Manchester City planning £300m splurge to get Etihad Stadium on a par with rivals

Manchester City are reportedly looking to splash out £300 million as they look to improve the Etihad Stadium.

Since last year, there have been talks in and around the club that work needs to be done in order to make the Etihad one of the finest stadiums in England.

According to the Daily Mail, City will now look to invest £300 million to revamp the North End of the stadium.

The report stated that an additional 7,700 seats will be added to the second tier of the stand, taking the overall capacity to around 61,000.

In addition, the plans include the building of a new hotel, covered fan park, megastore and museum all on the campus.

With the latest investment, it would take City’s overall spending on the club’s infrastructure in the area to over £1 billion.

City’s owners have previously improved other parts of the stadium, the club’s training facilities and community centres.

After unveiling their initial plans earlier on in the month, the consultation period with fans and local residents ended last Sunday.

Respected architectural firm Populous are the brains behind the remodelling, having previously worked with Tottenham Hotspur on their new stadium.

City will now look to be granted planning permission ahead of building work starting.

The huge expansion project at the Etihad Stadium, redeveloping the North Stand to take capacity to around 61,000, has continued apace following a consultation period.

The work includes revamping the area around the stadium and is set to cost £300million.

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 If the club manage to secure permission, work is expected to commence in November and they are hoping that the expansion will be done and dusted by the start of the 25/26 season, with other building work completed a year later.

City have also stated that 'the construction period would be carefully planned around the football season to minimise the potential for disruption'.

By increasing the Etihad’s capacity, it will bring the club’s stadium alongside some of the best in the Premier League.

The likes of Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester United and West Ham currently lead the way in terms of stadium capacity.

Liverpool are also working around the clock to improve Anfield as the latest development is set to take their capacity to 61,000.