Description
Etihad Stadium, formerly known as City of Manchester Stadium, is located in the city of Manchester, England. It is the third largest stadium in the English Premier League and the eighth largest stadium in the United Kingdom. Construction of the stadium began in January 2000 after Prime Minister Tony Blair laid the foundation stone in December 1999.
The stadium was built primarily for athletics events. The running tracks were later removed and the stadium became solely a soccer arena. Since 2003, Manchester City has used the stadium as its home ground.
Despite its youth, the stadium has already made its mark on soccer history. In 2008, it hosted the 50th anniversary UEFA Cup final, in which Zenit St. Petersburg defeated Scottish side Rangers 2-0.
The stadium is located in the east of Manchester, just 1.5 kilometers from the city center and slightly closer to Manchester Piccadilly Station.
The arena got its current name from its sponsor, Etihad Airways from the UAE. They purchased the naming rights to the stadium for 10 years. There are seven restaurants within the stadium, two of which overlook the field.
The arena also hosts music and various shows. Such famous artists as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis, U2, Elton John, Rod Stewart and many others have already performed at this stadium.