Manchester City visitor guide (City of Manchester Stadium, Man City, Sky Blues)

The City of Manchester stadium, also known as Eastlands, was designed as part of Manchester's failed bid for the 2000 Summer Olympics, but was constructed as the stadium for the 2002 Commonwealth games at a cost of around £110m. Shortly after, the stadium was extensively converted to become a football venue, and Manchester City FC moved into the 47,726 all-seater stadium, signing a 250-year lease. The stadium, like many others, has also been used to stage concerts, with the Manchester band Oasis being just one of those to play there.

The stadium offers tours to fans and visitors, and it takes in, among others, the changing rooms and dugouts. Away fans can expect to be seated in the south stand, and there are food and drink facilities as well as toilets in that area. A grand new stadium, the bowl shape of the ground means a great atmosphere can be generated easily, making for a great match day experience.

Getting To The City Of Manchester Stadium

There are many ways to get to the City of Manchester stadium, and also to the City of Manchester hotels you might stay in whilst there. Taxis are of course in numerous supply, and Piccadilly railway station in the city centre is a 20-30 minute signposted and stewarded walk from there. Ashburys station is also close by, and is a 15 minute walk from the stadium, but services to there are limited due to its size.

Bus services are frequent and extremely numerous, with services including the 53, 54, 185, 186, 216, 217 just a small number of the buses running to the ground. For the more active traveller or for those more local, there is provision for parking bicycles close by the ground too.

Travelling by car to the ground is not actively discouraged, but public transport is actively recommended. The stadium itself has around 2,000 parking spaces and to get there as quickly as possible it is recommended to use a good route planner website or satellite navigation. To this end, the postcode for the City of Manchester Stadium is M11 3FF. By 2012, the ground will have its own stop on the tram system in Manchester, further increasing the ease with which fans can get to the ground.

Manchester City Supporters’ Clubs

Manchester City Centenary Supporters’ Association - Winchester

The A34 Winchester Branch of the Centenary Supporters Association has a membership of approximately 30 Hampshire and Wiltshire based "blues" who meet on a regular basis and attend City games all over the country.
 
Branch activities include booking tickets for games, arranging travel amongst members and previous meetings have seen guests such as Uwe Rosler, Willie Donachie, Kevin Keegan and Stuart Pearce provide question and answer sessions.

Here are football stadiums close to Manchester City: