Man City announced a "further expansion of the Etihad Stadium, which will take the total capacity to a little over 55,000," according to Paul Handler of the MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS. The plans revealed on Thursday will add a "further three rows of seats at the pitchside level, and come in addition to the work already under way to add 6,000 seats to the South Stand." Both projects are "due for completion" in time for the '15-16 season. City also has "planning permission for a third phase of expansion which would see 6,000 seats added to the North Stand if carried out" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 6/26). In London, Chris Waugh reported the expansion will allow Man City to "sell even more season tickets" for less than £300 ($510). Season tickets to watch Man City in the new seats will cost £299, the "cheapest price available to watch top-level football in England." The additional seats "will make the Etihad the third largest stadium in the Premier League." Only ManU's Old Trafford and Arsenal's Emirates Stadium will hold more. Currently Newcastle United's St. James' Park and Sunderland's Stadium of Light "also have a bigger capacity than the Etihad, which holds 47,405 supporters at present" (DAILY MAIL, 6/26).
