Etihad Campus, Stadium and Collar Site Development Thread

[worsleyweb]

The design consultant was a Liverpool season ticket holder.

Not sure who you are referring to mate. The main architects I dealt with at Arups from 1999 to 2004 had probably never been to a game in the their lives! And most certainly not a city one.

 

[jrb]

Wonder if expansion/movement is back on the menu - City Voice doing a questionnaire re Family Stand size & location.

That sounds positive.

Of course there could be other reasons other than to do with the NS expansion or safe standing?

Hopefully it’s another long running sign that the club are trying in a sympathetic manner to relocate the family stand to another part of the Etihad so either safe standing can be installed in NSL1 or the NS is finally going to be redeveloped? Not holding my breath though. Too many false dawns so far.

On the plus side. The recent Christmas and New Year PL home games, CL and domestic cup games, have shown City the demand for additional tickets bar current season tickets holders and PL match goers is there.

I’m 100% sure the League Cup 2nd leg will sell out, the crowd against Fulham in the FA Cup will be 50,000+, and the CL game against Real Madrid will also sell out. All positive signs that the Etihad needs expanding.

We also need to keep up with our PL rivals. United, Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham have bigger capacity stadiums. Liverpool are expanding again to *60,000*. And Everton are building a new 50,000+ stadium. We can’t afford to be stuck at 54,000+ indefinitely.

Given the right vision and *Architects* the NS expansion could include a number of other uses bar just increasing the capacity. There’s plenty of land behind the NS if City Square and the souvenir store are relocated to another part of Etihad Campus or to the Collar site next to the proposed arena. Which will find more about this year, when a full planning application is submitted.

 

[jrb]

This good aerial photograph shows how much land is available at the back of the NS if the club decided to redeveloped the NS, and in the process relocated City Square and the souvenir store. There are no size constraints that effect the SS.

PS. I would move the indoor sports halls to another location on the Etihad Campus. That parcel of land could and should be used for something else to do with the club and the fans. The site and land is much too close to the stadium to be used as squash, tennis and badminton courts.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

This good aerial photograph shows how much land is available at the back of the NS if the club decided to redeveloped the NS, and in the process relocated City Square and the souvenir store. There are no size constraints that effect the SS.

PS. I would move the indoor sports halls to another location on the Etihad Campus. That parcel of land could and should be used for something else to do with the club and the fans. The site and land is much too close to the stadium to be used as squash, tennis and badminton courts.

Loads of Blues go in the Sports Centre Cafe / Bar for a drink before games. Even more will do so if City Square is removed so there could be a significant gap in bar facilities during the redevelopment of the North Stand if the Sports Centre closes as well.

 

[The zab man]

This good aerial photograph shows how much land is available at the back of the NS if the club decided to redeveloped the NS, and in the process relocated City Square and the souvenir store. There are no size constraints that effect the SS.

PS. I would move the indoor sports halls to another location on the Etihad Campus. That parcel of land could and should be used for something else to do with the club and the fans. The site and land is much too close to the stadium to be used as squash, tennis and badminton courts.

Not sure it will be going anywhere soon as it will be rugby league head quarters when they make the move from leeds.

 

[jrb]

Loads of Blues go in the Sports Centre Cafe / Bar for a drink before games. Even more will do so if City Square is removed so there could be a significant gap in bar facilities during the redevelopment of the North Stand if the Sports Centre closes as well.

I meant as part of the overall NS redevelopment.

 

[jrb]

Not sure it will be going anywhere soon as it will be rugby league head quarters when they make the move from leeds.

Fair enough. But with the arena going on the other side of the NS, I think something more suitable to do with the club and the fans would be more appropriate for that site. I’m not saying doing away with the courts as they are a fantastic asset for the local community. The courts need to be relocated elsewhere in my opinion. Having that parcel of land would open up the back of the NS even further for redevelopment. Just a thought.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I meant as part of the overall NS redevelopment.

Yes mate and maybe better facilities would be out in place. I am just wary that City would be able to sort enough bar / refreshments capacity whilst the North Stand was being redeveloped. It was pretty chaotic the year 93:20 and Joe’s bars were being put into East Stand Level 2, even though that was a much smaller project.

I want to see the ground expanded but my preference would be limit the removal of good existing facilities, where they can be retained.

 

[oakiecokie]

The design consultant was a Liverpool season ticket holder.

Obviously has no "grey matter" between the ears.

 

[jrb]

Yes mate and maybe better facilities would be out in place. I am just wary that City would be able to sort enough bar / refreshments capacity whilst the North Stand was being redeveloped. It was pretty chaotic the year 93:20 and Joe’s bars were being put into East Stand Level 2, even though that was a much smaller project.

I want to see the ground expanded but my preference would be limit the removal of good existing facilities, where they can be retained.

