Academy Stadium

The Academy Stadium stands in Manchester’s Etihad Campus, a training and development complex covering 80 acres. It opened in December 2014 to support around 400 youth players at any one time. The stadium was first used for official matches the same month, inaugurated by students from Manchester Metropolitan University. It hosts the men’s Elite Development Squad and senior academy teams, as well as Manchester City Women, who also play some matches at the larger City of Manchester Stadium nearby. In 2016 the stadium served as one of two venues for the World Rugby Under 20 Championship. The stadium’s facilities include a press room, board room, offices and retail space, despite being smaller than the main stadium. It sits just 400 metres from the City of Manchester Stadium, connected by a 190-metre bridge over Ashton New Road and Alan Turing Way. The bridge links the two grounds, making it easy for players and staff to move between training and match venues. Academy Stadium has also hosted major international events, including group stage matches at UEFA Women’s Euro 2022. Visitors find a modern football stadium with professional-standard rooms and spaces. The pitch and surrounding areas are designed for elite training and development. The stadium’s location within the Etihad Campus offers views of the broader training complex. Its role in hosting international matches shows how it supports both club and national team football. The bridge provides a clear connection to the larger stadium, reinforcing the campus’s purpose as a hub for football development.