Every one of the 48,000 seats provides a perfect view of the pitch. The City of Manchester Stadium has been formed in a unique bowl shape and proved a spectacular host for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

When the Games finished the Stadium underwent a dramatic transformation, with a new permanent North Stand replacing the former temporary seating. The running track was removed and re-laid at other sporting venues. What was ground level for the games was then dug out and an extra tier of seating added in to bring supporters closer to the action.

Amongst the Stadiums many superior facilities are the six restaurants and purpose built function rooms which will host all match day and non-match day hospitality. These are available to book on a seasonal basis, ranging from five star, four course dining, to the relative informality of the Legends' Lounge.

Limited availability remains for seasonal match day hospitality in the restaurants. The hospitality boxes were sold out within weeks of going on sale.

Amongst the benefits the City of Manchester Stadium brings is the improved transport access. There are over 2,000 car parking spaces on site, and a further 8,000 accredited car parking spaces in easy reach of the Stadium. The Stadium can also be easily reached by rail and bus, being just a 20 minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station and the city centre.

Situated adjacent to the Stadium is Reebok City, home to the new City Superstore, the City Social sports bar, and the Manchester City Experience.

With over 7,000 square foot of space, the City Superstore stocks a range of City souvenirs as well as sports and leisure wear from kit sponsor Reebok.

The City Social is a sports bar which will be open seven days a week. Seasonal bookings for reserving a table on a match day are available.

Sportcity is unique centre of sporting excellence being home to the Velodrome, National Squash Centre, English Institute of Sport, and athletics facilities. Further development of the complex is already under way with the addition of a hotel, leisure and retail facilities and even better public transport access with the opening of new tram routes in the near future.

DIRECTIONS

By Car

From the South M6:

Leave the M6 at Junction 19 and follow the A556 towards Stockport and then join the M56 going towards Stockport. Continue onto the M60 passing Stockport and heading on towards Ashton Under Lyne. Leave the M60 at Junction 23 and take the A635 towards Manchester. Branch off onto the A662 (Ashton New Road) towards Droylsdon/Manchester. Stay on the A662 for around three miles and you will reach the Stadium on your right.

From The M62:

Leave the M62 at Junction 18 and then join the M60 Ashton Under Lyne. Leave the M60 at Junction 2 3 and take the A635 towards Manchester. Branch off onto the A662 (Ashton New Road) towards Droylsdon/Manchester. Stay on the A662 for around three miles and you will reach the Stadium on your right.

There is likely to be little parking at the stadium for supporters and there is a residents only parking scheme in the streets near the stadium. So it will mean having to park further away and then walking to the stadium. Peter Llewellyn adds; 'The road links are busy even on non-match days so make sure you allow plenty of time. The stadium is part of Sportcity so car users should follow the brown signs until near the stadium.

By Train

Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station is about a mile away from the stadium, which is about a 20 minute walk away. There is currently no Metrolink service to the stadium, so either jump in a taxi or take a bus (numbers 53, 54, 185, 186, 216, 217, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237,X36 and X37 go to Sportcity) from Piccadilly Gardens (which is a five minute walk from the railway station going straight down the approach from it, look for bus stops situated near to the 'Moon Under Water' pub).

Otherwise if you want to walk then Karl Florczak has provided the following directions to the stadium; 'Manchester Piccadilly station has two exits, one that leads to the ramp of the familiar station approach and one that is signposted as 'Fairfield Street' - it is the latter that you want. As you come out of this exit bear slightly right and head towards the main London Road. Keep going right until you find yourself on London Road itself with the station buildings now on your right-hand side. Take the next right (Store Street) which in its first stage is a tunnel leading back under the station. From here the walk to the new stadium is virtually a straight route; the walkway was called 'CityLink' for the Commonwealth Games and most - if not all - of the dark blue 'CityLink' signposts on this route are still there. You should see the first of these as you turn right into Store Street'.