(Football news) Manchester City are planning to increase the capacity of the Etihad Stadium from 53,400 to 60,000 by expanding the North Stand. The club have submitted a planning application for a £300m expansion which will include a sky bar overlooking the pitch and a stadium roof walk experience. A fan zone that can accommodate 3,000 will also be built along with a new club shop, museum and a 4000 bed hotel. 

The project is expected to take three years to complete and will create a “best-in-class” experience for fans and “year-round entertainment and leisure destination”. The planning application has been submitted following consultation with fans and the local community and will cost an estimated £300m, creating 2,600 jobs which will be given as priority to people from Greater Manchester. There are also plans for new office spaces for business that want to work with the club and it’s partners.

Danny Wilson, managing director of Manchester City Operations said “As with all Club developments, ensuring our local community benefit is a key priority and we believe these proposals will deliver long-term economic and social opportunities, building on the regeneration work delivered in east Manchester by City Football Group since 2008.” The Stadium was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and has been home for Manchester City since 2003. About 6,000 seats were added in 2015 and it’s currently the fifth largest capacity stadium in the Premier League.

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