Manchester City

I regularly attend matches at The Etihad Stadium and have previously lauded the experience as a wheelchair user. This season, they have once again, upped their game (the food vendors, that is).
Several times during the pre match period and at half time, a staff member introduced themselves and asked if I required anything from the food and drink outlets. They had a menu and a card reader to take payment from the comfort of your seat, followed by delivery of any purchases! This is a thoughtful service for disabled supporters using the wheelchair seats, as carrying anything except a sealed box of water, risks mayhem for me.
Hopefully this service will be offered at all games this season and in the future. I wonder which other grounds have a similar/comparable initiatives?

Hello Andrew,

I would personally like to say Thank You to Man City and more importantly, to you for the wonderful experience me and Riley had on Saturday.

As you know Riley has ASD, due to his different learning style has more challenges with social events than others.

First of all you listened, engaged and fully understood Riley’s needs prior to the event.

Secondly you delivered on these needs without any hiccup or without compromising any detail which could of meant a different outcome.

Thirdly you were (and others) were always on hand, checking that everything was ok and if any more could be done.

We don’t know how to Thank You and Man City enough for this wonderful experience both Riley and myself had.

All we can say is Thank You again from the bottom of our hearts.

I have copied in level playing field as I would like them to know of this experience we have had.

All the best Phil.

I was at the Man City game and have a few moans and would like your thoughts on them please?1. The lift we were told to take was in the home fans section. Very intimidating.2. We were sent to the wrong floor. We had to queue again for the same lift but different fans with more taunting.3. The stewards were far from helpful on the whole.4. We had to go through Box level to get to our seats. We were in with the home fans again.5. At half time I wanted a warm drink. Despite the fact there was a bar by the toilet facilities, we were told there was no where on that floor for us to get refreshments. My carer was told she could go to the lower floor and bring something up for me. Astonishing. I thought/expected a modern stadium. Thankfully one of the stewards, Dawn, was kind enough to get me a coffee from the bar we weren’t allowed in.6. Leaving the stadium we were faced with more abuse from the home fans. No stewards in the lift. One older man was particularly rude.

The view from the away wheelchair section is elevated in the corner at the back of the second tier. It’s the best I’ve experienced in the Premier League by a short head from Swansea City.

Access is via a small and slow lift also serving corporate/VIP areas. The stewards were very helpful and friendly. There are no refreshment facilities for away wheelchair fans. This needs looking at. Likewise the signage for away fans and to disabled access to the trams post-match.

If practical, access to the away wheelchair spaces via the spiral ramps in addition to the lift would be a good improvement.

A good and bad experience as a wheelchair user at Manchester City. The view was excellent and we were in an area which was secure from other fans. The only concern I had was the flags that Manchester City had throughout the match which were so close to the away fans. Whilst I thought it was great that they were waving these flags prior to and during the match which added to the atmostphere, my immediate reaction was that someone may through one into the away fans area and sure enough they did. One of our fans then through it back and then another Manchester City fan through it back which hit one of our fans which could have been extremely dangerous. Could these flags be moved to the other end of the stadium away from the away fans so there is not a temptation to throw them?

I hadn’t been to the Etihad for a couple of years but was aware that amendments to the disabled platform were in place and indeed positively received.

I have to say the improvements made a big impression on me and City must be applauded for the facilities now in place for diaabled away fans.

The first thing you notice entering the stadium is that concourse isn’t as crowded. This might be aided by away fans now accomadated in three tiers but in any case I didn’t have too much difficulty finding my way around.

There are two ramps leading up to the viewing platform. The platform itself is spacious and holds around 10 wheelchair bays. The companion seats are adjacent to the wheelchair bays and the view is excellent too.

I can’t comment on the toilet or catering facilities as I didn’t require either during the time I was there. But the viewing platform is excellent and scores a 9/10 from me.

Man city away legend lounge

It’s not often you get to experience the best of both worlds, well I’m happy to say I did this weekend at the Manchester City Versus Spurs game. I was invited into the legends lounge for the away experience. My journey started out on the short tram journey from Piccadilly which is fully accessible no hassle trip to the etihad stadium. We were checked into the lounge and escorted up in a fairly big lift to our table. Where we had a lovely pre match meal and there was plenty of room for me to get about without knocking into people. The disabled access toilet was opened by a radar key and access was great.

