Etihad Campus, Stadium Development and Collar Site

[The Man With The Stick]

Re: Etihad Campus & potential new stadium

Just read this article...

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/apr/02/manchester-united-snub-rugby-world-cup" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/ap ... -world-cup</a>

It's about the RWC in Sep/Oct 2015. United have refused use of there ground so the Etihad has been added onto the shortlist. Article states we'll have a capacity of 60,000?
Wondered if this was crap research on behalf of the journalist or whether this is what's been said to the RWCL?

Just noticed i've repeated Petrushas post... soz mate!

 

[fbloke]

Re: Etihad Campus & potential new stadium

I think its more or less certain that the Etihad wont be a 60k seat venue by 2015.

There is an outside chance it could be a 60k venue in 10 years but I reckon the timescales we have all had in our minds (at least those people on this thread) have failed to take into account that not a single additional seat has been added in almost 4 1/2 years of ADUG ownership.

Its plain now that some serious rejigging has gone on and that whatever was being shown to players and other interested parties whilst Garry Cook was in post is no longer the focus of the club.

That said the investment in the academy is the logical thing to focus on and with the announcements about City Soccer Schools across the globe coming next we are slowly but surely seeing boxes being ticked leading to the stadium development starting in perhaps 2-3 years, IMHO.

 

[Danamy]

Re: Etihad Campus & potential new stadium

I do remember suggestions a while ago on the Vegas thread that our owners were hoping to use the stadium for major sporting and entertainment events other than MCFC home games. It was also suggested that this could play a role in the decision of when to raise capacity.

For what it's worth, the Guardian's website is now reporting that United have pulled out of putting Old Trafford forward as a venue for the Rugby (Union) World Cup 2015 and that the Etihad Stadium is likely to take its place. They also refer to the capacity at the Etihad as being 60K, which it isn't, of course - but could it be by then?

Story below but for those who prefer, the link is here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/apr/02/manchester-united-snub-rugby-world-cup

Manchester United pass up chance to host Rugby World Cup over pitch fears

• Club fear tournament would ruin Old Trafford pitch
• Etihad Stadium set to be replacement on shortlist

James Riach

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 2 April 2013 17.24 BST

Manchester United have pulled out of the running to host matches at Old Trafford during the 2015 Rugby World Cup due to scheduling concerns and worries there would be serious damage to the pitch. Manchester City's Etihad Stadium is expected to replace it on the stadium shortlist.

It is a major blow for organisers Rugby World Cup Limited, who need to sell 2.9m tickets in order to meet the £80m guarantee it made to the International Rugby Board ahead of being awarded the tournament.

Old Trafford was pencilled in to stage five games during the competition in England and Wales, but United have requested that they be withdrawn from the process because of their existing commitments to hosting rugby league.

The Rugby World Cup will take place in September and October 2015 and United are keen to avoid any scheduling complications as the club could potentially be competing in the group stages of the Champions League at that time of the season.

RWCL are keen for the competition to be spread evenly across the country and hosting matches in Manchester is crucial to their tournament blueprint. They have held positive talks with City who are willing to step into the breach at this late stage in planning, however, the Etihad's capacity is 60,000 compared to Old Trafford's 75,000 and there is the possibility of United expanding their ground even further, although the Glazers' recent plans to do so have reportedly stalled.

United, who will host two rugby league matches this winter, are already contracted to stage future Super League grand finals and believe that rugby union would exert more strain on the pitch compared to the opposing code.

With competitive scrums and rucks potentially tearing up turf to a greater extent than in league, a decision was made by the Old Trafford board and groundstaff to withdraw. Another factor was that the club are installing a new Desso pitch at the end of the campaign, which combines grass with artificial fibres in contrast to their current grass-only surface.

The World Cup organisers have already delayed naming the 12-venue shortlist because of complications regarding the Olympic Stadium. The preferred venues were due to be presented to the RWCL board last month but that decision was delayed because the future of the Olympic Stadium remained unclear.

West Ham United have since been confirmed as the future tenants and World Cup organisers are now confident that the Stratford venue will make the cut from the longlist of 17 grounds.

A final announcement will be made later this month when the Etihad Stadium and the Olympic Stadium are expected to be confirmed as World Cup venues. However, there has been criticism levelled at organisers as only three dedicated rugby grounds – Twickenham, the Millennium Stadium and Kingsholm – were named on the longlist.

They have since been joined by Exeter's Sandy Park, which replaced Bristol City's home Ashton Gate, but there is still a disproportionate number of rugby stadiums compared to football grounds.

