Sign of the times as Manchester City launch Etihad Stadium

[Citizen Green]

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It's out with the old and in with the Blue at Manchester City – with the new name for the club’s stadium on display for the world to see.

The ground, formerly known as the City of Manchester Stadium, was renamed the Etihad Stadium last month as part of a sponsorship deal with the Abu Dhabi-based airline worth hundreds of millions of pounds.

A giant cherry picker was yesterday installing sky-blue posters and signs bearing the Etihad name on the stands and entrances to the 47,800-capacity stadium.

The Blues kick off the Premier League season on Monday, with the visit of Welsh newcomers Swansea City. Work at the ground is going on around-the-clock as the kick-off draws closer.

As widely predicted, Etihad won the battle to sponsor the stadium – built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games – as well as the club’s shirts. The land around the ground has become the ‘Etihad Campus’ as part of the deal. The cash will help bankroll the transformation of the area over the coming years.

It will see City, who moved to the stadium from Maine Road in 2003, shift their training operation from Carrington.

Proposals currently out to consultation include a ‘world-beating’ complex of pitches and medical facilities, as well as a 7,000-seater stadium for the club’s youth teams. The club wants 80 per cent of the 250 expected jobs to go to local workers. No plans have yet been revealed for land immediately next to the stadium but it is understood proposals are being discussed.

The naming rights deal was seen as a big boost to the Blues, who will play in the Champions League for the first time this season. They need to comply with Uefa’s Financial Fair Play rules which stipulate clubs must not post aggregate losses of more than £40.5m over the next three years. The deal, which will see the airline sponsor the stadium for the next 10 years, is said to be the most expensive football sponsorship deal ever.

The club are also expected to feature in in-flight entertainment on Etihad flights.

 

[MCFC 4 EVER]

The signs on the glass entrances won't be permanent will they? As they will cover the bit where it says Colin Bell Stand

 

[Didsbury Dave]

The signs on the glass entrances won't be permanent will they? As they will cover the bit where it says Colin Bell Stand

I think for £400 mill they can expect a permanent sign mate

 

[MCFC 4 EVER]

The signs on the glass entrances won't be permanent will they? As they will cover the bit where it says Colin Bell Stand

I think for £400 mill they can expect a permanent sign mate

I feared they would do something like that, but as a mark of respect they should keep the sign where it says Colin Bell Stand in my opinion anyway..

 

[sweenyuk]

looks see thru to me, so may still be able to see Colin's name, or may print over. I am at the stadium tomorrow, will take a look

 

[MancAl]

The new covering states 'Colin Bell Stand' further down. Don't panic lads

 

[adammck]

The signs on the glass entrances won't be permanent will they? As they will cover the bit where it says Colin Bell Stand

I think for £400 mill they can expect a permanent sign mate

This

 

[Bluemanc1968]

I don't think it make much differance!!! apart from the £££££££ of course, I think the mass's and the media will still refer to our ground as the com's, blue camp, eastlands!!!

 

[Franny Lee's Barrel Chest]

Are Seasoncard holders names still on the spirals?

 

[Kennedy_probably_has]

Are Seasoncard holders names still on the spirals?

The platinum members better have a bigger font!!