Laing O’Rourke off £300m Etihad Stadium expansion

Laing O’Rourke will not deliver the £300 million expansion of Etihad Stadium on behalf of Manchester City Football Club (MCFC). 

It is understood preliminary talks between the Club and Laing O’Rourke did take place – however they were not taken any further. 

MCFC announced in April it had finally submitted plans to Manchester City Council for a series of improvements to the stadium and its facilities, following a public consultation.  

Its main priority is the extension of the North Stand, increasing spectator capacity to more than 60,000, with one larger, single upper tier above the existing lower tier.    

MCFC also wants to build an expanded and covered ‘City Square’ fan zone with capacity for 3,000, and food and drink outlets.      

The Club also recently revealed two new features in the scheme: a sky bar above the new upper tier, with views overlooking the pitch, and a stadium roof walk experience.  

It is now understood Laing O’Rourke, the original builder of the stadium, who also recently topped out at Everton Stadium in Liverpool, will not be the main contractor for the next phase of works. 

Any further developments connected to the Etihad Stadium expansion are still yet to be determined and subject to approval of the Club’s planning application. 

If approved, however, construction is expected to take up to three years, offering 2,600 jobs prioritised for people from Greater Manchester, while the overall scheme represents a more than £300 million investment into East Manchester.    

Other new design features     

• A new club shop      
• A MCFC museum        
• A 400-bed hotel   
• Workspace for start-ups    

New LED display screens, four storeys high, will also feature at the entrance.  

Original delivery partners     

• Arup  

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