MSc Sports Business students visit Etihad Stadium
MSc Sports Business students recently visited the Etihad stadium to gain an understanding of the impact of sport on the regeneration of East Manchester.
Students listened to a talk on the transformation of the area from an industrial wasteland to SportsCity. They learnt that this was initially through the building of sports facilities and accommodation for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, followed by the development of the site with the move of Manchester City from the dilapidated Main Road ground to the Etihad stadium.
During the visit students discovered that SportCity also accommodates the English Institute of Sport, the National Squash Centre and the Manchester Velodrome, which is home to the Great Britain track cycling team. They were given an overview of the financial arrangements for the stadium lease from Manchester City Council and the ongoing partnership between the two organisations in developing further sport and education facilities and low cost housing in the area.
The day culminated in a tour of the stadium and the chance to sit in the home teams’ dugout, experience the changing rooms and press room, along with an opportunity to see the innovative approaches to hospitality and events provided by Manchester City in order to maximise stadium usage and revenue.