Etihad Stadium Guide 2026/27
Basic Information About Etihad Stadium
Etihad Stadium is the home of Manchester City, and today it has about 61,000 seats.
The stadium was built ahead of the 2002 Commonwealth Games and opened that year as an athletics venue for 38,000 spectators. Manchester City moved there in the summer of 2003, after conversion to football.
Note an update that most guides still miss: The North Stand underwent a major expansion and fully opened on 24 May 2026. Capacity jumped from 53,400 to about 61,000. Any number under 60,000 you find online is outdated. The club itself phrases it as "just over 60,000", and Manchester's transport operator states 61,000.
Address: Etihad Stadium, Etihad Campus, Manchester, M11 3FF.
How Do You Get to Etihad Stadium?
The best way to Etihad is by tram — Etihad Campus station is right next to the stadium.
The station is right outside the North Stand, on the Ashton line. From Piccadilly station the ride takes just 8 to 10 minutes, and on event days trams leave every 12 minutes. On regular days the frequency is higher — every six minutes Monday to Saturday, and every seven and a half minutes on Sunday. The station is in fare zone 2, and a round-trip ticket from the city center costs £3.50 for an adult.
🔴 Tram Network Works That Will Affect the Season
Several planned periods of works will affect getting to the stadium in autumn 2026:
- Sunday, 6 September — the service changes: until 11:00 the line runs from Victoria to Etihad, and afterward from Altrincham to Etihad.
- 21 to 26 September — trams won't run through Market Street and Shudehill, which affects transfers in the city center.
- 🔴 27 September to 2 October — the most critical of all. Trams won't run between St Peter's Square and Market Street and Piccadilly, and the Ashton and Etihad services will start from Piccadilly only. That means the line to the stadium won't cross the city center. Anyone staying west of the center will need to reach Piccadilly on foot or by bus. Service returns to normal on 3 October.
The transport operator announces additional works throughout the season. Check the line's status close to your match date.
From the Airport
There's no direct tram line from the airport to Etihad. The route the club recommends: an airport train to Piccadilly — departs every 15 minutes and takes about 12 minutes — and from there a tram. That's about 12 minutes by train and then under 10 minutes by tram, plus waiting time.
On Foot, by Bus and by Train
From the city center it's about a 30-to-35-minute walk on a lit and accessible route. On matchdays 18 dedicated bus lines run with 91 stops. Regular buses stop right in front of the stadium on Ashton New Road, every 4 to 8 minutes from the city center.
You can't get there directly by train. The nearest station is Ashburys — five minutes from Piccadilly and then a 20-minute walk — but it's unstaffed and has no step-free access.
Parking
Each car park has its own postcode, and that's what confuses drivers: Blue is M11 3DU at Gate 2, Orange is M11 4TA at Gate 3, Green is M11 3FY, and Vermillion is M40 8AD. Parking costs £12 for a car with two or more occupants, or £14 for a lone driver, and it must be booked in advance. The car parks open three hours before kickoff.
Where Should You Sit at Etihad Stadium?
The atmosphere stand at Etihad is the South Stand, and away fans sit on its right side.
The stadium has four stands:
- The Pep Guardiola Stand (North) — the stand that was expanded and renamed in May 2026 after the coach who finished a decade at the club. This is the stand that reopened after the expansion.
- South Stand (South) — the atmosphere stand. This is where the loudest fans sit, and its lower tier has a safe standing area that boosts the noise.
- Colin Bell Stand (West) — named in 2004 after the player, by fan vote.
- East Stand (East) — fans call it "the Kippax".
Away team fans Sit on the right side of the South Stand, across three tiers, in an allocation of about 3,000 seats that can be doubled for cup matches. Entry is through gates L1, L2 and L3, and pre-booked tickets are collected at the South Stand box office, which opens two hours before the match — with photo ID.
For the viewing angle the common recommendation is the center of the West or East Stand. Important note: the club renumbered the tiers, blocks and rows following the expansion, so block numbers you find in old guides aren't valid for this season. Use the seating map on the club's website.
There's also a safe standing area in the new stand — the club has announced at least 3,000 such spaces in it.
How Do You Buy Tickets to a Manchester City Match?
Official purchase at Etihad requires an active Cityzens membership, and there's no ballot — it's first come, first served.
Three membership tiers: Matchday at about £38 a year, Premium at about £65, and a membership for children and youth at about £20. Matchday membership also includes a £5 discount on league tickets and a 10% discount on the stadium tour.
The season's big sale opened on 21 July 2026 for all 19 league home matches. A second wave opens about three weeks before each match, and includes tickets that season ticket holders return to the ticket exchange.
🔴 The Criterion That Blocks Tourists at the Big Matches
This is the detail that determines whether you'll succeed, and it's not hidden — the club publishes it in a table:
- Against Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Leeds — only members who bought three or more league matches at Etihad in the last two seasons, and one ticket per member. A new member can't buy.
- Against Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa — any official member, one ticket.
- Against the rest of the teams — season ticket holders and official members, up to four tickets.
The practical conclusion: a new membership is a realistic route for matches in the third category above, and there you can also bring family. The derby against United and matches against Liverpool and Arsenal are nearly impossible in the first year.
Two more technical things: you need to link accounts Friends & Family before the sale opens in order to buy for several people, and all tickets at Etihad are mobile NFC tickets — you must download them to your digital wallet before arriving.
For anyone who wants certainty before booking a flight: Tickets to Manchester City matches through TikTik, in Hebrew and with confirmation in advance.
