Magic Weekend (7 games)
Etihad Stadium
27-28/05/13 (we were only present for the Saturday)
Att: 63,716 (overall) 30,763 (Saturday)
Welcome to Manchester.
The Magic weekend, now in it's 7th year, is an event run by Super league in which all 7 games scheduled for the weekend are played over two days at one venue. In the past it has been hosted at the Millennium Stadium and Murrayfield, but this was to be the second year in Manchester. Staying overnight in Derby we made our way up for the first of four games on the Saturday, and the one we had the most interest in, in Broncos v Catalans. Due to the nature of this weekend this blog will be purely focussed on the ground. All I will say is Broncos, once again, succumbed to stupid errors. Ganson proved his inability to officiate with the decision in the Hull derby. Wire fans take a bow, you were awesome and we didn't even stay for their game. I took this short video of them, they kept this chant up for about 20 minutes! Link.
The city of Manchester stadium was built as the centerpiece of the 2002 commonwealth games, and Sport city, at a cost of £112 million with a capacity of 41,000. In this configuration the stadium was only half complete, with one end not built, along with the lower tier, to compensate for the need of a running track. After the games a further renovation took place which saw the lower tier "dug" in and the ground enclosed, at a price in excess of £40mil. The result is mildly impressive, although as with many decent grounds it lacks that extra wow factor, the capacity being 48,000. When City moved in the left their Main Road home, where they had played for 80 years. The stadium, in truth, is little more than a glamorized bowl. Either end is a two tiered stand that sweep round to each side which consist of three tiered stands which are made somewhat different with the arcing of the top tiers. I was impressed with the fan-zone outside the ground. This is on the walk from the tram stop towards the ground and features a large screen, the club shop and various eateries. Handy for an out of town complex making it somewhat easier for fans to congregate prior to the match. In terms of future developments of the ground, it has recently been announced that there are plans to extend the ground gradually to a capacity of 48,000. I imagine this will be done by extending either end.
The city of Manchester stadium was built as the centerpiece of the 2002 commonwealth games, and Sport city, at a cost of £112 million with a capacity of 41,000. In this configuration the stadium was only half complete, with one end not built, along with the lower tier, to compensate for the need of a running track. After the games a further renovation took place which saw the lower tier "dug" in and the ground enclosed, at a price in excess of £40mil. The result is mildly impressive, although as with many decent grounds it lacks that extra wow factor, the capacity being 48,000. When City moved in the left their Main Road home, where they had played for 80 years. The stadium, in truth, is little more than a glamorized bowl. Either end is a two tiered stand that sweep round to each side which consist of three tiered stands which are made somewhat different with the arcing of the top tiers. I was impressed with the fan-zone outside the ground. This is on the walk from the tram stop towards the ground and features a large screen, the club shop and various eateries. Handy for an out of town complex making it somewhat easier for fans to congregate prior to the match. In terms of future developments of the ground, it has recently been announced that there are plans to extend the ground gradually to a capacity of 48,000. I imagine this will be done by extending either end.