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Neil ThompsonThe Delegate Wranglers team were lucky enough to take in the Asahi Super Dry Tunnel Club match day experience with Manchester City a few weeks ago and in the process found out a lot more about their current meeting and event facilities and also their exciting stadium expansion plans.
The day started with a quick look at their North stand expansion, and I have to say, that what they’ve got planned is going to be a wonderful option for event planners.
This significant expansion is not only going to increase the stadium capacity to over 60,000 but is also going to add “The Medlock “ (a 401 bedroom, Raddison Blue hotel), a new large event space, a wonderful covered fan-zone, a new club shop, commercial office space and an interactive museum experience. In addition to this the expansion will bring a sky bar above the stand, and a stadium roof walk that will give fans the opportunity to enjoy a unique view of the pitch and Manchester’s skyline.
The massive fan-zone sounds a really exciting prospect, giving event organisers the opportunity to host large scale events, all under cover, yet still retaining that inside / outside feel – we’re thinking this will be perfect for festival type events, summer parties, launch events and much more. The plans look really exciting, so we recommend finding out more from the team HERE, so you are ready to consider if for your event upon its completion.
Match day hospitality is a super slick operation at Manchester City, and in particular the Asahi Super Dry Tunnel Club experience being something you’ll never forget. I mean where else can you have a seriously top-class dining experience, whilst watching the City players and management team literally walk past you into the dressing rooms - what a fantastic atmosphere too, with a DJ, ex-players interviews, entertainment for the kids and more.
The food and beverage here is seriously impressive too, lots of creativity with the design of their menus, whether that for the match day hospitality that we experienced, or for your own event at one of the many event spaces and suites throughout the whole campus.
This is tied closely into a focus on the use of sustainable produce that, wherever possible, is locally sourced with a ‘nose to tail’ approach to the use of meat, a passionate commitment to vegan and vegetarian innovation and due care and attention to increasingly diverse and common food allergies. From personal experience, all dishes were delicious and presented to the very highest standards.
With the Asahi Super Dry Tunnel Club Premier experience, as well as five course dining, you also get the opportunity to stand pitch-side and watch the players warm-up and then see the teams at even closer quarters in the players glass tunnel, as they line up to head out onto the pitch for kick off. Seriously, it is an amazing experience!
What underpins everything at Manchester City is their commitment to the local community and especially sustainability, which includes their annual ‘Game Plan’ that works towards football having a positive impact on the community and empowering better lives.
Their Leed Gold & Greengage Eco Smart Platinum certification is a credible recognition of this commitment, including their aim to being net carbon zero by 2030. More details on their 20th annual Sustainability Gameplan can be found here: https://www.mancity.com/club/sustainability-game-plan
So, after a fantastic day being wined, dined and entertained (City beat Southampton 1-0 by the way) in a match day setting, we would like to sum up the opportunity for event organisers for non-match day events.
Where else can you find a venue with 14 event spaces and 66 private boxes, that can not only cater for different sized groups – from 2 people right through to 550 people in theatre style, in their amazing Legends Lounge, with its amazing pitch views and flexibility. All of which are attentively delivered by the highly experienced, passionate and energetic team at the venue - bringing fun, professionalism and extensive knowledge of the whole Campus, to support the events that take place here.
Quick mention for all the amazing branding opportunities here too, which are extensive – from the two jumbo screens outside the Colin Bell stand entrance to the screens and LED ribbon inside the stadium, this is just the tip of the iceberg for the options on offer. All said and done, the Etihad stadium is the perfect place to maximise your brand visibility for company conferences or product launches.
On top of all these existing facilities, when you consider the upcoming hotel, “The Medlock” (401 bedroom, Raddison Blue), a new large event space, the covered fan-zone, that we mentioned at the start of this article and the growth of this area (the new Co-Op live venue is next door), there is something to suit everyone here!
▶️ Arrange a visit with the Manchester City team HERE and get a site inspection booked in for 2025.
