£300m bonanza for 'Middle Eastlands'

Peter Spencer and David Ottewell

September 05, 2008

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Site could be set for a £300m investment

MANCHESTER City's mega-rich new owners could kick-off a £300m transformation of the area around their Eastlands ground.

Town hall chiefs are looking for investors to bankroll a world-class leisure facility to replace the scrapped super-casino, which would have been built in the shadow of the stadium.

Now the M.E.N. can reveal the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment - who are taking over City in a £150m deal - could be ready to buy the entire SportCity site, which has been nicknamed `Middle Eastlands' since the Arab takeover.

It includes the City of Manchester Stadium and the land around it, where the casino would have been built.

The Blues have already expressed an interest in buying their council-owned stadium. Executive chairman Garry Cook held 'preliminary discussions' with council boss Sir Howard Bernstein on Monday.

The town hall is in a win-win situation following the Blues' takeover. If the club's new owners decide to buy the site the council will get a huge cash windfall which will enable them to redevelop the area much faster than had been expected.

Honours

Even if the Blues don't buy it, the site will increase in value if City, as predicted, become a Premier League superpower, challenging for honours at home and abroad.

And if the stadium stays in council ownership they will still be quids in as turnstile takings will rise - and they get a percentage of gate money.

The council decided in July to invite proposals to develop publicly-owned land around the stadium.

The move followed a government U-turn on plans for Britain's first super-casino on the site. The casino would have created 3,000 new jobs in one the most deprived parts of the country. But Gordon Brown dropped the idea after taking over at Number 10.

A ministerial task force has been charged with coming up with an alternative scheme.

The council has said only a `world-class' tourist attraction or leisure facility could bring as many jobs as the casino.

If the Eastlands stadium is sold, the council would have to hand over some of the proceeds as it was partly paid for with lottery money for the Commonwealth Games.

Council leader Sir Richard Leese said: "I am looking forward to meeting representatives of the new owners of the club to discuss exciting prospects for not just Manchester City Football Club but the whole of East Manchester."

The M.E.N. can also reveal the Blues have stepped up their 'one City' campaign, to make the club into a world-famous brand. But, despite the fears of some fans, there are no plans to drop the word `Manchester' from their name.

There are proposals which are said to be `enthusiastically supported' by the club's Abu Dhabi-based investors who are led by billionaire Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim - to establish a separate company called `City'. The business would develop the brand in areas such as holidays, financial services and clothing.

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dennis tueart's lovechild, Bury (06/09/2008 at 08:57)

Don't you just love the Right to Buy Scheme for Council Houses!!!

Al Capone (06/09/2008 at 09:07)

Am I the only one who thinks this is all moving too fast - like the credit crunch in reverse?

mackerinn.z, warrington (06/09/2008 at 09:29)

Once a council house always a council house.

thaitanium (06/09/2008 at 10:17)

What about the old owner?
Will you now do the decent thing and campaign to have him sent back to Thailand with his family to face the charges against them.
If he doesn't like the justice system here why didn't he do something about when he was in power or was it OK then??

wkdboy1, Woodley (06/09/2008 at 10:34)

I bet if the council do get all this money from the sale, the council tax payers wont see a reduction in their tax bill and will see no return from the money they will have made.

Investment needs to be done to bring youths off the streets and a viable and interesting option made to keep them entertained in a supervised area. So I hope that if they do get a cash windfall that they invest in something worthwhile and not put all the cash into the doomed congestion charge, which is only created to rip off the already over taxed car owners.

Grief Tourist (06/09/2008 at 11:07)

Remember who 'put you up' when the Germans wrecked your stadium. If it wasn't for City you'd have had to play in ANOTHER ground outside Manchester. Thanks for the six points last season.

adders, Co.Cavan ex Manchester (06/09/2008 at 11:32)

My God, there are some childish people posting on here! "Once a council house, always a council house"
That also sounds snobbish, to say the least if the person who posted it thinks council house purchasers are in some way inferior to him/her.
I suspect, however, it is yet another feeble attempt by a United supporter to cover their annoyance that City now have transfer funds.
Why not think of Manchester for once instead of your petty rivalry? Think about the development of that area and new jobs?
Some City fans are going over the top, too, but there`s no excuse for such childish bitter comments as this one.

Supporting City is like sex......, WA3 1FS (06/09/2008 at 12:29)

Dear me "mackerin Warrington". I live in WA3, i am an ex Whythenshawe lad who bought his COUNCIL house for 34k in 92... no regrets no sorrow one of the best houses i ever had. See my post code and weep fella live in a 500k house now you sorry sorry rag lol

Mikel Honesty (06/09/2008 at 12:42)

Being a Man United fan, which i have been all my life and from Manchester too by the way!! Like everyone whos a fan of football or not, think it was a surprise and shock as to whats going on at City. All i say is good luck to them, i think its a good thing for manchester as a whole that City are, about time, coming good. It puts Manchester on the map in such a huge way, and the competition, brilliant. Silly comments and bitterness gets no one anywhere, were all, or most of us mancunnians and should be proud, even though we still want the 6points of them!!

Good luck to the City, come on United....Let the games begin and let the North West rule!!

Pippa, Manchester (06/09/2008 at 13:02)

Forget the football. Isn't the stadium meant to be a facility for the people of Manchester, owned by the council and rented by MCFC every football season, the rest of the year being used for various other events? Not too sure I like the idea of it being privatised and the council making a quick buck on this one. Shouldn't the council tax payers get a say on this one ? Bit like selling off the family silver.

