City's info says the option for increasing the rail seating area will depend on the demand ahead of the stand opening so it is a fixed rather than flexible deadline and I think it would be quite difficult to demonstrate irrefutably beforehand that there is this extra demand. Presumably it would all be decided on the demand from existing season ticketholders who wish to relocate rather than waiting to see what any new flexi gold ticket holders would want.
IMO, at best, it will be priced the same as SSL1 and so very few seasonticketholders from SSL3 would be looking to move.
From reading this thread 1894 submitted a survey which indicated there was high demand for rail standing tickets and yet the baseline figure of 3,000 rail seats was chosen.
I think the key, then, is whether there are many seasonticketholders who sit in blocks that don't really sing who want to move to the rail seating. If 1894 don't move then such seasonticketholders would be the main contributors to what would be effectively a new singing area at the back of the North Stand and if 1894 do decide to move then these seasonticketholders, who now wish to stand, could convince City there is sufficient demand to increase the rail seating from 3,000.
We are delighted to reveal the seating configuration for the expansion of the North Stand at the Etihad Stadium, which will open during the 2025/26 season.
www.mancity.com
We are delighted to reveal the seating configuration for the expansion of the North Stand at the Etihad Stadium, which will open during the 2025/26 season...
During these discussions, it was clear that fans share our view on the importance of adding rail seating to the expanded North Stand. As such, the Club will introduce a minimum of 3,000 rail seats as part of the expansion, with the option of increasing this allocation ahead of opening should there be further demand.