Manchester City Unveils Plan To Increase Etihad Stadium Capacity To 61,500

Man City has unveiled a plan to expand seating at Etihad Stadium to around 61,500, according to Mike Keegan of the MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS. City bosses "will apply for planning permission" to the Manchester council next month. If all goes according to plan, construction could start "as early as February." Club officials have stessed "any plans will not affect current season card holders." Once the work is completed, the stadium would be "the second-largest venue in domestic football." The club will offer its 36,000 season card holders the opportunity to "buy up to four more season cards." Club officials will gauge interest  "before deciding to extend one or both ends of the stadium," although it will request permission for both. According to a source, "It has to be commercially viable." Officials "declined to comment on potential costs" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 10/10).