City of Manchester Stadium

The City of Manchester Stadium will be the jewel in the crown - the centrepiece of the XVII Commonwealth Games. It will herald the start of the Games on 25 July 2002 with an awe-inspiring Opening Ceremony that will be a blaze of colour and pageantry as competitors from 72 nations proudly carry their nation's flag into the arena. And after 10 days of intense competition, it will be the scene of an equally impressive Closing Ceremony. Victors and vanquished will traditionally join hands in celebration of a very special friendship that gives the Commonwealth Games its unique appeal. The 38,000-seat Stadium - at the heart of the new Sportcity - will provide a spectacular backdrop to the Games by hosting athletics and the rugby sevens competition. There will be an athletics' final every day of competition and the finale will be the rugby sevens which promises to be a momentous occasion, featuring most of the world's premier rugby nations including New Zealand, Australia, England and South Africa. The City of Manchester Stadium, funded by Sport England to the tune of £77m, is situated within three kilometres of the Games Village, many hotels and the media centre. And when the Games are over, the Stadium will become home to Manchester City FC for the 2003/4 season and beyond.

Detailed public information

City of Manchester Stadium
Rowsley Street
Manchester M11 3FF

Public transportation

Nearest railway station:

Manchester Piccadilly (1 mile). Free shuttle bus to Sportcity

Bus routes:

Travelling here from Manchester city centre:

Shuttle Bus: Daytime service runs at least every five minutes, evening service runs at least every 10 minutes.

Buses: 216, 217, 230 to 237, X36, X37

Alternatively the walk from the city centre to Sportcity takes approximately 25 minutes.

Travelling from here to Manchester city centre:

Shuttle Bus: Daytime service runs at least every five minutes, evening service runs at least every 10 minutes.

Buses: 216, 217, 230 to 237, X36, X37

Catering outlet payment methods

Cash only

Merchandise outlet payment methods

Cash, Mastercard, Visa, most debit cards such as Switch or Delta, personal cheques with guarantee card.

Venue hours

The City of Manchester Stadium gates will open 90 minutes before the competition start.

The Sportcity Common Domain will open two hours before events start in the City Of Manchester Stadium (Stadium spectators must enter through these gates).

Venue features

Food and drink are available at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Parking

No public parking is available at the Stadium.

Spectator Park and Ride carparks will be situated at Heaton Park and Old Trafford and shuttle buses will operate from these locations.

General venue rules

• No glass bottles or cans may be brought into the Stadium


• No alcoholic beverages may be brought into the Stadium (alcohol can be purchased within the Stadium)


• Smoking is permitted in restricted areas only


• Children under the age of two will be admitted free provided they do not occupy a seat


• Plan to arrived at the Stadium two hours before the start of the session

Services for disabled spectators

Tickets for disabled spectators may be purchased by telephoning 0870 162 2002 or visiting the website ticketing section

• Wheelchair spaces (each available with one accompanying companion seat) are priced in the lowest price band


• Guide dogs are permitted in all areas


• Disabled patrons may enter through the main entrance to the venue


• There are no steps to climb before entering the venues


• There are no steps to climb after entering the venue


• There are accessible toilets