England
Etihad Stadium
Home of Manchester City in Manchester: nominal capacity 61,038, opened 2002, in the Bradford district.
Manchester61,038
Opened 2002Football grounds in Manchester
Manchester has two of the largest club grounds in England, separated by a few miles and by a very long argument. Both are easy to reach on the Metrolink tram network.
England
Old Trafford
Home of Manchester United in Manchester: nominal capacity 74,158, opened 1910, in the Old Trafford district.
Manchester74,158
Opened 1910Getting around
Transport in Manchester
- Metrolink — the Old Trafford stop on the Altrincham line and the Etihad Campus stop on the East Manchester line.
- Metrolink — Wharfside on the Trafford Park line is a second route to Old Trafford.
- Manchester Piccadilly is the rail hub; the tram runs from the station square to both grounds.
Planning
A football weekend in Manchester
Manchester is the easiest two-ground weekend in this guide, because the Metrolink links both stadiums to the city centre in around fifteen minutes each. A Saturday at Old Trafford and a Sunday at the Etihad — or the reverse — is perfectly practical, with the city centre as the base.
Whichever ground you choose, the pattern of the day is the same: travel in with the crowd, arrive at the turnstiles about an hour before kick-off, and leave the return journey until the first surge has cleared. In Manchester that advice matters most at the nearest station to the ground, where the queue builds within minutes of the final whistle.
Before and after
Where supporters gather in Manchester
Northern Quarter
The city centre's main drinking district, a short tram ride from either ground.
Ancoats
Bars and food halls between the centre and the Etihad Campus.
Salford Quays
A modern alternative near Old Trafford, with tram links to both.