During the match we were outside on the top row of the level 2 stand where we had a perfect view and the away fans were in front of so we could join in, plus my carer had an extra bonus of a padded seat. It was a freezing day so being able to go back into the lounge at half time and warm up was perfect , no fighting your way through the concourse for me plus puddings and warm drinks along with a bar service was available.

It’s definitely an experience I would do again and I hope other clubs will offer a similar option, where you can pay to have an upgraded experience like other fans.

I have been to the Etihad Stadium every season since Manchester City moved there, I have alwaysbeen of the opinion thatconsidering the ground is so relatively new, the visibility and thedesign of the away disabled area could be much better. In my previous visits to this ground, I have always encountered some kind of difficulty in seeing the pitch at times and with general space on the platform. I arrived at the stadium last night expecting to have similar problems, oh how wrong I was! Manchester City have made significant changes to disabled area in the away and they have made such a difference.

There are now two new raised areas in blocks 113 and 114 on level 1. These platforms are accessed by ramps from the concourse.The platforms are much more spacious for the wheelchairs to move aroundcompared to the oldplatform. PA’s now have seats next to wheelchair bays and not against the back wall. But the best thing about the new platforms is the view, even with fans standing up from the seats in front, the elevation of the platforms is such that the wheelchairsupportersstill have a clear, unobstructed view of the pitch.

It looks as though the elevated platforms have been put in certain parts of the home end as well, Manchester City deserve a lot of credit for making these changes which have helped to improve the match day experience for disabled supporters.

Just wanted to say I was at the game last Saturday vs Swansea (12th of December 2015) and I thought the Stadium was great access wise and thought the campus round the stadium was good to. I thought the wheelchair space was great as it raises up so you can see everything that’s going on and most importantly see the all of the football game. I travelled from Scotland to see the game so will definitely return hopefully next year.

Posted from Access Advisr

Lets put the result to one side shall we!?Due to a late departure we arrived at the Etihad with just 5 minutes to spare. We had been supplied with a car park pass and thankfully signage for each car park was good. The car-park stewards were very helpful and got us parked up near the stadium.The dash into the ground was helped by stewards dealing quickly with our tickets and directing us to the right place. Again this was supported with good signage.Entrance to the seating area was good. The view was from the top of the first tier and was excellent.All fans in front of us stood, but unlike some venues (BIC Bournemouth take note), this wasn’t a problem. The fans directly in front of us were at a low enough level so as not to impede our view. So, a fantastic view and a fantastic atmosphere.Getting out of the ground was easy as we were advised to join the away fan coach convoy.So, top marks for Man City. Plenty of space, with ones own fans, and sensible arrangements to ensure the view wasn’t obstructed.

Ticket for row ‘E’ in South stand , away end . Everybody stood , which is the same for every away game , so couldn’t

see the game for first 15 minutes . Noticed a seat in front row hadn’t been taken so moved there as I can’t stand.

Was ok until we scored and fans ran down the steps to the front and was barged from my seat . Stewards saw my

predicament and helped , one particular was very helpful .

The bigger picture for ambulant disabled fans is again tickets being allocated from the ‘general allocation’ which means

you can’t see the game if you can’t stand if you are not in the front row ! Why can’t a few seats be allocated to those

who are ‘ambulant disabled’ by clubs so we can see the game. Surely in this day and age this could be done by clubs across the leagues as it is very costly to go to games to look at the back of someone and not see the action on the pitch. Polio means I can’t stand but when will this change for those of us who can’t stand !

The second photo shows when the people in front hadn’t returned back for the start of the second half, though other fans were standing up, the view was much better as no one was directly in front of the platform.

For a relatively new stadium the view from the away disabled area could be better, when fans stand up in front, the view from the elevated wheelchair platform is severely obstructed. Although it is possible to see the far end of the pitch, it is quite hard to see the goal nearest the away end. If the first couple of rows of seats where cordoned off so no fans where allowed there, this would really help improve the view for the wheelchair users. The first photograph shows the view when all the fans were standing and then the second shows when the people in front hadn’t returned back for the start of the second half, though other fans were standing up, the view was much better as no one was directly in front of the platform. Access to the toilets can be a bit tricky as have to get through the crowds gathering on the concourse especially at halftime. The two toilets are locked by a RADAR key, no stewards were nearby these toilets with a key, fortunately I had my own on me on Saturday. The away coaches are parked opposite the away end exit, so not far to go to get back to these.