Good find petrusha, looks like someone's made a major fuck up there?

 

[petrusha]

Re: Etihad Campus & potential new stadium

I think its more or less certain that the Etihad wont be a 60k seat venue by 2015.

There is an outside chance it could be a 60k venue in 10 years but I reckon the timescales we have all had in our minds (at least those people on this thread) have failed to take into account that not a single additional seat has been added in almost 4 1/2 years of ADUG ownership.

Its plain now that some serious rejigging has gone on and that whatever was being shown to players and other interested parties whilst Garry Cook was in post is no longer the focus of the club.

That said the investment in the academy is the logical thing to focus on and with the announcements about City Soccer Schools across the globe coming next we are slowly but surely seeing boxes being ticked leading to the stadium development starting in perhaps 2-3 years, IMHO.

This is sickeningly disappointing, and IMO highly misguided on the club's part, if true.

 

[goat boy]

Re: Etihad Campus & potential new stadium

City have had a desso pitch for many years haven't they? I remember seeing pictures of the dwarf combine harvester arrangement that they used to sew in the plastic bits when they last overhauled it.

I read that as bad research, a rugby hack writing about a football ground, as much as anything

 

[LoveCity]

Re: Etihad Campus & potential new stadium

This is where the 60k misconception comes from, even some football fans think we aren't filling a 60,000 seat stadium rather than selling out a 47,500-ish seat stadium every week!

[bigimg]http://i.imgur.com/rs3tcJ1.jpg[/bigimg]

BTW any guesses how much we'd get for being a host stadium and would some of the money go to the council?

 

[fbloke]

Re: Etihad Campus & potential new stadium

This is where the 60k misconception comes from, even some football fans think we aren't filling a 60,000 seat stadium rather than selling out a 47,500-ish seat stadium every week!

[bigimg]http://i.imgur.com/rs3tcJ1.jpg[/bigimg]

BTW any guesses how much we'd get for being a host stadium and would some of the money go to the council?

The revenues from activities and events at the stadium are now all the clubs to keep under the recently renegotiated lease deal.

 

[fbloke]

Re: Etihad Campus & potential new stadium

I think its more or less certain that the Etihad wont be a 60k seat venue by 2015.

There is an outside chance it could be a 60k venue in 10 years but I reckon the timescales we have all had in our minds (at least those people on this thread) have failed to take into account that not a single additional seat has been added in almost 4 1/2 years of ADUG ownership.

Its plain now that some serious rejigging has gone on and that whatever was being shown to players and other interested parties whilst Garry Cook was in post is no longer the focus of the club.

That said the investment in the academy is the logical thing to focus on and with the announcements about City Soccer Schools across the globe coming next we are slowly but surely seeing boxes being ticked leading to the stadium development starting in perhaps 2-3 years, IMHO.

This is sickeningly disappointing, and IMO highly misguided on the club's part, if true.

No announcement yet made.

This summer events already in place mean no changes.

That means any start date will be summer 2014 - academy goes live then interestingly - perhaps a further year for planning etc allowing a further summer of concerts etc?

It hints at a start date of 2015 for any substantial changes at the earliest, if there are any to happen.

I hope I'm wrong but I fear I'm not.

 

[Ardwick Green Blue]

Re: Etihad Campus & potential new stadium

It looks like a great time for GX City to post a teasing 'Big news on it's way' message to lift everyone's spirits.

Given the choice between an expanded stadium and upgraded training facilities or space age training facilities and no expansion I would go for the first option every time.

 

[GXCity]

Re: Etihad Campus & potential new stadium

I think its more or less certain that the Etihad wont be a 60k seat venue by 2015.

There is an outside chance it could be a 60k venue in 10 years but I reckon the timescales we have all had in our minds (at least those people on this thread) have failed to take into account that not a single additional seat has been added in almost 4 1/2 years of ADUG ownership.

Its plain now that some serious rejigging has gone on and that whatever was being shown to players and other interested parties whilst Garry Cook was in post is no longer the focus of the club.

That said the investment in the academy is the logical thing to focus on and with the announcements about City Soccer Schools across the globe coming next we are slowly but surely seeing boxes being ticked leading to the stadium development starting in perhaps 2-3 years, IMHO.

Really?!

A lot of people have wasted a lot of time, effort and money and continue to do so on a daily basis then.

Might as well not bother work tomorrow as the club are more interested in overseas soccer schools than developing the Campus.

Cheers for the heads up FBloke.