Manchester City Football Club and contractor Sisk have marked a significant moment in the development of the club’s £300M north stand expansion with the topping out of the new structure.

The ceremony celebrated the installation of the final steel beam, signalling that the highest structural point of the project has been reached.

Once completed, the redevelopment will increase the stadium’s capacity to over 60,000 spectators, making it one of the largest football stadiums in England.

The expansion will also feature a new covered fan zone with space for 3,000 supporters, a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to the club’s history and various food and beverage outlets open year-round.

In addition to sports facilities, the development will include The Medlock, a 401-room hotel operated in partnership with Radisson. The complex will also offer workspace and entertainment options designed to bolster the area’s appeal beyond matchdays.

At the topping out event, club officials were joined by apprentices working on site, representatives from Sisk and Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig. Attendees signed a commemorative artwork that will be permanently displayed in the new museum.

Throughout the construction process, 86 apprentices and trainees have been employed by Sisk and its supply chain, with 62 recruited from the Greater Manchester area.

The finished development is expected to create hundreds of full-time and part-time jobs, as well as additional casual roles, contributing to the economic regeneration of East Manchester – a key priority shared by both the club and local authorities.

The expanded north stand is scheduled to open during the 2025/26 football season, while the hotel, fan zone, workspaces and catering outlets will become operational by late 2026. These new facilities will complement the nearby Co-Op Live arena, a 23,500-capacity venue developed through a joint venture between City Football Group and Oak View Group, enhancing the city’s entertainment district.

Sisk apprentice, MCFC officials, Sisk Infrastructure leadership and Manchester City Council leader celebrate topping out on 7 May 2025

Sisk Infrastructure and UK North managing director Alan Rodger said: “The topping out of Manchester City’s entertainment destination marks a significant milestone for Sisk and the club. We have achieved some very visual planned milestones recently including quad pod steel and façade installations, and the project is gathering real momentum heading into the football off-season.

“We would like to thank all our staff, supply chain partners, designers and consultants for helping us reach this stage and we look forward to the next phase of the project.”

City Football Group chief operating officer Roel de Vries said: “This is a proud moment for Manchester City and for everyone involved in the Club’s project to create a year-round entertainment destination at the Etihad Campus.

“The delivery of this project will enable us to enhance and expand our offering to our fans and visitors, both on matchday and non-matchday, and create lasting long-term economic and social benefits for our local community, building on the regeneration work City Football Group has delivered in East Manchester since 2008.”

Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig said: “This is a major infrastructure investment which will create and support hundreds of jobs, adding to the remarkable regeneration of East Manchester in which the club has played a constructive role.

“It’s great to see this construction milestone reached. It means it won’t be long before those benefits for the city and the community start to be realised.”

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