Etihad Campus is an area of
Sportcity
Sportcity in Manchester is a multipurpose sports and leisure facility. Originally built to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games, it is in east Manchester, North West England, a mile from Manchester city centre, and was developed on former industri ...
,
Manchester
Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...
which is mostly owned and operated by
Manchester City
Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...
. The campus includes the
Etihad Stadium, the
City Football Academy (CFA) training facility and club world headquarters,
and undeveloped land adjacent to both of these facilities. These two main portions of the campus site are linked by a 60-metre landmark pedestrian walkway/footbridge that spans the junction of Alan Turing Way and Ashton New Road. The term Etihad Campus embraces both the stadium – which already existed when the name was coined in 2010 – as well as much of the surrounding undeveloped land that existed at that time, although the term is also frequently used as a direct synonym for just the CFA portion.
The development of the southeastern portion of the Etihad Campus site is focused on the regeneration of the Clayton Aniline site which consists of of
brownfield land
Brownfield is previously-developed land that has been abandoned or underused, and which may carry pollution, or a risk of pollution, from industrial use. The specific definition of brownfield land varies and is decided by policy makers and l ...
. The initial phase of the campus development included the construction of the new Manchester City training facility which was completed and officially opened in December 2014. Adjacent to the CFA facility is the
Connell Sixth Form College – named after Anna Connell, the founder of St Mark's Gorton which later became Manchester City Football Club – which forms part of the Beswick Community Hub. The construction of the college was jointly funded by Manchester City and
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the Local government in England, local authority for the City status in the United Kingdom, city of Manchester in Greater Manchester, England. Manchester has had an elected local authority since 1838, which has been re ...
and it opened to receive its first students in August 2013.
The Beswick Community Hub is being developed on of the 80-acre site originally purchased by the football club in order to develop its CFA facility,
but like the footbridge linking the CFA to the Etihad Stadium, the club has donated this portion of its land purchase back to the local community so that it can be jointly developed with Manchester City Council to form a southern gateway approach to the completed Etihad Campus. Also part of the jointly funded and developed Beswick Community Hub, across from it on the western side of Alan Turing Way, is the new Beswick Leisure Centre. The construction of the leisure centre is also complete and it opened to the public in October 2014.
Two further pieces that were jointly funded and developed were the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance (MIHP), currently under construction and for which the official opening is scheduled for early 2016, and beyond the completion of the MIHP there are plans to develop commercial office space, shops and retail opportunities on the northwestern side of the hub.
The transformation of East Manchester forms a key part of the city's core development strategy for the Manchester region from 2012 to 2027, and likewise the scheme forms an integral part of Manchester City's aspiration to develop homegrown talent.
In 2020, a
23,500 capacity indoor arena by the
Oak View Group
Oak View Group, LLC (OVG) is an American professional sports and commercial real estate company based in Denver. It manages several sports venues, including Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, which was constructed under the company's supervision. ...
was proposed adjacent to the stadium, and which would be the
largest in western Europe if built. Work began on the Co-op Live in 2022 and was completed in May 2024. An expansion of the stadium's North Stand, including the construction of a Hotel and covered fan zone is currently in progress and due to be completed in 2026.
Background
East Manchester has historically been for industrial use. The site which the Etihad Stadium sits on was contaminated for the construction, and so a non-occupied use was required. Areas east of the city have undergone privately funded regeneration, such as the
New Islington
New Islington is an inner city area of Manchester, in North West England. Historically
in Lancashire and part of Ancoats, it has taken a separate identity to reflect its changed status as a regeneration area.
