If you’re traveling to a Manchester City FC home match or heading to the city on vacation and want to catch a game at the same time, you’re in the right place. You’ve sorted the accommodation and the airline tickets, purchased the newest team strip, and even written a packing list. But what about traveling to the stadium once you’ve arrived at your accommodation in the UK?
Finding your way around a new city can be an overwhelming experience, and there are lots of elements to consider. For example, do you know the best public transport option to get from your hotel to the Etihad Stadium? If you’re planning on driving to the venue, is there definitely parking available at Manchester City’s home ground? Don’t panic. I’ve got the in-depth answers to these questions – and many more – in the handy guide below.
Flying into Manchester
If you’ll be flying into Manchester, the airport is to the south of the city and is only approximately ten miles from the Etihad Stadium. Taxis are available from the airport, and you’ll pay around £35 for the trip to the stadium.
Alternatively, you could catch a Metrolink tram into the city centre, changing at Cornbrook for a tram heading towards Ashton-Under-Lyne, which stops near the stadium. Be aware, however, that this represents a total trip time of around ninety minutes.
How to Get to the Etihad Stadium on Public Transport
Getting to the Etihad Stadium is super easy due to the wide range of transport options available. Choose from the match day bus, other bus services, Metrolink, cycling, walking, and driving.
Manchester City Match Day Bus Network
The popular Match Day Bus Network is designed specifically to ferry Manchester City supporters to and from the Etihad Stadium on the day of the big game. Buses run on several routes throughout the city, and you can find more information here, including stops and fares. Generally speaking, you’ll pay £3 to £4 for a single ticket and £6 to £8 for a return.
Other Bus Services
Alternatively, travel to Manchester City’s home stadium on one of the many bus services that run throughout the city. Bus services 216, 230, and 231 all stop along Ashton New Road, which is just a two-minute walk from the venue, while number 53 stops along Alan Turing Way, also a couple of minutes walk from the Etihad Stadium.
Bus services 76 and 219 stop along Bradford Road and Ashton Old Road, respectively, both of which are about a two-minute walk from the venue. Stopping along Oldham Road are bus services 83, 84, 181, and 182, and it’s a twenty-minute walk to the venue from here. Up for a slightly longer stroll? Then catch the 201 or 203, which both stop along Hyde Road, a thirty-five-minute walk to the Etihad Stadium.
Using the Metrolink
Manchester’s Metrolink is a fast and frequent tram service that’ll drop you off at a dedicated stop at the Etihad Campus at the stadium’s north end. Services run between Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester every six minutes, and the journey from Manchester’s Piccadilly station to the venue takes less than ten minutes. On match days, an enhanced tram service means trams run even more frequently, getting legions of fans to the stadium in time for kickoff.
By Rail
If you’ll be coming into Manchester by train the closest station to the Etihad Stadium is Ashburys, and it’s just a ten-minute walk away. Alternatively, you can disembark at Manchester Piccadilly station and, from here, walk to the stadium. It’ll take around twenty-five minutes.
Saving Money on Public Transport When Traveling to See a Manchester City Football Match
Traveling for sports can be expensive. Everything adds up, from accommodation charges to dining out to those post-match celebratory pints! Give your budget some R&R by taking advantage of the discounts available on public transport throughout the city. There is a huge range of travel cards available, including the All Day Bee Anybus Adult Pass for £5, the 7-Day Bee Anybus and Tram Adult Pass for £41, and the 1-Day Bee Anybus Junior for £2.50. Check out the System One Travel site for the full details on all the passes available and how much you could save.
Cycling or Walking to the Etihad Stadium
If you’d like to cycle to the venue, the best route is via Merrill Street, which will take you onto the walking and cycling path by the Holt Town tram stop. It takes just fifteen minutes to get to the stadium by this route. There are over five hundred cycle parking spaces at the stadium complex, and bike hire is also available from the stadium itself.
It’s also surprisingly easy to walk to the Etihad Stadium – if your accommodation is relatively nearby, of course. From Manchester City centre, it takes around fifteen minutes on foot to get to the Citizens’ home ground.
Can I Drive to the Etihad Stadium?
While getting to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium is easy – simply follow the signs to SportCity as you reach Manchester – parking is likely to be anything but. Parking is extremely limited around the stadium; if you need to drive rather than use public transport, I advise using a park-and-ride service. More on these below.
There is an official car park at the ground; spaces need to be booked in advance on a match-by-match basis. Doing so as early as possible is crucial, as the car park tends to fill up fast. You can find more information on how to do so here. Spaces cost around £10 each.
The roads around the Etihad Stadium get very congested on match days, and you’ll almost certainly need to add extra time to your journey to ensure you reach the venue ready for kickoff. As a rough guide, plan for an extra twenty minutes if your route will take you along Alan Turing Road and an additional fifteen minutes if you’ll be using Hyde Road (eastbound.) Arriving at the stadium via Mancunian Way (westbound)? While it’s likely to be a little less busy than some other routes, you should still add an extra ten minutes to your planned journey time.
I also need to fill you in on the road closures that occur after a Manchester City football match – they typically stay in place for around twenty minutes. The affected roads are:
- Ashton New Road (between Darley Street and Alan Turing Way)
- Grey Mare Lane (between Alan Turing Way and Ashton New Road)
- Merrill Street (between Ashton New Road and Pollard Street)
Five park-and-ride spots in Greater Manchester can be used to travel stress-free to the stadium. Each offers free parking and is near a tram stop serving the Etihad Stadium. These are:
- Ashton Moss
- Ashton West
- Ladywell
- Whitefield
- Radcliffe
FAQs
Tickets to the Etihad Stadium on the Metrolink cost in the region of £2.50 for a single fare.
All of the Manchester City Match Day buses are fully accessible, with low floors to make it easier for fans who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility.
Overnight parking is permitted (and free) at some park-and-ride spots in Manchester, but not all. You can find details here of the sites, which are open twenty-four hours, to help you plan your travel.
Prepare for a Great Day Out Supporting the Citizens at the Etihad Stadium
Getting to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium is likely to be easier than you think. With so many travel options, you can choose to drive, cycle, tram, bus, or even walk to the stadium – depending on where you’re coming from, of course! Make the most of the city’s maps and public transport networks – most of which I’ve detailed above – to identify your best course of action and ensure your traveling for sports trip runs without a hitch.
