Blues reveal City Square designs

Manchester City FC has revealed how its new City Square – a new pre-match entertainment zone fpr fans – will look.

City Square will be located on Joe Mercer way outside the Citystore and i being designed by Manchester-based architects’ practice BDP.

Giant media screens will stream specially edited and live video content, while the club’s community arm – CITC - will provide match day activities for children.City Square will also feature the Summerbee and Star bar which will be kitted out with the latest technology, enabling multiple pints to be poured in seconds. The Blue Moon cafe will also be serving up ‘a range of traditional northern favourites with a twist’, according to the club. The square will also feature plenty of specially-designed waterproof canopies.

Garry Cook, chief executive of Manchester City FC, said: “The aim of City Square is to greatly enhance the match day experience of our supporters by providing them with exceptional food, drink and entertainment facilities within a family friendly environment.”

John Doyle, BDP’s project director, said: “City Square is all about extending the pre-match build-up and excitement outside of the stadium and onto the surrounding concourse to bring fans together in a fanzone specially designed for their entertainment.

“It's about meeting friends, having something to eat and drink and being entertained in a family friendly atmosphere on the club’s doorstep. We think this facility is really the first one of its kind in English football.”

City Square will also be used for non-match day events to provide entertainment and hospitality for up to 5,000 customers and will have direct links to the new Metrolink station, which opens in 2012.

City Square will officially kick off at 5pm on August 23, before City’s first home match of the season against Liverpool.