making the Premier League very interesting. See, I know my football! Sort of. As much as I leave Sky Sports News on when the BF goes out the door anyway.
Man City’s stadium in SportCity is something to behold, and full tours are available for just £7.50. The restaurant there is also meant to be incredible. With a brand new manager and aims set high, even if you’re not a City supporter it’s worth checking out their current games, particularly these derbies. Honour and a heap load of sudden cash seem to be a great combination.

I’ve never been to a football match here at the City of Manchester Stadium but I have been to a gig: U2’s epic one here a few years back, with Athlete supporting. We paid a fortune to get tickets (nearly a hundred pounds each and four of us went, my poor parents) but I think it was worth it.
Mainly because I don’t hate Bono as much as everyone on the planet does. We had seating tickets and the sound was really good. Plus I heard reports that a friend who stood pretty close to the stage was less than impressed. The sound system was clearly aimed to reach us at the back/​right at the top rather than those keen ones stood at the front. Because obviously the stadium is massive so you’re never going to please everyone.
It did feel really epic and suited the light shows and things that U2 put on much more than say Old Trafford Cricket Ground could have done so thumbs up from me (although my family are split between City and United) …

I attended a conference here a couple of years ago and was impressed by the facilities they had on offer.
The stadium was easy to find (it’s visible for miles around, which helps); and there was plenty of car-​parking, although I daresay that it’s insufficient when it comes to a match day!
Inside the facilities were clean, modern and a pleasure to use. The lunch was quite good too. Staff there were friendly and helpful and overall the event I attended ran very smoothly.
I can’t comment on the merits of this place as a football stadium but as a conference venue it was one of the better ones I’ve been to.

Stade de football anglais de manchester city. Vous y verrez leur match de football. L’année dernière a été joué dans ce stade la finale de football de l’uefa.

This stadium looks untraditional when compared to most English football stadiums. Its stylish, attractive, maybe even sexy! You cant always say the same for the football played inside though!
Facilities inside are very good, and even the toilets are usually clean (for a football stadium). Atmosphere can be lacking — Im not sure if this is due to the shape or the fact that fans arent quite at home at the stadium yet.
Drinks inside can be expensive, but you wouldnt expect ay different for a football stadium where youve no choice but to pay the prices.
The B of the Bang statue outside is a bit of a mess and I cant believe they spent so much on it!
City are a possible rising force in football with the monetary injection theyve recieved, so I would reccomend making your way to the ground before they get too successful and getting a ticket proves impossible!

This truly is a fantastic stadium. Built for the Commonwealth Games the council ‘gave’ it to Manchester City to avoid it becoming an unused white elephant. It’s relatively easy to park around the ground and handy for the city centre too.
The facilities are all good and the pitch itself is believed to be the biggest in the league.
Look out for the massive ‘B of The Bang’ scultpure which is situated alongside the ground. This is again left over from the Commonwealth Games, sprinters’ wanting to get a good start aim to go on the ‘b of the bang’, you see.
The one thing that irks most City fans is that it doesn’t have the same tradition as Maine Road, not least because of its less than catchy name. Suggestions have included ‘Eastlands’ (too much like ‘Badlands’) and the ‘Blue Camp’ (because of its similarity in design to Barcelona’s ‘Nou Camp’, but ditched after United fans re-​named it the ‘Boo Camp’). Even less charitable fans have nicknamed it ‘The Council House’ because of its original owners.

A good new stadium.
Unlike many other new builds, this one has a lot of character.
They’ve really put effort into the design, with many artistic traits shown in the ground itself and the surrounding decoration.
The ground itself encompasses a huge area, including many other facilities which make up the sportcity complex.
Definitely worth a look for football fans of any allegiance.
We parked on street about a 5 minute walk away from the stadium and got away fairly quickly after the match.

