Taken from the OS. =
The Etihad expansion programme which has been underway for all the 2014/15 season and over the summer months is set to attract record numbers to the stadium during 2015/16.
Though an exact figure is not possible to calculate at this point due to on-going work and repositioning of the scoreboard, it is expected that City’s new capacity will be approximately 54,500.
Along with the 6,000 new seats created by the South Stand’s third tier, up to 1,500 new seats have been added to the front of each stand around the stadium.
That means there will be approximately 7,500 new seats added to 47,500 capacity the Blues inherited when the Club relocated to what was then the City of Manchester Stadium back in 2003.
It is almost certain that when City take on Chelsea in August, the current Etihad Stadium attendance record of 47,435 – set when the Blues took on QPR in May 2012 - will be comfortably surpassed.
In turn, any gate of 49,000 or more would top the 48,619 that attended the 1987 Manchester derby at Maine Road.
The last home crowd to top 50,000 was when City faced the Reds in October 1981 with 52,037 fans packed in to watch a dull 0-0 draw.
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I imagine that due to "segregation" our capacity will be about 54,200. Previously the capacity of CoMS was always said to be 47,725(although above they say 47,500) and with a sell out against QPR we did reach our current record of 47,435.
I will be really chuffed if the gate against Chavs is over 53,000 - but it will be August(hols etc) and which day it will be played - Sat -Sun - Mon night.
IMO it might be Sun 4-00pm K O.
