'Last chance' to give ground atmospheric home end

FANS' HOPES FOR 1 £300M NORTH STAND TO REALLY MAKE VOICES HEARD IN MATCHES

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

LOOK around the former wasteland that Manchester City now call home and there are no signs of provisions for Premier League points deductions or relegation down the divisions.

Between the goal where Sergio Aguero clinched their first league title and the 23,500-capacity Co-op Live venue that the club are major shareholders in, City are busy building the 'Entertainment Destination. Consisting of a revamped City Square fan zone, a sky bar, a hotel, a new club shop and a museum, the other major work going on is an extra tier on top of the North Stand that will take the stadium to over 60,000 seats.

For all the club want to turn the space into a money-making machine for 365 days a year as more tourists are attracted to the growing brand of the team and the hospitality on offer, it is the stadium expansion that is of most interest to supporters. Football is, after all, still the biggest pull.

The stadium expansion is a commitment to that and investment in it, adding to the South Stand expansion and upgrades around the ground from rail seats to hospitality offerings that have kept a 20-year-old stadium relevant while bigger and more modern venues are built around Europe. Increasing the capacity to over 60,000 offers the lucrative potential of Manchester hosting a Champions League final, and should UEFA be tempted there just so happens to be a perfect hotel for teams or officials to stay in.