That’s fair enough mate. I know exactly where you are coming from.

It could a phased development.

1. Build a temp souvenir store and City Square on the Collar site.
2. Demolish the existing souvenir store and City Square.
3. Expand the NS backwards.(and outwards)
4. Build new sports halls on another part of the campus.
5. Demolish the sports halls.
6. Build a larger double storey souvenir shop(with offices), and a new City Square offering more bars, food outlets and a new attractive plaza sized square.

1. Arena on 1 side.
2. Expanded NS in the middle.
3. A larger souvenir store, and a new larger and redesigned City Square on the other side.

 

[The zab man]

I remember looking at this very early concept thinking it was a pipe dream, but now im not so sure. Imagine the proposed arena there and the picture starts to make more sense, if anything like this comes to fruition there will be plenty for the fans to do.

 

[Centurions]

That’s fair enough mate. I know exactly where you are coming from.

It could a phased development.

1. Build a temp souvenir store and City Square on the Collar site.
2. Demolish the existing souvenir store and City Square.
3. Expand the NS backwards.(and outwards)
4. Build new sports halls on another part of the campus.
5. Demolish the sports halls.
6. Build a larger double storey souvenir shop(with offices), and a new City Square offering more bars, food outlets and a new plaza sized square.

1. Arena on 1 side.
2. Expanded NS in the middle.
3. A larger souvenir storeand a new larger and redesigned City Square on the other side.

Regarding point 6, I thought the idea was that most (if not all) of that was going to be built into the NS? Or was that just an idea that someone on here had?

 

[jrb]

It all really depends on what long term plans City and the city council have for the Collar site.

It’s a huge parcel of land. To fill it entirely with leisure is a big gamble. Especially if it’s going to be a single enormous leisure building/attraction.

The site for proposed Therm Resort at Trafford Park is a comparable size, but bigger overall

https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/therme-submits-plans-for-trafford-wellbeing-resort/

TBH most leisure options are now catered for in Gtr Manchester.

City and the city council need to come up with something radically different to entice people from across Gtr Manchester to go to the Etihad Campus for leisure. The options are limited.

The proposed Therme Resort is going to be iconic. And a real leisure game changer for Manchester. It will be the only resort of it’s kind in the UK. Even London was overlooked for a place to site it.

I’m no fan of Peel Holdings, but they’ve pulled off a great coup with Therme. Credit to them. Let’s hope they deliver it?

 

[jrb]

Regarding point 6, I thought the idea was that most (if not all) of that was going to be built into the NS? Or was that just an idea that someone on here had?

Think it was just ideas being banded about. Certain forum members may know or have an inclination. A Hotel has been mentioned as part of the NS redevelopment. But Chelsea’s two Hotels that form part of a stand haven’t been viable, and we’re going to be demolished as part of the plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge.

 

[blueparrot]

Think it was just ideas being banded about. Certain forum members may know or have an inclination. A Hotel has been mentioned as part of the NS redevelopment. But Chelsea’s two Hotels that form part of a stand haven’t been viable, and we’re going to be demolished as part of the plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge.

Think a Hotel or two attached to the arena would be much more viable, It would be used much more than the ground is used. Especially if they still plan to find a partner for the university idea on the campus as well for visiting families of students..

 

[jrb]

Think a Hotel or two attached to the arena would be much more viable, It would be used much more than the ground is used. Especially if they still plan to find a partner for the university idea on the campus as well for visiting families of students..

The Institute of Sport is dead. MU have decided to redevelop the Students Union building on Oxford Road into the new Institute of Sport. https://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=2228266

 

[blueparrot]

The Institute of Sport is dead. MU have decided to redevelop the Students Union on Oxford Road building into the new Institute of Sport. https://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=2228266

Yes, remember that but thought at the time they wanted to look for another partner for it

 

[jrb]

Yes, remember that but thought at the time they wanted to look for another partner for it

Would it be viable having 2 Institutes of Sport competing against each other?

Think it was a flawed idea from the start, bar being a brave idea.

MU did right by keeping it on the University Campus along Oxford Road.

 

[jrb]

Think a Hotel or two attached to the arena would be much more viable, It would be used much more than the ground is used. Especially if they still plan to find a partner for the university idea on the campus as well for visiting families of students..

A Hotel in conjunction with the arena should be a real possibility. 1 is enough to start off with. If one is built, I hope it won’t end up being a Travel Lodge or a Premier Inn. Something more up market would be better. There are plenty of Hotels chains around the World that don’t have a Hotel in Manchester yet. A Hotel tower with a bar and restaurant at the top giving panoramic views of the city centre and Manchester would be a good idea.

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Once started it'll surely move faster than the SS, no worries about pissing off households around the NS area in the evening/overnight.