Built for the Commonwealth Games of
2002, the City of Manchester Stadium (also known as COMS,
Eastlands and Sportcity) is located in Manchester, England. It
is a 48,000 capacity all seater stadium with two tiers all the
way round the ground and third tiers to the two side stands.
The stadium was given to Manchester City Football Club in
exchange for their old stadium Maine Road. As built for the
Commonwealth Games the stadium had a capacity of 38,000. There
was a single lower tier running around all of the athletics
track apart from one end (the current middle tier); second tiers
to the two sides (now the third tiers) and a temporary stand at
one end. Before Manchester City F.C. moved in the track was
removed and the pitch lowered to make way for the current lower
tier, and the old lower tier was extended around the end where
the temporary stand had been. This extensive work took a year
and added ten thousand seats. Manchester City moved to the new
ground for the 2003/04 season.
The COMS boasts the widest pitch in English football, and entry
is gained by electronic smart card rather than the traditional
manned-turnstyle.
The stadium recently became the 50th stadium to host an England
international match when England played Japan on June 1, 2004.
The stadium is home to B of the Bang, the tallest sculpture in
the UK, built to commemorate the success of the 2002
Commonwealth games.
On October 30, 2004, the COMS played host to a Rugby League
match between Great Britain and Australia in the inaugural Tri-Nations
series. |