History
The name "New Islington" ...
project by developers,
Urban Splash
Urban Splash is a UK-based Real estate development, property development business. It was founded in 1993 by chairman Tom Bloxham and creative director Jonathan Falkingham. Headquartered in Castlefield, Manchester, it also has regional bases in ...
and the
NOMA
Noma, NoMa, or NOMA may refer to:
Places
* NoMa, the area North of Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C., US
** NoMa–Gallaudet U station, on Washington Metro
* Noma, Florida, US
* NOMA, Manchester, a redevelopment in England
* Noma District, ...
scheme east of Manchester city centre – but the area has remnants of industrial usage and land is often
brownfield
Brownfield is previously-developed land that has been abandoned or underused, and which may carry pollution, or a risk of pollution, from industrial use. The specific definition of brownfield land varies and is decided by policy makers and l ...
. The site of the new training and community facility was previously home to
Clayton Aniline Company, a company which produced
dyestuffs. The firm disbanded in 2004 leaving the Clayton Aniline site derelict.
Since being taken over in 2008, the club have embarked on a large spending spree to reach the pinnacle of English football. In 2011, the club won the FA Cup – ending the club's 35-year trophy drought – and then won the Premier League in 2012. The investment has come at a cost, with the club spending a net-£330 million on infrastructure, debt and transfers. The club hope prize money (from the Champions League particularly), increased commercial revenue and ticket sales will turn the club into a profit-making entity which provides a return on investment. As early as September 5, 2008, just days after the takeover the new owners were reported to be exploring the possible expansion around the stadium.
In July 2011, it was announced the area where the developments was to be called the Etihad Campus.
In return
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways is one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates (the other being Emirates). Its head office is in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, near Zayed International Airport. The airline commenced operations in November 2003, and ...
paid sponsorship to Manchester City for ten years. In return to
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the Local government in England, local authority for the City status in the United Kingdom, city of Manchester in Greater Manchester, England. Manchester has had an elected local authority since 1838, which has been re ...
, who own the stadium, Etihad created a British hub for Etihad Airways at
Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport is an international airport in Ringway, Manchester, England, south-west of Manchester city centre. In 2024, it was the third busiest airport in the United Kingdom in terms of passengers (the busiest outside of London) ...
(majority owned by Manchester City Council), creating further jobs and helping to fuel the £600m
Manchester Airport City development.
Proposed development

The initial plans released in September 2011 generated over 7000 responses from local residents, in person and online. The plans were met with a 97% approval rating from respondents. The plans were enthusiastically backed in December 2011 by
Manchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the Local government in England, local authority for the City status in the United Kingdom, city of Manchester in Greater Manchester, England. Manchester has had an elected local authority since 1838, which has been re ...
, and approved by the government in August 2012.
Phase 1 – City Football Academy (2014)
Moved from its current
Carrington Training Centre complex to east Manchester nearby the City of Manchester Stadium. The new training complex is based on
AC Milan
(), commonly referred to as Milan or AC Milan () mainly outside of Italy, is an Italian professional Football club (association football), football club based in Milan, Lombardy. Founded in 1899, the club competes in the Serie A, the top tie ...
's
Milanello training complex,
which is recognised to be one of top training complexes in world football.
Construction contract was signed on 14 September 2012 with work on the facility to begin immediately. Employing local people, procuring building materials from regional companies in the
North West England
North West England is one of nine official regions of England and consists of the ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. The North West had a population of 7,4 ...
and the addition of over 6000 new trees in east Manchester are centrepieces of the community and environmental benefits of the development.
Phase 2 – Stadium expansion (2014–present)
Phase 2 consisted of stadium capacity expansion. Feasibility studies conducted in 2011 showed that 2,000 more seats could be added to 49,805 without any change to the stadium structure. The South Stand and Pitch side was expanded with construction beginning in 2014 and concluded in time for the start of 2015–16 season, with around 7,000 extra seats being added. A £300 million redevelopment programme of the existing North Stand is approved. It entails the construction of a new hotel, covered fan park for 6,000 people and increased net capacity to 61,474 (allowing for seats blocked off for fan separation), Construction commenced in 2023 and be completed by the end of 2026. The second tier at the north end of the stadium will be extended with a further 7,900 seats; while a 'Skybar', linked to the hotel and with premium seating for 450, will surmount the whole. The renovations are hoped to be completed by
UEFA Euro 2028
The 2028 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2028 or simply Euro 2028, will be the 18th UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international association football, football championship. It will be co-hoste ...
