City of Manchester Stadium
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Built for the Commonwealth Games of 2002, the City of Manchester Stadium (also known as COMS, Eastlands and Sportcity) is located in Manchester, England. It is a 48,000 capacity all seater stadium with two tiers all the way round the ground and third tiers to the two side stands.
The stadium was given to Manchester City Football Club in exchange for their old stadium Maine Road. As built for the Commonwealth Games the stadium had a capacity of 38,000. There was a single lower tier running around all of the athletics track apart from one end (the current middle tier); second tiers to the two sides (now the third tiers) and a temporary stand at one end. Before Manchester City F.C. moved in the track was removed and the pitch lowered to make way for the current lower tier, and the old lower tier was extended around the end where the temporary stand had been. This extensive work took a year and added ten thousand seats. Manchester City moved to the new ground for the 2003/04 season.
The COMS boasts the widest pitch in English football, and entry is gained by electronic smart card rather than the traditional manned-turnstyle.
The stadium recently became the 50th stadium to host an England international match when England played Japan on June 1 2004.
The stadium is home to B of the Bang, the tallest sculpture in the UK, built to commemorate the success of the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
On October 30 2004, the COMS played host to a Rugby League match between Great Britain and Australia in the inaugural Tri-Nations series.
In the summer of 2004 it also held its first concert, a performance by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. In the summer of 2005 it will also host 2 concerts by U2 (band) and 3 concerts by Oasis (band)
External link
Description and photos on footballgroundguide.co.uk (http://www.footballgroundguide.co.uk/)