Additional picture of view for Everton match.

Additional picture of view at Everton match.

I travelled to the game by coach, all the coaches are parked within a short walk or wheel to the entrance to the ground. No problems with access from the coach park. A steward took us to one of the gates, where another steward took my tickets from me and scanned them, he then showed myself and my brother to the designated entrance for the away disabled supporters. Unlike previous visits to the Etihad this entrance took us straight in where the rest of the Everton fans were, on my other visits I’ve had to fight through the home end before gaining access to the away end, so well done City for moving the entrance gate for away fans.

The catering kiosk has a low level counter for wheelchair fans to be served and I was served quite quickly here. The toilets have a RADAR lock on them, I have my own RADAR key, but stewards also have keys.

The view from the back of the lower tier would be great if the fans in front stayed seated all game, unfortunately this never happens, so I spent most of the game trying to see through the fans in front of me which wasn’t easy. If the first row of seats in front of the wheelchair platform was left clear, even with the fans standing in the seats in front, the view from the disabled platform would have been practically unobstructed as when fans started to leave just before HT, I could see nearly all parts of the pitch, but unfortunately this wasn’t the case, so quite a few of us wheelchair fans struggled to see large parts of the game. As well as the fans blocking the view, I also had stewards and police standing on the steps blocking the view. I asked the steward if he could move or at least sit, he was very apologetic but said he couldn’t as stewards always have to be standing on the steps. So this didn’t help me see either. The carers sit behind the wheelchairs, more or less against the wall, the view for them isn’t very clear and with police and stewards particularly at the start of each half walking past, it is quite hard for them to see well.

I can’t fault the stewards who I dealt with on the day at the Etihad and I like the fact disabled away fans now go straight into the away end without having to manuovere through the crowded home area, it’s just a shame the view isn’t as good as it could be. The price of the ticket for the disabled supporter was £40 (carer was free) considering the poor view, the price was a little bit high.

Parking, access and stewards very good. Good humoured and considerate.

Organised a more suitable seating area for Michael and me. Head set arrived via a gentleman whose only words were, I’ll collect it 10 minutes before the end. The volume was too low and made it almost impossible to hear. Used a radio with excellent reception. Gentleman arrived 15 minutes before the end.

His reply was poor when I explained the volume and walked away. Not even a hello or thank you or a smile. Not another word. Pity really after such good attitude from all the stewards.

Man City’s audio commentary works in the away section but you need to sit on the back row.

Manchester City have fantastic facilities for wheelchair users. There is access to all three levels, the area for wheelchairs has a raised platform so if people in front stand up they do not infringe on the view. There are many disabled toilets and access to all areas is excellent. The only downside is the cost £40 for wheelchair user and carer is more expensive than other clubs.

Generally good access and viewing positions but carers sit behind and this gap is used as a walkthough by police/stewards (like Arsenal).

My wheelchair rises 30cm and i could see when supporters in front stood up. However, i could not see at the normal level.

Getting There This is my derby game, so it’s the shortest trip of the season for me.

Parking No problem parking, as long as it is organised in advance.

Entrance It’s tough to find without help, but the stewards were all excellent. Ironically, once you get to the entrance door, you can see the disabled sign. Just not from a distance.

The Viewing Position As soon as I saw it for the first time I knew there would be problems. Same old story I’m afraid. Brand new stadium (built with public money I might add!) and absolutely no thought given to what happens to the view when people stand up. Which of course they always do at moments of excitement

Also, your carer has to sit (or stand is more accurate) behind and we only get 8 places!

The home supporters have better positions, as the slope of the mid and upper tiers is much steeper, which helps you to get a decent view.

Price,Toilets & Catering There are modern, clean disabled toilets everywhere you look.

All the catering conters have special sections with lowered counters.

It cost 10.00 for both of us, the stewards were excellent, very friendly, but again the view of the game was appalling. Be ashamed, whoever designed this stadium.

Marks 5.5/10

Man City was good for disabled fans. We arrived in a mini bus and got free parking by our entrance. It was quite difficult to get through the concourse with all the Spurs fans around. The disabled area had a good view of the pitch from the back of the lower tier and under cover although slightly obstructed by standing Spurs fans. Unfortunately the stewards allowed fans to walk between the disabled section to get to the concourse which became quite annoying. Overall a good trip.