City billionaires plan to turn Eastlands into Las Vegas!

Or so screamed a tabloid newspaper headline in November 2009. It sparked an ongoing thread on the Blue Moon forum under the same title, but it's actually been known for much longer that something very interesting is going to be happening around the Sportcity site. Indeed, Subterranean Homesick Blue believes that the possibilities for development around the City of Manchester Stadium explain in large part why Sheikh Mansour alighted on this club in the summer of 2008. I'm intrigued by the potential developments and will return to various relevant issues in more detail soon, as well as offering reports and analysis on future developments.

It's known that a visitor attraction, intended to draw annual visitor numbers in seven figures, is one component. Rumours that I'm convinced are reliable hold that a new elite training facility near CoMS and an expanded stadium also form part of the plans. The club has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the local Council and regeneration body New East Manchester, with Council sources speaking effusively on the stellar prospects for the developments. This post merely scratches the surface, looking at when we can expect definite news and offering thoughts as to what may happen to the stadium if it's to live up to billing.



The Sportcity strategic masterplan, as set out below and detailed in the New East Manchester 2010/11 – 2012/13 Implementation Plan (full copy available here - ) states that the project milestones for the Sportcity project are as follows:

NEM IMPLEMENTATION PLAN MILESTONES 2010/11

Quarter 2 - July–September 2010

Complete the update of the strategic masterplan for Sportcity

Undertake feasibility study into development of new energy centre

Quarter 3 - October–December 2010

Identify lead partner for delivery and operation of a destination visitor and tourism attraction

Once the strategic masterplan is ready, the published timetable contemplates that a lead partner for the "visitor and tourism attraction" will be announced by the end of the year. Now, I think that, in legal terms in a project in which there's public sector involvement, this has to go out to some kind of tender or open competition. (In practice, I'd have thought that the deals will be done already but it's a bit like a job where in practice it's already filled yet they have to advertise it and hold interviews).

So at that stage - early October, at a guess - we can expect some kind of public statement that they're open to offers from people who want to be the lead partner for the visitor attraction. Presumably, at this stage, details will be furnished as to what the visitor attraction will be: how else are people meant to bid to be involved if they don't have this information?

The visitor attraction, though, will occupy only 38 acres of the 100(ish)-acre Sportcity site so this doesn't necessarily imply the release of the entire masterplan, which will include - one expects - details of stadium expansion and a new training ground on the Aniline site. I suppose it may happen then, however. It seems safe to suggest that there'll be no announcement regarding either of those two developments before any public announcement concerning the visitor attraction, meaning that we're looking at around 8 weeks from now at the earliest.

This leads me to some entirely speculative points as to capacity and design of an expanded stadium. These are based on my long-held assumption that ADUG will want our stadium to be: (a) the undisputed number one venue in the UK outside London for major sports events; and (b) an iconic venue in terms of offering a ground-breaking design. Both of these seem to me reasonable to suppose in view of what we know about Abu Dhabi royals and the way they do things, and about their plans for the club.

In view of this:

1. If you look at many of the new stadiums that are being or recently have been built not only in the States or Japan, but even now in Turkey (Galatasary) and Russia (Zenit St Petersburg), use as a 'multi-purpose arena' seems to be the vogue. Anyway, we either have a retractable roof together with the possibility of reconfiguring seating for other events and possibly even move-in, move-out pitches, or we compromise on the above ambitions.

2. Despite understandable reservations from many fans, the idea of a capacity roughly equal to, or even bigger than, United's is logical given the ambitions we have. Even if, in the short term, we don't get near to filling it for many games, there are ways to dress the stadium so that empty seats are less noticeable. And, of course, we can aim for big football events like the second semi final if the 2018 World Cup comes to England - which will go to Old Trafford unless we build a ground that's as big and clearly better - along with concerts and non-football sporting occasions. I really think that's what ADUG want, so we're looking at an uplift equal to around 50%, possibly more, of current capacity.

3. I would expect the design of the stadium either to be remodelled or to be reworked to incorporate a striking design or design feature to make the stadium distinctive and readily recognisable.

Anyway, it seems that there's still a few weeks to wait: I just hope it's worth it when the plans are eventually announced. The comments coming from what I'd refer to as 'usually reliable sources' suggest that they will be. But if they won't, then the club might like to think about managing expectations between now and whenever the information is released.