New hotel at Etihad Stadium development opens doors

A new 401-room hotel adjacent to Etihad Stadium opened its doors for the first time on Monday - a major step in the development around Manchester City's home ground.

The club have been building a new £300m entertainment zone known as Medlock Square, which includes a Radisson Blu Hotel, backing on to the newly expanded Pep Guardiola Stand and overlooking Co-op Live.

There are also plans for a new 600-person capacity entertainment venue which the council granted planning permission for in June.

Richard Pearson, general manager of The Medlock, said: "We are incredibly proud to officially open the doors to The Medlock, as it takes centre stage as the beginning of the story of Medlock Square."

BBC News reported last week that City's lease at Etihad Stadium had been placed under review in August amid the major expansion of the club's east Manchester campus.

The review is expected to result in an uplift in the yearly base rate fee paid to Manchester City Council by the club, currently said to be between £3m and £4m a year.