I'm not a number (06/09/2008 at 13:24)

There is plenty of scope for development for mixed/leisure/retail etc, but the collapse of the housing scheme does'nt help. Perhaps the cash raised should be allocated towards re-igniting that initiative. I wonder what these chaps make of the pile of dangerous rusty spikes that currently block the eastern access. I'd replace it with a work of art! Something that celebrates club legends. Meredith, Woosnam, Swift, Doherty, Trautman, Bell, Lee , Summerbee, Goater & more. How about it? Nothing wrong with art that relates to normal people!

Emjay See (06/09/2008 at 13:43)

thaitanium

you are fast catching up JayB and Ace as the silliest contributor to the MEN site, which by the way is no mean feat.

Under you argument the minor Romanov's and other Tsarist sympathisers would not need to have escaped Soviet Rusia to face their "justice" as they were responsible for setting up the Russina legal system previously. What a deeply and utterly unintelligent point you made.

Now to the real point. Seeing as New Labour have totally betryed Manchester over the Casino and any sort of replacement, I really hope that something great happens here to kick start some more regeneration in Manchester. The fact that it might in some way be connected to City makes it all the sweeter for the blue half of the city. The question is just what sort of world class tourism facility could be built there?

Anyone with some great ideas? How about a museum for science fiction or extinct animals. Something that would bring out the big kid in all of us. Just like the developments going on at City bring out the big kid in me.

what?, where? (06/09/2008 at 14:43)

Yes ideally the stadium would have stayed out of private hands and possibly not even be a football stadium. Ideally we could have had a world class athletics factility in Manchester as a legacy of the commonwealth games.

The governments lack of support for Manchester destroyed that possibility a long time ago. The need for an end user to pay the bills meant that the current arrangement was essential.

The area was then stabbed in the back over the super casino project.

I notice now we are hearing how important it is that the London Olympic facilities benetif the community.

Frankly, our own government has made it very clear where they stand on this area. If it takes investment brought in by football to redevelop it then so be it. Manchester has a long and glorious tradition of showing that when the government lets us down, we do it ourselves (better).

The City investors know more than a thing or two about development, and the money for the site can be invested in another part of Manchester.

There's a lot of talk about how wrong the money in football is and now most of it centres around Manchester City. Well here is a chance to show that all that money can benefit the local community.

As to ideas, personally I would love to see Sportcity just that, build other world class sporting facilities which along with what's being done in London could boost the whole country.

Blip, Manchester (06/09/2008 at 14:47)

Mikel Honest, well said that man; muppetinn.z, sticks & stones. Ho hum. This is an excellent and unique opportunity for the council and the people of East M/cr. The only people who could possibly be against this are SOME daft, jealous and short-sighted Utd fans.

Knowall, stretford end (06/09/2008 at 15:11)

The stadium was paid for with council tax from all over greater Manchester so why does only Manchester get anything from it and not the other 9 councils?

petan, openshaw (06/09/2008 at 15:14)

sports city should have an olympic style swimming pool and an ice skating rink if we are to continue with our go for gold theme in the major games, after all its got football badminton a running track and a cycle velodrome already in the area

Ferrari, Toulouse (06/09/2008 at 15:16)

Council house comments are the rags last attempt at "having a dig". They have nothing else! Can i just remind them that "the swamp" is owned by american banks and they are practically "squatters" in there. You lot couldn't buy your stadium back if you tried, you can't afford it with your debt.

S P In exile, Tameside (06/09/2008 at 16:00)

Pippa

The money from the sale of COMS and surrounding areas would benefit east Manchester the council have no money for developing the area and investment from these mega rich Arabs can only improve an area that is screaming out for investment.

The people who live around eastlands deserve an improvement in their environment for to long the area has been neglected, although I was not in favour of a casino it would have been a much needed injection which would have brought other investment.

Just remember that if the money generated from the sale and if used wisely then east Manchester could resemble anything that is as good as the Trafford Centre not only would that be good for jobs but also peoples well being and health would improve.

Stop your negativity and welcome the much needed change, as all your post seem to be on the negative side to everything I am concerned for your health and well being you cannot go through life with a melancholy attitude forever.

PW, Manchester (06/09/2008 at 18:24)

You City and United fans who hate each other should read and digest Mikel Honesty's comments below. Without in any way belittling football as a sport and a pleasure, you still need to grow up as it's only a game.

Friendly rivalry is great, but hatred has no real place at all.

bluetony (06/09/2008 at 18:36)

It is worth pointing out to our rag friends in Salford that Milan & Inter both play in a stadium owned by the Municipality of Milan. Haven't heard any 'council house' jibes about the San Siro. See you at the derbies for another six points!!

MikeSlad1956, Oxfordshire (06/09/2008 at 18:37)

The longer you are a council tenant,the bigger the discount on right to buy.Then again I doubt ADU will be bothered about that.Would be good for the area though.

MikeSlad1956, Oxfordshire (06/09/2008 at 18:41)

I'm not a number refers to the rusty spikes.I never ever walk under them,as even when it's not windy they wobble about.Could be used for javelin practice for 2012.

Stretford Born Blue, Brooklands (06/09/2008 at 19:45)

It would be nice to have some more sports facilities created as well as the hotels etc that will undoubtably come. The north of England needs a quality 50 meter pool and some gymnastics facilities. How about another purpose built arena for concerts then we will not have the need to replace the pitch and play games in Yorkshire!!! Whilst they are at it make the stadium into a 65-70000 seater venue, now that would look good.

newtneef (06/09/2008 at 22:35)

i agree with petan, we need a pool , cmon manchester council, spend some of our money where its needed, where do i teach my kids to swim? the canal

Jesus Da Silva , Rio - Brasil (06/09/2008 at 22:42)

City should give notice and find a site to build a larger stadium elsewhere. Not too sure whether Eastlands would be able to be funded for too many years as it would be a costly project to maintain. Suggest the other rags in red The Labour Party/Government find the cash they a in the best position to do this.

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