Etihad StadiumSeating Guide: Where to Sit & Best Seats
The Etihad Stadium (formally the City of Manchester Stadium) is the home of Premier League club Manchester City and one of the UK's largest concert venues, seating around 61,000 for football following the major North Stand redevelopment. It is a continuous oval bowl made up of four stands: the East Stand (long known as "the Kippax"), the Colin Bell Stand on the West side, the South Stand, and the redeveloped North Stand, now named the Pep Guardiola Stand. The two side stands (East and Colin Bell) carry three tiers and offer the best balanced, side-on views, with the lower tiers and the rear of the side stands giving the best value, while the loudest home support traditionally gathers in the South Stand corner and lower East. The West-side Colin Bell Stand is the premium stand, housing the dugouts, hospitality lounges and executive boxes. Away fans are housed in one corner of the South Stand, and the North/Pep Guardiola Stand is the traditional family area; for concerts the pitch is converted to standing and reserved seating, with the stage usually at the North end.
Configurations
Premier League / domestic football (Manchester City)
All-seated bowl of around 61,000 across four stands and up to three tiers. Home support concentrates in the South Stand corner and lower East ('Kippax'); away fans get one corner of the South Stand (roughly 3,000, expandable for cup ties). Player tunnel and dugouts are on the Colin Bell (West) side.
UEFA Champions League / European & cup football
Similar all-seated layout to domestic matches but as a UEFA Category 4 stadium, segregation, larger away allocations and neutral-final arrangements can shift block usage. Away allocations can be increased into adjacent South Stand blocks for cup and European fixtures.
Stadium concerts (pitch standing + seating)
Capacity of roughly 60,000. A stage is erected at the North end and the pitch is boarded for standing (general admission), with reserved seating in the surrounding bowl. Lower-tier seats nearest the stage and the side stands give the best sightlines; seats far behind or to the extreme side of the stage have reduced views.
Other live events / one-off matches
The bowl has also hosted boxing, rugby league and other large-scale events, with bespoke floor configurations that change which lower-tier blocks are sold and where the action is positioned.
Seating levels explained
Lower Tier (Level 1)
Approx. blocks 101-142 around the bowlThe pitch-level ring of seating running continuously around the stadium, closest to the action. Block numbering was revised as part of the North Stand expansion, so signage may differ from older maps.
Pros: Closest to the pitch and the atmosphere; good value, especially in the side stands; easiest concourse and accessibility access.
Cons: Lower vantage means a flatter, more side-on perspective; front rows behind the goals can lose sight of the far end of the pitch; partial views possible at extreme corners.
Middle Tier (Level 2)
Approx. blocks 201-242 on the three-tier sidesThe intermediate tier on the side and South stands, widely regarded as offering the best balance of height, proximity and view.
Pros: Elevated, well-balanced sightlines; covered by the roof; the middle of the East and Colin Bell stands gives premium central views.
Cons: Central blocks here carry higher prices; can be a longer climb to reach upper rows of the tier.
Upper Tier (Level 3)
Approx. blocks 301-330 on the three-tier sidesThe highest tier on the side and South stands, completed in stages (the South Stand third tier opened in 2015). Gives a panoramic, elevated overview of play.
Pros: Sweeping tactical view of the whole pitch; well covered from rain; often the cheapest seats high in the corners.
Cons: Furthest from the action; the highest rows feel a long way back and steep; the away upper corner (around blocks 314/315) is notably high up.
Pep Guardiola Stand (North Stand)
North-end blocks (relabelled with the 2025/26 expansion)The redeveloped and expanded North Stand, opened in full for the end of the 2025/26 season and named after Pep Guardiola. The traditional family area, it adds around 7,900 seats plus a rail-seating section and a premium 'Skybar'.
Pros: Newest facilities and concourses; family-friendly atmosphere; rail seating for a safe-standing feel; modern premium options including the Skybar.
Cons: Behind-the-goal viewing angle rather than side-on; as a newer stand, signage and block names differ from older seating maps.
Best seats at Etihad Stadium
| For | Sections | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall view | Middle Tier (Level 2) central blocks of the East Stand or Colin Bell (West) Stand, around the halfway line | Side-on, elevated and central gives the most balanced view of the full pitch, covered from the weather; the long-side middle tier is the classic 'best seat in the house'. |
| Best value | Lower Tier corners and rear of the side stands, plus the cheaper Upper Tier (Level 3) corner blocks | You stay close to or have a clear overview of the action without paying central-block premiums; corner lower-tier and high upper-corner seats are typically the lowest-priced. |
| Best atmosphere (football) | South Stand lower corner and lower/middle East Stand ('the Kippax') | This is where City's most vocal home support traditionally gathers; the South Stand corner and lower East drive the singing and noise on matchdays. |
| Families | Pep Guardiola Stand (North Stand) family blocks | The North end has long been the designated family stand and now offers the newest concourses and facilities following the expansion, with a calmer, family-friendly environment. |
| Best for concerts | Lower Tier seats in the East or Colin Bell side stands near the front, or pitch standing toward the front rail | With the stage at the North end, the side stands give clear, square-on sightlines of the stage, while front pitch standing puts you closest to the performance; avoid extreme angles far behind the stage. |
| Premium / hospitality experience | Colin Bell (West) Stand padded seating and halfway-line hospitality, including the Tunnel Club seats by the dugouts | The West side houses the dugouts, player tunnel and the club's flagship lounges, with central halfway-line padded seating and behind-the-scenes Tunnel Club access. |
Seats to avoid & obstructed views
- Upper Tier away corner (around blocks 314/315) and the highest rows of any upper tier: Very high up and far from the pitch; the elevation and distance make players appear small and the climb to the back rows is steep.
