Finance guru issues ‘£100m’ Man City claim amid ‘top-end’ reveal – ‘it’s virtually guaranteed’
The Man City plan to expand the Etihad Stadium could pay for itself by generating up to £100million in 10 years.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the plans to boost capacity at the East Manchester arena to beyond 60,000.
City announced last Monday (12 December) that they had launched a feasibility study into adding 6,600 seats to the Etihad’s North Stand.
There are also plans to add a new fan zone, club shop, workplace and an on-site hotel.
Plumley crunched the numbers and offered his analysis of just how lucrative the upgrade plans could be for the reigning Premie League champions.
“There are two ballpark figures here,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“I’d expect for there to be a big corporate push. But even if you take it on average ticket prices for City and the number of games they are virtually guaranteed, you can easily get to £6m extra per season.
“If you start to look at ramping up the commercial offer, there is no reason you can’t get closer to £10m per season.
“If that’s the case, you’re looking at £100m over 10 years which will probably pay for the cost of the upgrades and then some.
“So, it depends if they go hard on corporate hospitality, which I expect them to do. I think it will go towards that top end.
“It is certainly an area they are looking to grow. The money will go towards bridging the matchday income gap between themselves and some of the rest of the Big Six.”
In other news, pundit issues two-word verdict on Pep Guardiola quitting Man City after update from Spain.