City out to rival United and Old Trafford by expanding Etihad Stadium by 14,000 to 62,000

By Alex Miller

PUBLISHED: 19:47 EST, 30 November 2013 | UPDATED: 19:47 EST, 30 November 2013

Manchester City have proved they can produce a team to match neighbours United — and now plans are under way to transform the Etihad Stadium into a ground to rival Old Trafford.

City have formally applied for planning permission to expand the Etihad Stadium from 48,000 to 62,170, making it the second biggest venue in the Premier League.

The plans also show that the East and West stands could be further increased to raise the capacity beyond 70,000 in the future, about 6,000 short of what Old Trafford holds.

Time to expand? Manchester City's Etihad Stadium currently has a capacity of around 48,000

Time to expand? Manchester City's Etihad Stadium currently has a capacity of around 48,000

The architects of the Olympic Stadium, Populous, have produced the designs and the club hope work will begin in February.

The designs show both ends of the stadium, owned by Manchester council, lifted to accommodate an extra tier of seats.

The plans also state that ‘introducing safe standing areas to increase capacity’ has been explored, but safe standing does not form part of the submitted plans. United and Arsenal have also indicated they would consider installing safe standing areas.

Leading the way: Manchester United's Old Trafford, which holds 76,000, is the Premier League's biggest

Leading the way: Manchester United's Old Trafford, which holds 76,000, is the Premier League's biggest

Modern stadium: But Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, opened in 2006, could yet introduce a standing area

Modern stadium: But Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, opened in 2006, could yet introduce a standing area

Inspiration: Borussia Dortmund's success has partly reopened the debate about standing areas at grounds

Inspiration: Borussia Dortmund's success has partly reopened the debate about standing areas at grounds

 

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All you armchair plastic glory hunters, going on about empty seats, need to check out your own crowds, just coz you lot claim 75000 at most game's, The records show that the only time the SWAMP is full is when CITY PLAY YOU.

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city ORPHANS, depending on other people to house and feed them. council dwelling one pens.

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More noisy neighbours , that's all !!

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It's costs money to have empty seats

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6,000 short of what Old Trafford holds

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and 17 titles short.

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Its December the 1st, not April the 1st.

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Agent provocateur headline aside - this news is old, so why post it now? And why with such a headline? It'll be in line with the Emirates, not the Trafford Tourist Track. But yes,whilst they delude themselves, City have sold every ticket for each league game for a long time now. But only City aren't allowed empty seats - i.e. people who have bought a ticket but not showed - even though you see the same at the Tourist Track, Emirates and Stamford Bridge every week on the box. B T W every person on the new season ticket list gets a number and it's at around 4,300 now (in addition to 37,000 existing holders) after 1 1/2 months and with 1 1/2 years remaining until expansion completion. Not bad for a team that 'can't sell out', eh!

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First three comments: United fan from Winchester, United fan from Singapore, United fan from London. All with their 'empty seats' jibes. And yet even if it was true, every 1 local City fan is worth 1,000 of these diabolical, insecure parasitic glory hunters who only support United because it was the 'cool' thing to do and/or to live their grey little lives through the club. Hence the increasing bitterness since there are signs of decay, with City, Arsenal, Liverpool and others on the rise while they have... David Moyes.

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I'm not a City fan but I have a soft spot since the 90s when you got 30,000 + while achieving nothing and having to live with Yoonited. But every time I've been to Manchester on business or pleasure it's been 4 City fans for every 1 Yoonited fan. so pay no mind to these horrible creatures who are on all your articles here, they will have never been to a stadium in their life but see fit to comment on the fans and stadiums of other clubs. they live on here and you are right,they are lashing out because they perceive City to be a threat and cant handle the very idea of Yoonited not being all conquering.

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I'm not a city fan but I have a hard spot.......... ahhhhhhhhahahahahahaha. sERIOUSLY THOUGH....... jOkE hArT, COmB YOuR hAiR, yOu BIG GIRLS BLOUSE.

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Should be called 'Empty'had from now on then.

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I fail to see how the Etihad will now 'rival' United and Old Trafford? They'll have 14,000 less seats, which of course because they're Manchester City they won't be able to fill... Forever in our shadow

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You should try re-reading the article but this time try to actually understand what's been written.

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