The top photo was very kindly provided by Aidan O'Rourke and shows the construction work underway in December 2000 on what was at the time known as the City of Manchester Stadium. Designed by Arup the original concept was developed as part of Manchester’s bid for the 2000 Summer Olympics and formed part of the wider goal to regenerate East Manchester - an historically industrial part of the city.

Although the city did not win the bid, the plans were adapted to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games, leading to the stadium’s construction and eventual conversion for use by Manchester City Football Club in 2003.

The bottom photo (which is a cracker) was kindly taken in April 2025 by student Anna O’Shea who has been with us for work experience and is studying toward a Masters degree in Environmental Impact Assessment and Management at The University of Manchester.

It was taken from the Nexen Tire Bridge over Alan Turing Way looking towards what is now of course the Etihad Stadium. To the right is the Co-op Live - 23,500 capacity indoor arena which opened in July 2024.

Both the stadium and the arena form part of the wider Etihad Campus which includes the City Football Academy which opened in December 2014, along with community facilities such as the Connell Co-op College, East Manchester Leisure Centre, and the Manchester Institute of Health & Performance - Nuffield Health.