- Front rows of the lower tier behind the goals (South and North/Pep Guardiola ends): A low, flat behind-the-goal angle can foreshorten play and obscure action at the far end of the pitch.
- Extreme corner blocks where stands meet: Acute viewing angles toward the near goal and occasional partial sightlines; less balanced than central seats.
- Concert seats far behind or to the extreme side of the North-end stage: Reduced or side-on views of the stage; seats directly behind the stage may be unused or sold as restricted view.
- Tall spectators in deep lower-tier rows: Legroom can feel tight for taller fans, a common note in fan reviews of the lower bowl.
Premium & hospitality
Asahi Super Dry Tunnel Club
The flagship hospitality experience, with VIP padded seats by the dugouts on the halfway line, a glass-walled view into the players' tunnel and contemporary dining; accessed via the West (Colin Bell) side.
The Chairman's Club
One of the most sought-after suites, combining premium dining and event space with high-quality halfway-line seating on the West side of the stadium.
The Mancunian / 93:20 lounges
Modern event lounges on the Colin Bell (West) Stand offering panoramic pitch views and premium catering; the 93:20 name references City's title-winning last-minute goal.
Skybar and executive boxes (Pep Guardiola / North Stand)
The redeveloped North Stand adds a premium 'Skybar' with around 450 premium seats plus executive boxes, part of the expansion's new hospitality offering.
Accessibility & companion seating
Accessibility is one of the Etihad Stadium's strongest features, with Manchester City operating one of the most comprehensive access programmes in English football. There are over 250 wheelchair spaces available on a matchday, distributed across the stadium rather than concentrated pitch-side, and each wheelchair space has an adjacent seat for a personal assistant/companion. Easy-access and amenity seating is also provided across all stands for ambulant disabled supporters. Accessible toilets are signposted throughout, and the main Changing Places facility is in the South Stand at Level 0, near Block 019. Blue Badge parking is available at the Etihad and nearby Joie Stadium subject to availability, and there are several signposted accessible entrances (reported as D, H, M1, S and W doors).
Where: Wheelchair and companion spaces spread across all four stands at varying levels; ambulant/amenity seating in all stands; Changing Places toilet in the South Stand, Level 0 near Block 019. To book, disabled supporters should register an accessible account via Manchester City's ticketing system and can contact the Access Team (reported as +44 (0)161 444 1894) or the Fan Support Office; away disabled fans should consult the club's visiting supporters access guide.
Upcoming events at Etihad Stadium
Manchester City vs A.F.C. Bournemouth
Sun, 23 Aug 2026 · Premier League
Manchester City vs A.F.C. Bournemouth
Sun, 23 Aug 2026 · Premier League
Manchester City vs Coventry City
Sat, 5 Sept 2026 · Premier League
Manchester City vs Coventry City
Sat, 5 Sept 2026 · Premier League
Manchester City vs Sunderland
Sat, 19 Sept 2026 · Premier League
Manchester City vs Sunderland
Sat, 19 Sept 2026 · Premier League
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town
Sat, 17 Oct 2026 · Premier League
Manchester City vs Ipswich Town
Sat, 17 Oct 2026 · Premier League
Frequently asked questions
What are the best seats at the Etihad Stadium?
For football, the best balanced views are in the central blocks of the Middle Tier (Level 2) of the East Stand or the Colin Bell (West) Stand around the halfway line - elevated, side-on and covered. The Colin Bell side also holds the premium padded seating and dugout-side hospitality.
Where are the cheapest seats at the Etihad Stadium?
The best-value seats are usually in the lower-tier corners, the rear of the side stands, and the higher corner blocks of the Upper Tier (Level 3). These give a clear overview of the pitch without the central-block premium.
Where do away fans sit at the Etihad Stadium?
Away supporters are housed in one corner of the South Stand, across the lower, middle and upper tiers (historically around blocks 113/114, 213/214 and 313/314), with an allocation of roughly 3,000. This can be expanded into adjacent blocks (such as 115/215/315) for cup and larger fixtures. Note block labels were revised with the North Stand expansion.
Where is the best atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium?
The loudest home support traditionally gathers in the South Stand corner and the lower and middle East Stand, long nicknamed 'the Kippax', which drives the singing on matchdays. The new Pep Guardiola (North) Stand also includes a rail-seating area for a safe-standing atmosphere.
Is the Etihad Stadium accessible for disabled fans?
Yes. The stadium has over 250 wheelchair spaces spread across all stands, each with a companion seat, plus ambulant and amenity seating and accessible toilets throughout. A Changing Places facility is in the South Stand, Level 0 near Block 019. Disabled fans should register an accessible account and can contact the Access Team to book.
What is the Etihad Stadium's capacity for concerts?
For concerts the Etihad holds around 60,000, with a stage at the North end, the pitch boarded for standing and reserved seating in the surrounding bowl. Oasis set the venue's concert attendance record of around 60,000 in 2005.
What is the Pep Guardiola Stand at the Etihad?
It is the redeveloped and expanded North Stand, named after manager Pep Guardiola and opened in full at the end of the 2025/26 season. It adds around 7,900 seats, a rail-seating (safe-standing) area and a premium 'Skybar', and is the traditional family area of the stadium.
Is the Etihad Stadium covered / does it have a roof?
All seating is covered by the stadium roof, so spectators are generally protected from rain, though the pitch and any pitch-standing concert area are open to the elements. Wind and rain can still reach the very front rows in some areas.