Man City plans to "expand capacity at both sides of their Etihad Stadium, giving them the potential to reach a 60,000 capacity after they have added a third tier to their South Stand," according to Ian Herbert of the London INDEPENDENT. Plans for the expansion were first revealed in May. Man City will "leapfrog Newcastle and Sunderland to command the third highest capacity in the Premier League, after Manchester United and Arsenal." The club, which "embarked on an exhaustive public consultation" with local residents, intends to "add 6,000 extra seats in the new tier, allowing them to introduce" a $452 season ticket. There also is a "demand for an additional 2,400 seats for supporters seeking an element of upmarket hospitality at games." The team's owners have "always insisted that they will not expand the current capacity until they can be sure that they will fill it." Man City Head of Corporate Responsibility Pete Bradshaw said that the "decision on how radically to expand would be taken by next April" (INDEPENDENT, 7/12). Man City execs said that ticket demand is "soaring," with the ground more than 99% full last season. The stadium expansion would create more $452 season tickets, "although more than one in three will be a new type of ‘premium’ seat." Bradshaw said that the expanded ground, alongside the $181M Etihad campus "being built next door, would create a 'world stage of football'" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 7/11). SKY SPORTS reported Man City intends to "make a formal planning application before Christmas and, if successful, begin work soon after" (SKY SPORTS, 7/12).