.
Phase 3 – Leisure attraction (2024)

Phase 3 would focus on developing the land immediately adjacent to the Etihad Stadium. The adjoining land around the stadium is frequently called the Collar Site. This site was the selected location over sites in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
and
Blackpool
Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, England. It is located on the Irish Sea coast of the Fylde peninsula, approximately north of Liverpool and west of Preston, Lancashire, Preston. It is the main settlement in the Borough of Blackpool ...
for the
Supercasino in 2007 – but the proposal was later abandoned amid controversy over the regeneration benefits. The Collar Site is on what was once
Bradford Colliery. Remediation work to cap disused mine shafts was completed in 2011 so that the site could be used for property development. Manchester City Council conveyed their desire in 2010 to have a destination leisure and tourism attraction of "national significance".
Building started in 2021 of a
new 23,500 capacity indoor arena which could be used for events such as MMA, concerts, basketball and other events. The venue, called the
Co op Live Arena is a partnership venture between the
Oak View Group
Oak View Group, LLC (OVG) is an American professional sports and commercial real estate company based in Denver. It manages several sports venues, including Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, which was constructed under the company's supervision. ...
and
City Football Group
City Football Group Limited (CFG) is a British-based holding company that administers association football clubs. The group is owned by three organisations, of which 81% is majority-owned by Abu Dhabi United Group, 18% by the American firm Silve ...
and was opened on May 14, 2024.
Transport
Tram
The campus is served by the Metrolink tram stops at
Etihad Campus
Etihad Campus is an area of Sportcity, Manchester which is mostly owned and operated by Manchester City F.C., Manchester City. The campus includes the City of Manchester Stadium, Etihad Stadium, the Academy Stadium, City Football Academy (CFA) ...
, serving the stadium, and
Velopark, serving the CFA, which both opened in February 2013.
Rail
To match demand for a 365-day attraction, a 60,000 larger stadium, more non-footballing events and revitalised economical activity in east Manchester – Manchester City Council have considered opening a station on the railway line next the
Regional Athletics Arena to provide further capacity. A new Eastlands Railway Station would sit on the
Ashton, Stalybridge and Liverpool Junction Railway – a short line linking
Ardwick
Ardwick is an area of Manchester, England, southeast of the city centre. The population at the 2011 census was 19,250.
Historically in Lancashire, by the mid-nineteenth century Ardwick had grown from being a village into a pleasant and wealt ...
to
Miles Platting. The line is still used by freight but not by passenger services which stopped such services in 1995.
The line would have national connections and link the Etihad Campus to
Manchester Victoria
Manchester Victoria station in Manchester, England, is a combined mainline railway station and Metrolink tram stop. Situated to the north of the city centre on Hunts Bank, close to Manchester Cathedral, it adjoins Manchester Arena which was c ...
and
Manchester Piccadilly
Manchester Piccadilly is the main railway station of the city of Manchester, in the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester, England. Opened originally as Store Street in 1842, it was renamed Manchester London Road in 1847 and became Manchest ...
if the southern junction was rebuilt. A new Eastlands Railway station was discussed as part of the
Northern Hub
The Northern Hub was a rail upgrade programme between 2009 and 2020 in Northern England to improve and increase train services and reduce journey times between its major cities and towns, by electrifying lines and removing a major rail bottlene ...
phase 2 plan in June 2010.
See also
*
City Football Academy (disambiguation)
*
Marinos Town (Yokohama)
References
{{The City Football Group
Manchester City F.C.
Football venues in Manchester
Etihad
Redevelopment projects in the United Kingdom
Buildings and structures under construction in the United Kingdom
City Football Group