Manchester City says the development will create “long-term economic and social benefits” for the local community.

Manchester City’s plans to expand the Etihad Stadium and create a new entertainment destination on site have officially been approved.

After the club submitted ambitious proposals to both increase its home ground’s capacity, and create a “best-in-class” fan experience by adding an all year-round entertainment and leisure destination on the current site, the new vision for the Etihad Stadium has officially been approved by Manchester City Council .

Approval follows the club’s fan and community consultation, which took place back in February and March this year, all before the full planning application was subsequently submitted in April .

Proposals were given approval by the Council’s planning committee yesterday (27 July).

But what exactly is in store for the Etihad Campus then? Well, according to Manchester City , the approved plans include several connected all-weather facilities that are fully integrated into the stadium – which will all be centred around an expanded North Stand, with one larger single upper tier above the existing lower tier that increases overall capacity to over 60,000.

Above the upper tier, there will be a so-called ‘sky bar’ with views overlooking the pitch, as well as a stadium roof ‘walk experience’.

Plans include a covered “City Square” fan zone with seating for 3,000 people.

Finally, as part of the club’s growth, supporters can also look forward to taking advantage of a wide range of new dining and drinking establishments, a club store, a museum, office space, and even a 400-bed hotel.

Manchester City’s Operations Director, Danny Wilson, says the club is “delighted” by the approval of the plans, adding that the development will “not only enable the club to enhance and expand its offering to fans and visitors on both matchday and non-matchday”, but will also “create lasting long-term economic and social benefits for our local community”.

He continued by saying that the plans’ approval “builds on” the redevelopment work that the City Football Group has carried out in East Manchester since 2008.

The club estimates that the primary building work will start on-site in November 2023.

This indicates that the North Stand will be finished and operational for the 2025–2026 football season, but that the hotel, office space, and other “public realm” projects, including City Square, are more likely to be finished by the end of 2026.