Etihad Campus, Stadium and Collar Site Development Thread

[Oystercatcher28]

Took my lads to the BMX indoor track the other Saturday. Afterwards we went over to the Etihad and walked all around the ground. Apart from a private bus that pulled up to collect some Chinese tourists from the museum, we were the only people there. Literally had the entire site to ourselves.

One observation that I can chuck in, regarding getting more people to visit the site, it's not that accessible for people on foot to get onto the site, because it is fenced off. If you are in a car, you can drive round to the entrance, but if you're on foot, you have to walk around looking for a way in. We cut in through a gate that was for coaches only, and climbed under some railings. It's not really user friendly like other grounds which are completely open to the public on all sides and you can just walk right up to them from any side.

I know there is a rough housing estate opposite and a big homeless problem, judging by the tents around Asda, but it's a bit much with all the gates and fences keeping people out. I mean, it is working, but people have a vested interest in it not being like a ghost town on a Saturday afternoon during the School holidays.

Was it raining?

I guess the hotel, cafe etc will increase footfall on the stadium footprint. The tram stop serves the varied sports facilities, whilst Velopark seems closer to Asda and housing areas. Not really much to see around a stadium that is closed, in summer. I walk my dog there often and I see many people but the closed access due to the reconstruction work is less welcoming on the eye. I always felt it needed something between the bridge and the stadium to drive footfall. A casino?

 

[Jacko1956]

There are people living in the bushes next to flip out trampoline park. There are also people in tents at the front of the store, and not the decathlon ones!!! There was a guy begging on the crossroads under the foot bridge.

I have always found it odd why the site is fenced off with locked gates. Yes, you can cross over and get on the bridge, but if you were walking up grey mare lane, you can't just cross over and into the ground without having to go back over to the campus and cross 4 lanes of traffic.

When you go to the Emirates, the ground is part of the high street. You get off the bus and you are right there in the stadium. It is much more user friendly, and part of the area, not a separate entity. You either want to open it up to the public, or you don't.

This is what I mean

Or this

It's called security and there's about 20 different entrances until they lock the perimeter gates at night !

 

[The Future’s Blue!]

You have exactly made my point for me. "Most City fans will know where the entrances are" What if they are visitors, tourists, day trippers, attending a concert, a hen/stag do etc etc...

People are saying that its going to be the next big attraction in Manchester, they'll be hotels, bars and restaurants, but only City fans know how to get on to the site.

Why is the stadium fenced off?

Quite simply, to control crowds in and out of the stadium. Anybody going to the ground will find easy access from many areas and would only find it mildly difficult if they parked on Asda and tried to access it by crossing the road from there. Even that is just a matter of walking a few hundred meters either way to get in.

Seems you made it in so not all bad, you got to see the home of the Champions and current Treble winners. Well worth the couple of minutes to orientate yourself to the site.

 

[pride in battle]

You have exactly made my point for me. "Most City fans will know where the entrances are" What if they are visitors, tourists, day trippers, attending a concert, a hen/stag do etc etc...

People are saying that its going to be the next big attraction in Manchester, they'll be hotels, bars and restaurants, but only City fans know how to get on to the site.

Why is the stadium fenced off?

It's not fenced off, loads of ways in.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

There are people living in the bushes next to flip out trampoline park. There are also people in tents at the front of the store, and not the decathlon ones!!! There was a guy begging on the crossroads under the foot bridge.

I have always found it odd why the site is fenced off with locked gates. Yes, you can cross over and get on the bridge, but if you were walking up grey mare lane, you can't just cross over and into the ground without having to go back over to the campus and cross 4 lanes of traffic.

When you go to the Emirates, the ground is part of the high street. You get off the bus and you are right there in the stadium. It is much more user friendly, and part of the area, not a separate entity. You either want to open it up to the public, or you don't.

This is what I mean

Or this

You do realise that our ground was built out of town don’t you? The other examples are of stadia that were built near to existing stadia that have existed for decades. Those original grounds were built on spare land in open spaces that London has since grown around, much like Manchester is doing now.

 

[r.soleofsalford]

You have exactly made my point for me. "Most City fans will know where the entrances are" What if they are visitors, tourists, day trippers, attending a concert, a hen/stag do etc etc...

People are saying that its going to be the next big attraction in Manchester, they'll be hotels, bars and restaurants, but only City fans know how to get on to the site.

Why is the stadium fenced off?

 

[mcfcphil]

You have exactly made my point for me. "Most City fans will know where the entrances are" What if they are visitors, tourists, day trippers, attending a concert, a hen/stag do etc etc...

People are saying that its going to be the next big attraction in Manchester, they'll be hotels, bars and restaurants, but only City fans know how to get on to the site.

Why is the stadium fenced off?

Why is Alton Towers fenced off?

 

[HelloCity]

You have exactly made my point for me. "Most City fans will know where the entrances are" What if they are visitors, tourists, day trippers, attending a concert, a hen/stag do etc etc...

People are saying that its going to be the next big attraction in Manchester, they'll be hotels, bars and restaurants, but only City fans know how to get on to the site.

Why is the stadium fenced off?

99% of your post history is you in the United thread pretending not to be a United fan.

 

[BMR]

You have exactly made my point for me. "Most City fans will know where the entrances are" What if they are visitors, tourists, day trippers, attending a concert, a hen/stag do etc etc...

People are saying that its going to be the next big attraction in Manchester, they'll be hotels, bars and restaurants, but only City fans know how to get on to the site.

Why is the stadium fenced off?

As a real City fan I'm happy you can keep your lovely open Emirates Stadium we will just be content with winning titles, I'm pretty sure I know which of those will bring in the most tourist fans.

 

[Ardnaree]

Quite simply, to control crowds in and out of the stadium. Anybody going to the ground will find easy access from many areas and would only find it mildly difficult if they parked on Asda and tried to access it by crossing the road from there. Even that is just a matter of walking a few hundred meters either way to get in.

Seems you made it in so not all bad, you got to see the home of the Champions and current Treble winners. Well worth the couple of minutes to orientate yourself to the site.

My observations from Saturday was that the footfall, and I can talk about footfall as I am a retail developer, was that the nearest mass of people to the Stadium, were across the road at the Asda retail park, including Flip out/Decathlon/National Cycling Center/Starbucks/McDonalds.

People using those outlets and facilities may want to cross over and also visit the Stadium and use the new facilities that are to be provided in the future. It would be beneficial to open this side of the site up the largest and most regular concentration of people.

Instead of this