FanchesterCity said:
Given our stadium was never really a huge statement piece, and it's already undergone a number of revisions, I think it's superb (barring it needs a bit more 'gloss' on the outside).
It's still well ahead of 99% of stadiums.
Arsenal had the luxury (and expense) of designing their stadium from themselves, we didn't have that. Still, can you imagine if we'd stayed at Maine Road? Arguably, moving to the new stadium was one of City's most pivotal (and best) decisions in its lifetime (in my opinion).
I agree. When we complete both ends The Etihad will essentially be on a par with The Emirates. The total cost of building The Etihad will still be
much less even factoring in the conversion costs from an athletics stadium to a football stadium. If we hadn't moved we would never have seen the takeover and would probably be languishing in the Championship or the lower part of the Premier League right now.
I find it interesting comparing and contrasting the legacy of our failed Olympic bids and hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2002 which led
to real regeneration in the city as a whole and most especially the football club with the disaster that was the Sheffield World Student
Games in 1991. Their legacy was a mountain of debt and most of the facilities including the main stadium have now been demolished.