Das City of Manchester Stadion ist das modernere Stadion von Manchester und die Heimat von Manchester City FC.
Ich war bereits einmal im Stadion zu einem Youth Cup Final
und finde es auch sehr schön, weil es einfach ein auch
ein typisches englisches Stadion ist, wo man live am Rasen
ist und keine nervige Laufbahn oder ähnliches einen vom Geschehen entfernt.
Es ist sehr viel leichter an Tickets für Man City heranzukommen!
Teilweise verschenken Sie sogar Tickets an Studenten.
Die Stadionführung kann ich auch nur empfehlen!
Man kann die Spielerkabinen sehen und kommt einfach an Plätze wo man normalerweise nicht hin darf!
Das Geld ist gut angelegt ! :-)

Manchester City will in England angreifen, und so jubelt die Stadt Manchester über zwei neue prominente Fußball-​Einwohner. Der eine — Berbatow — wurde schon länger bei den Reds erwartet, der andere — Robinho — bei den Blues oder The Citizens da rechnete gar niemand mit.
Dank einer Investorengruppe aus Abu Dhabi, die Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment kurz auch ADUG genannt, wurde dieser Deal mit Robinho, die teuerste Neuverpflichtung auf der Insel.
Rund 40 Millionen EUR kostete der Spieler von Real Madrid.
Sulaiman Al-​Fahim, designierter Vertreter von ADUG im City-​Vorstand, hat großes mit den Blues vor. Er will Manchester City kurzfristig zu dem größten Klub der Premier League machen. Ungefähr 190 Millionen Euro kostet ihn dieser Verein, wobei die ADUG sämtliche Verbindlichkeiten des Clubs übernimmt.
5 Punkte hätte diese Aktion verdient, da dadurch mit Sicherheit jetzt attraktiver Fußball gespielt wird bei The Citizens.
3 Punkte gibt es dafür, das die Investoren wie die Herren Al-​Fahim und Roman Abramowitsch als Chelsea-​Eigner zwar Spitzen Stars und Spieler zusammenkaufen können, die aber alleine noch keine Matches gewinnen können.
Was machen denn die Clubs, wenn die Investoren ausscheiden? Da ist mir doch dann die DFL lieber, wo finanzielle Risiken abgewogen werden, und wenn sich Investoren finden sollten, dann doch wie am Beispiel der TSG Hoffenheim zu sehen, Eigner mit Sachverstand und Herz für den Verein.
Ausserdem sind mir diese Summen die dort im Umlauf sind, bzw. die noch in Kürze überboten werden, für Spieler zu viel und für mich einfach die Sache Fussball nicht wert.
Die Höhe der Kaufsummen für einzelne Spieler sind für mich derzeit inhuman. Trotz meiner Liebe zum Fußball, finde ich dies gerade am Beispiel Manchester City, keine gute Sache für den europäischen oder gar deutschen Fußball.
Fazit: Deutsche Mannschaften, selbst der Primus FCB werden es nie schaffen, solche Summen aufzurufen. Deshalb zählt am Ende der Teamgeist und wie Sepp Herberger schon damals sagte, Das Runde muss ins Eckige — egal wie. ;-)

The City of Manchester Stadium is a must-​see for any football fan, irrespective of their allegiance.
Based in the Sport City complex in Eastlands, COMS is the centre-​piece of a huge sporting centre. Originally built to host the Commonwealth Games, the stadium is now home to Manchester City Football Club.
It’s really quite a breath-​taking sight on match days and its futuristic steel and glass oval shape houses a fantastic atmosphere created by passionate City fans!
The stadium can hold about 49,000 supporters and will host the 2008 UEFA Cup final — proof that COMS is rated as one of the best football grounds in the world.
If football isn’t your thing, the ground often hosts gigs in the off-​season. I was lucky enough to see Oasis play here a few years ago and the atmosphere and acoustics were second to none.
In conclusion, with City being «on the up» now is a better time than any to take in a unique MCFC match day! What a place!