What's Special About Manchester City's 2026/27 Season?
2026/27 is Manchester City's first season after a decade of Pep Guardiola.
The new coach is Enzo Maresca, who was appointed on 29 June 2026 on a three-year contract. This isn't his first time at the club: he coached the development squad and won a title with it, and afterward was part of Guardiola's staff during the treble season. He came from Chelsea. Guardiola finished ten years and twenty titles, and the North Stand was named after him.
Last season: City finished second in the league with 78 points, seven points behind champions Arsenal — but took a domestic double: the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley, and the League Cup. Erling Haaland was the league's top scorer with 27 goals.
Second place put City into the 2026/27 Champions League. As of the writing of this guide, the opponents and dates for the league phase have not yet been published.
The Campus Built Around the Stadium
Around Etihad a new complex called Medlock Square has been built, with an investment of about £300 million: a 401-room hotel, a covered fan zone, restaurants, and a walking route on the stadium roof. The complex is meant to operate 365 days a year. The club warns that during the three years of construction there will be changes to how the stadium and campus operate — worth checking before your trip.
What's Allowed Into Etihad Stadium?
At Etihad, backpacks are prohibited in any size — only a small handbag up to A4 size is allowed.
This is a stricter-than-usual policy: backpacks, sports bags and rucksacks are completely prohibited, in any size. Only a handbag no larger than 12 by 8 by 3 inches — about 30 by 20 by 7.5 centimeters — is allowed. Checking an oversized bag costs £10 per item.
The stadium and the entire campus operate cashless. All payments are by card or contactless. Smoking is prohibited across the entire campus, including e-cigarettes and including in the car parks. Bringing in alcohol and outside food is prohibited, and taking alcohol to your seat is prohibited — you drink only in the concourse. Flags are allowed up to 2 by 1 meters; above that, fire-retardant material certification is required.
The gates open two hours before kickoff (hospitality entrances three hours), and there's no re-entry after leaving. Away fans are asked to arrive no later than an hour before. The club recommends being in your seat at least 15 minutes before kickoff.
The stadium has a multi-faith prayer room — ask a steward.
Is Etihad Stadium Wheelchair Accessible?
Etihad has up to 371 parking spaces reserved for disabled badge holders, and full accessibility in all four stands.
Raised platforms for wheelchairs are located at the back of all four stands, with an adjacent seat for a companion. Additional spaces exist on tier 2 and tier 3 of the West and East Stands. In the 2026/27 season, 16 additional wheelchair bays were added in the expanded North Stand, and the platforms at the north corners got direct access to the concourse and accessible restrooms.
Additional services: more than 42 accessible restrooms with a RADAR key; a Changing Places fully equipped room with a hoist and an adult changing bed on tier 0 of the South Stand; a sensory room for eight people per match by advance booking, and sensory bags with protective headphones; audio commentary for the blind free of charge, by booking three days in advance — bring headphones with a 3.5mm jack; and an accessible shuttle service from the Blue car park, from three hours before until the match, and a return 30 to 60 minutes after. Service dogs are welcome.
The accessible car park is the Grey, postcode M11 3DL, through Gate 7. The disabled badge must be registered in advance with the club's accessibility team. The tram station is fully accessible, with ramps and elevators.
Tour at Etihad Stadium
The Etihad tour lasts about 75 minutes, and is also available on matchdays — up to four hours before kickoff.
The tour departs from Gate M at the South Stand, opposite the Grey car park; on matchdays the meeting point moves to the club store, so it's worth checking on your ticket. Arrive 15 minutes early. The route passes through the first team's changing room, the tunnel, the dugouts and the press conference room. The tour price starts at about £25 for an adult, and members get a 10% discount.
On matchdays there's also a short pitchside tour for valid ticket holders, from four hours until an hour before kickoff.
The museum hasn't opened yet. Manchester City is building a new ten-gallery museum spanning more than 1,700 sq. m. in the heart of Medlock Square, expected to open during 2026. Until then, the historical exhibit is part of the tour itself.
The club store is located in the Yellow car park, west of the stadium, and is open Monday to Saturday from 09:00–18:00 and Sunday 10:00–16:00.
FAQ
How Many Seats Does Etihad Stadium Have?
About 61,000, after the North Stand expansion that opened in May 2026. Before that there were 53,400.
How Do You Get to Etihad from Central Manchester?
By tram to Etihad Campus station, right next to the stadium — 8 to 10 minutes from Piccadilly, a round-trip ticket for £3.50. You can't get there directly by train.
Who Is Manchester City's Coach in the 2026/27 Season?
Enzo Maresca, who was appointed in June 2026 after Pep Guardiola finished ten years at the club.
Does an Israeli Need an Entry Authorization for the UK?
Yes — an electronic entry authorization of the ETA type, which is not a visa. It's submitted online, involves a fee, and it's recommended to submit it well before the trip.
Which Is the Best Stand at Etihad?
For atmosphere — the South Stand, where the loudest fans sit and there's a standing area. For viewing angle — the center of the West or East Stand.
Can You Bring a Backpack Into the Stadium?
No. Backpacks are prohibited in any size. Only a handbag up to A4 size is allowed, and checking an oversized bag costs £10.
When Do the Gates Open at Etihad?
Two hours before kickoff. The car parks open three hours before, and there's no re-entry after leaving.
Manchester City Tickets
TikTik obtains tickets to Manchester City's home matches at Etihad Stadium, including matches where official sale is closed to new members. You can see all available Manchester City matches, choose a date, and get confirmation before booking a flight and hotel.
