Maine Road
| Maine Road | |
|---|---|
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| The stadium before its last game | |
| Data | |
| place |
 Moss Side, Manchester , England
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| Coordinates | 53 ° 27 '4.1 " N , 2 ° 14' 6.6" W |
| owner | Manchester City |
| start of building | February 1922 |
| opening | August 23, 1923 |
| First game | Manchester City - Sheffield United 2: 1 |
| Renovations | 1931, 1957, 1970 |
| demolition | 2003-2004 |
| surface | Natural grass |
| costs | £ 100,000 |
| architect | Charles Swain |
| capacity | 35,150 seats |
| playing area | 107 × 71 m |
| Societies) | |
| Events | |
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Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side , Manchester , and was the home of Manchester City Football Club from 1923 to 2003 .
history
When it opened, it was the second largest football stadium in England after London's Wembley Stadium . A record attendance record in English club football that still exists today was achieved in 1934 when 84,569 spectators watched the FA Cup game between Stoke City and Manchester City. In later years, however, the stadium only had a capacity of 35,150 seats.
The 2002/03 football season was Manchester City's final season at this stadium. The last football game took place on May 11, 2003, in which Manchester City lost 1-0 to Southampton . Since then, the club has played in the City of Manchester Stadium (currently Etihad Stadium ), which is located in east Manchester. Maine Road was demolished in 2004.
The first plans to build this stadium were drawn up in May 1922. This was followed by a decision by Manchester City to part with the former Hyde Park. This did not offer enough space for extensions and was also damaged by fire in 1922. Most fans assumed that the new stadium would be built in the east of the city because most people in Manchester viewed the east of the city as the home of Manchester City. The decision to build the stadium in the south was disappointing for many fans.
The total area for the stadium and the surrounding area was purchased for £ 5,500. Construction of the stadium began in 1922. Charles Swain drafted the plan for the stadium and then had a stadium built that would have the design of Glasgow's Hampden Park and 80,000 seats. Since it was the second largest stadium in England after the Wembley Stadium, it was also called "The Wembley of the North" (The Wembley of the North). Wembley Stadium had been completed a few months off Maine Road in London .
The stadium was opened on August 23, 1923. The first game took place between Sheffield United and Manchester City . 56,993 spectators saw the game, which the home club won 2-1. The first changes to the stadium took place in 1931 when a roof was to be built on one part of the stadium.
After the Second World War , Manchester United also used the stadium for a period because the Old Trafford stadium was partially damaged by German air raids. Floodlights were installed in the 1950s.
Two unprecedented attendance records were set in the stadium. The largest number of spectators (84,569) in English football history in a stadium saw the match between Manchester City and Stoke City in the sixth round of the FA Cup on March 3, 1934. Most of the spectators at a league game (83,260) saw the game between Manchester United and Arsenal on January 17, 1948 .
Other events
Maine Road hosted two internationals for England. The first was on November 13, 1946, when England beat Wales 3-0. The second game was played on November 16, 1949, which was a World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland.
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November 13, 1946: England - Wales 3: 0
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Nov. 16, 1949: England - Northern Ireland 9: 2
Maine Road has also hosted a number of rugby league games, with eleven rugby league finals taking place at this stadium between 1938 and 1956.
Numerous rock concerts were held in Maine Road, where rock bands such as the Rolling Stones , Jean Michel Jarre , David Bowie , Bon Jovi and Guns N 'Roses performed. A special highlight were the concerts of the British rock band Oasis , which played in front of a home audience on April 27 and 28, 1996 . A recording of these concerts was used for the concert DVD There And Then .
Web links
- bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk: History of the Maine Road (English)
- oldgrounds.co.uk: Picture gallery (English)
- stadiumguide.com: data to the stadium (English)