Plans for a new 23,500 capacity arena near the Etihad Stadium have been recommended for approval, the has reported.
The proposal for the £350m stadium, which would become the largest venue in the 海角视频 if built, will be discussed by planning bosses next week.
Councillors have been recommended by to approve the venue, which has been proposed by the Oak View Group (OVG).
The US sports and entertainment company hopes the area will become the best in Europe, boasting a ‘world class’ live experience for music and sports fans.
In their submissions OVG, claimed that it could bring in more than £500bn to the city’s economy over 20 years. The plan .
A statement released earlier this year by Tim Leiweke, co-founder and chief executive of OVG, read: “Manchester is a thriving city with an iconic history of world-leading music, sport and live entertainment.
“We live in unprecedented times and we stand in solidarity with everyone affected.
"But I know Manchester, and this city has always come back stronger from whatever has hit it. We are 100 per cent committed for the long-haul.
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"The city has undergone transformational growth in recent years, but without a new state-of-the-art arena it will continue to lose out to other cities on some of the world’s best events.
Bosses at the Manchester Arena - now the AO Arena - have expressed serious concerns about the proposals. They argue the city’s economy could be ‘devastated’ by having two similar venues.
Amid fears the new arena could force them out of business, plans are afoot to expand Manchester Arena’s capacity to 24,000 - surpassing OVG’s venue and making the landmark city centre venue the largest indoor arena in Europe.
Tom Lynch, director of ASM Global, said: “We hope that we get the opportunity to put those plans into action, to protect the future of Manchester Arena and the city centre economy that we’re proud to support.”
Under plans submitted to Manchester council, the OVG arena would be built on an 11-acre site near the Etihad currently used as a 500-space overspill car park for events held there.
Inside the auditorium, there will be large areas of retractable seating on the lower levels to accommodate uses other than music concerts.
Inside the stadium would have multiple concourses and levels including VIP open bar lounges providing ‘in the Gods’ views to the stage, an ‘atrium lounge’ and private clubs.
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From the outside the building will have a distinctive look with LED screens and architectural lighting with black perforated panelling and a high gloss finish.
During the public consultation Manchester council canvassed the views of 7,652 properties living nearby.
A total of 68 letters of support were received, including 10 from other wards in Manchester and 28 from other areas in Greater Manchester.
Among those was a submission from Blackley and Broughton MP Graham Stringer, who played down ASM Global’s concerns by saying that ‘competition is a good thing’.
The application has received 581 objections, mostly from people living outside the city, but within Greater Manchester.
Many say the area around the Etihad ‘already suffers’ when Manchester City play at home, with ‘terrible traffic’ and roads ‘that cannot cope’.
One resident said: “People urinate in the streets on match days and there is general rowdiness.
“There are not enough car parks at the campus and this proposal would reduce the car parking further.
“This project will bring extra traffic and antisocial behaviour to an area that has more than its fair share already.”
Others argue the council should be supporting the redevelopment of existing venues such as the Manchester Arena in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
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In a report that will go before Manchester’s planning committee next Thursday (September 24) planning officers say the new arena - and the associated investment in the city - would be central to the ‘levelling up’ agenda touted by the government.
“Significant market analysis underpins the case for a second arena in Manchester – a model which has been adopted, and thrived, in other 海角视频 and global cities,” says the report.
“Objections received have sought to demonstrate that these projections are flawed and unfounded.
“Whilst there could be localised impacts upon parts of the city, and some diversion of trade from the existing arena, the city centre overall would benefit from the proposals.”