Plans to build the biggest indoor arena in Britain next to the Etihad Stadium can be revealed for the first time today.
With a capacity of up to 23,500, it would overtake the existing Manchester Arena and the 02 Arena in London to become the largest in the 海角视频, the .
Costing £350m, making it most expensive arena ever built in Europe, those behind the project say the "versatile" venue would host around 120 events a year.
Big music tours will be its focus and it would have the biggest standing floor area at any 海角视频 arena, able to accommodate over 10,000 people.
However bosses say they will also be "aggressive" in trying to bring all the biggest events to the city including tennis, Boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA), ice hockey, basketball and more.
They even hope to see the Brit Awards held outside London for the first time once it opens its doors.
The project is expected to create around 3,500 jobs during construction and over 1,000 new jobs once it is up and running.
Subject to successful planning approval, it would take three years to build and could host its first events as early as 2023 say the American firm behind it, the Oak View Group (OVG).
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Its architects also insist that as a 'cultural capital' Manchester can sustain two arenas and that theirs is "not designed to eliminate the current arena but to compliment the demand in the area."
OVG have, with the support of the Blues' holding company the City Football Group (CFG), been undertaking feasibility studies into a new arena on the Etihad Campus and consultation on their plans since last summer.
However they now have confirmed they are pushing ahead and will be submitting a planning application to the town hall "in the coming weeks."
They have now revealed more details about the venue and how it will look.
It would be built on a patch of current wasteland next to the Ashton Canal and bordering Alan Turing Way on the Bradford side of the stadium, at the side of Joe Mercer Way which links the car park to the City superstore and tram stop.
All seating in the lower bowl of the as yet unnamed multi-tiered venue would be "telescopic" meaning it can be moved and capacity increased or decreased depending on the event.
Clashes with City matches will be mostly avoided to try and alleviate traffic and transport issues.
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However they say there may be occasions when events are on at both the stadium and arena at the same time, for example when City games have been moved at late notice for TV coverage, but they say in those circumstances they would work with the council, the police and the local community to manage them.
In an exclusive interview with the , OVG's co-founder and Chief Executive Tim Leiweke said building a modern arena in the city had been a long held ambition.
"I've always been a huge fan of Manchester and we have been trying to figure this out for many, many years" he said.
"We're grateful we finally have a site, we have a vision, and we have a partnership with the community to pull off building what we hope will the best arena ever built in Europe and the 海角视频."
The plans have already sparked a political row in the city with those behind the existing Manchester Arena, attached to Victoria Station in the city centre warning it could push them out of the business.
And if the new facility is built Manchester would host the two biggest arenas in the country, with the existing Manchester Arena being able to house up to 21,000 people and the 02 in London 20,000.
However Mr Leiweke said: "Building the best and most expensive arena to date in the 海角视频 or Europe is a fantastic testament to Manchester and the vibrancy of Manchester.
"I believe the marketplace deserves it, I believe the marketplace has earned it.
"It was always amazing to us the passion for music and live entertainment and sports in the area.
"I think Manchester deserves a new arena and it is certainly not built to eliminate current arena but to compliment the demand in the area.
"Most of the big markets have two, three of four arenas. If you look at London when the O2 was built many people predicted the demise of Wembley Arena, but they've just had he best year they've ever had.
"There's one new proposed arena in addition to that one and probably a second one coming. So that's potentially four in London.
"Birmingham have two next door to each other that do well.
"Manchester is not only the second biggest market in the 海角视频 it's a capital market for around 15 million people in the north.
"This is a cultural capital, this is where people go for music, for entertainment, for sports.
"We believe two arenas will do just fine. We're the second one in, we're private.
"People can have opinions on whether the market needs two but the reality is we're the ones taking the risk and we so much believe Manchester deserves a world class arena, we're willing to take £350 million worth of risk on it."
Despite its status Mr Leiweke said he believed the lack of a modern arena, with the city's existing arena having opened in 1995, meant Manchester was missing out on some big events.
"Artists now make 70 percent of their income from touring and there are more artists, more tours and more tickets sold now than ever before. It's a massive industry" he said.
"The 海角视频 has seen a huge uplift in terms of live entertainment but Manchester has been a bit of a downturn.
"Some of the tours are simply going elsehwere. Manchester has competition form arenas built in the last ten years such as Leeds and Liverpool.
"So the fact we don't have a new arena in Manchester for 30 years whilst the industry has doubled and tripled, there is a huge demand for live entertainment for music
"This will mean big tour and every big event will be open to Manchester now."
OVG say they have now held over 50 community meetings and consultation events in the area and bosses say local residents have told them "they want a commitment towards security and a commitment that people can come to and from the arena without negatively impacting the community."
They say they have "refined" their plans as a result.
They have already promised investment in "campus-wide cycle facilities and improvements to the main walking and cycling routes into the city centre" as well as a residents parking scheme and their own on-site security team.
The use of low carbon technologies and waste reduction measures will make it one of the most sustainable venues in the 海角视频 it is claimed.
And despite insisting the arena plans to use the current hotel, restaurant and bar offerings in the city centre he believes it is likely to spur on further growth in that corner of east Manchester.
"When you make one of the biggest private investments ever made in Manchester that is going to spur on other economic development" said Mr Leiweke.
"If you look at that area in between Piccadilly Station and the Etihad Stadium that's the fastest growing part of Manchester.
"The vision, the masterplan the synergy of that area and being able to create a point of destination people can walk to, it makes all the sense in the world.
"One of the great opportunities we have here is that we can integrate into the existing transport and parking we don't need taxpayer's expesnse.
"We're only just over 20,000 people but if you look at the Etihad Stadium 20,000 people alone use the Metro, walk or take cabs to the game on average so for us we can get 20,000 people in and out of that neighbourhood and use the metro system, the cabs and walkway and be very neighbourhood friendly."
A spokesman for the City Football Group said: "We are committed to continuing the growth of Eastlands and the Etihad Campus as a thriving community and world-leading sporting and leisure destination.
"We believe OVGs proposals are an important addition to the campus that would create significant new opportunities for the local community, and benefit the broader city.”