LEXSTARproject
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Etihad Campus, Stadium and Collar Site Development Thread
- Thread starter Danamy
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HelloCity
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City Square will be where the club shop is now I’d imagine.
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Gone for a Burton
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The hotel/Conference Centre is going at the top of the 'Development Site' with vehicular access from AT Way and pedestrian plazas accessing the ground and arena.
A conference centre as well?
Hotel.
Museum.
Plaza.(covered)
Souvenir store.
Conference centre.
North Stand expansion.
Can you be a bit more specific about the site/location? Where the porta-cabins are now? Thanks.
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I remember raising this on Skyscrapercity a decade ago. The consensus from people on there who knew what they're talking about was that taking trains from the freight line that runs by the Etihad and into Piccadilly or vice-versa isn't viable. Trains taking this route would have to cut across too many paths already going into and coming out of Piccadilly.
Originally, ahead of the there was a plan to run trains from Marple and Glossop to Victoria, bringing them through Ashburys and using that line, with a new station being built to the west of the stadium. The 2000 map for the originally planned Metrolink expansion showed the Metrolink stop at Sportcity (which eventually became the Etihad Campus stop) having a rail interchange. But the government of the day pulled its funding for the Metrolink expansion, meaning it was delayed years, while nothing ever came of the plan with the trains.
The plan was superseded by the idea of running tram-trains along the Marple line, through Ashburys, then running along the streets through Beswick, with a new station less than half-a-mile from the Etihad. It would then join the line from Ashton going into the undercroft of Piccadilly station and emerging on the other side to run through the city centre. This was first mooted years ago, though, and seems no nearer to fruition. What the prospects are, I've no idea.
That possibly leaves Hatfield or Glossop trains as one possibility to run along the stadium loop. However, I believe those lines are electrified and the loop isn't. I was told on SSC that, unless they're prepared to spend money on addressing this issue, the only service that might be redirected in the future to run this way into Victoria rather than Piccadilly would probably be the Hope Valley trains via New Mills to Sheffield.
I really do think they need to do something and, as I say, have been asking these questions since at least 2012. Unfortunately, nothing has happened, and unless CFG are prepared to put cash in as part of a section 106 agreement, I don't feel optimistic about the future. I'd suggest that in the current climate, there's certainly no hope of much central government funding to facilitate a Metrolink expansion.
Gone for a Burton
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It would seem implausible that increased and upgraded rail/metro links are not part of the immediate/medium term plan for the campus and surrounding current and future developments.
The forecast footfall almost demands it.
Etihad Rail have and are constructing huge networks in the Middle East and Asia.
It's entirely plausible that they could build it and operate it privately or in a jv.
The Sheikh has a liking for mutually supportive long term income streams....
Airline
Railway
Football Club
Arena
Residential & Commercial developments throughout East Manchester.
Call me old fashioned if you like......
More than that, mate. @Gone for a Burton also posted this on Saturday, which I missed until looking for something else earlier this afternoon:
So you can add a casino to the possible list. Then there's the information from @kippax81 about a Kickair venue on the site where the Mercedes garage currently is, noting:
Also, remember that the Eastlands Regeneration Framework was amended in 2019. That for the first time identified the possibility of a large arena on the Campus and notes as follows with regard to the Collar Site:
So you can add a multiplex cinema to the mix as a potential idea for the Collar Site, as well. Given what else will be built, I don't think it will be your bog-standard cinema complex of which there must be hundreds up and down the country. It would be something cutting edge and unique in this country (or the north of England, at least) to draw people in from all over.
We've waited a long time, jrb, mate - I think we first started discussing this stuff in forerunner threads back in 2009. But finally people are coming along with details and it looks as though exciting things could be about to happen.
This would, of course, be marvellous. Let's wait and see, but finally your information is giving us something to get quite excited about on this thread. Whatever happens, I'm sure it'll end up being worth the wait.
Centurions
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I thought when the COOP Live was first announced they were talking about being able to reconfigure the interior at will to allow for smaller acts plus conferences? Or has my head entirely gone as there's no mention on their website now?