{"id":596154,"date":"2026-05-21T12:39:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T12:39:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/596154\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T12:39:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T12:39:20","slug":"it-feels-a-bit-like-wembley-first-look-inside-etihad-stadiums-expanded-north-stand-as-it-gets-ready-for-emotional-opening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/596154\/","title":{"rendered":"‘It feels a bit like Wembley’: First look inside Etihad Stadium\u2019s expanded North Stand as it gets ready for emotional opening"},"content":{"rendered":"

It will open fully for the first time on Sunday when a new attendance record will be set for the stadium<\/p>\n

The view from the back of the newly expanded North Stand second tier (Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

Manchester City<\/a> fans said they were ‘very impressed’ as they were allowed into the Etihad Stadium<\/a>\u2019s newly expanded North Stand for the first time – just days before it opens on what promises to be a momentous day for the club.<\/p>\n

More than 7,000 seats have been added to the stand\u2019s second tier as part of a huge \u00a3300 million revamp.<\/p>\n

It will open at full capacity for the first time for Sunday\u2019s final game of the Premier League<\/a> season at home to Aston Villa<\/a>. That will see the club set a new attendance record for the stadium of over 60,000.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter<\/p>\n

Despite their lingering title hopes being officially ended with a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday night, it will be an emotional day for all those of a Blues persuasion.<\/p>\n

Terrace heroes Bernardo Silva and John Stones will play their final games for the club, while it is also been widely reported it will be boss Pep Guardiola<\/a>\u2019s last game in charge at the Etihad after a trophy-laden decade at the helm.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

More than 3,500 fans attended the test event(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

That has not yet been confirmed, with the Spaniard saying at the Vitality Stadium that he would speak to the club’s chairman before announcing any decision on his future.<\/p>\n

Blues supporters got their first look inside the new-look stand last night (Wednesday). More than 3,500 fans were invited in for a test event, which was required for the club to obtain clearance to open it on Sunday.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The new Level 2 concourse(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

Supporters spent time wandering around and eating and drinking on the new-look concourse, complete with self-service screens and pickup kiosks.<\/p>\n

They also got their first peak of the hallowed turf from the more than 60 rows of seats.<\/p>\n

In contrast to the South Stand, which was also expanded a decade ago and is spread across three tiers, the club decided to add the new seats to the North Stand\u2019s second tier, creating a steep, sloping upper tier, which it was said it was hoped would become \u2018the Blue Wall\u2019 – a reference to the \u2018Yellow Wall\u2019, a steep single\u2013tiered stand at Borussia Dortmund\u2019s stadium which is famous for its atmosphere.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The stand will open at full capacity for Sunday’s match against Aston Villa(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

More than 3,000 of the new seats are rail seats, which allow for safe standing, and a new singing section is to be established. City say the stand has allowed them offer more than 4,000 new \u2018flexi-gold\u2019 season tickets around the stadium for next season.<\/p>\n

And those were in attendance on Wednesday got their first taste of what the action will look like from the seats.<\/p>\n

A stage was erected where the goal is usually situated. There was a performance from City supporting indie band The Lilacs as well appearances from members of the academy and women’s teams, former players, and a quiz.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

One of the food and drink kiosks(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

There were loud cheers when the goals from City’s recent FA Youth Cup victory against Manchester United<\/a> and the FA Cup<\/a> win over Chelsea<\/a> at Wembley on Saturday were shown on the big screen.<\/p>\n

Chris Warburton, 70, from Sale<\/a>, said: “I think it’s really good. It’s a lot more spread out. The facilities are really, really good.<\/p>\n

“And the views are sensational. It’s great everywhere but this really is a step up. I’m a season ticket holder in the East Stand but I’d be interested in moving over here.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Fans queuing to get in(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

Alicia Eden, 36, from Oldham<\/a>, who was with son Joshua, 10, said: “We like it. We have our seats in the Family Stand below but he already wants to relocate.<\/p>\n

“There’s a lot going on. The kiosks are great. I just think the whole layout feels a lot better. It feels a bit like Wembley. I’m very impressed.”<\/p>\n

Speaking from the stage, the club’s Managing Director Danny Wlson said it was a ‘big statement of (their) ambition’ and ‘a big milestone’ for the club.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How the stand looks from the outside(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

City said in a statement issued afterwards that the stand had ‘passed all operational checks’ following the ‘successful’ event.<\/p>\n

Around 3,500 tickets for the new stand have already been sold for the Villa game, and the club said the remainder would go on sale to members this afternoon (Thursday).<\/p>\n

“We wish to thank all the fans who attended tonight\u2019s test event,” they said. “Their support and cooperation have been vital in enabling us to operate at full capacity on Sunday.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Work on the wider Medlock Square development is continuing(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

“We also look forward to welcoming fans back to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday for what promises to be a special occasion.”<\/p>\n

The wider Medlock Square development also includes a new 3,000 capacity fanzone, new museum, City Store, and 401-bedroom hotel. These are due to open to the public before the end of this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It will open fully for the first time on Sunday when a new attendance record will be set…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":596155,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[203755,69111,59,2502,221,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-596154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-beswick","tag-etihad-stadium","tag-gb","tag-manchester-city-fc","tag-premier-league","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=596154"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596154\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/596155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=596154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=596154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=596154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}