Maine Road
former stadium of Manchester City / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maine Road was a large football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England. It was home to Manchester City F.C. from when it was built in 1923 until 2003. It takes its name from the street it was built on which also had a remarkable history. The street was first known as Dog Kennel Lane.[1] It formed part of an ancient route south of Manchester.
Location | Moss Side, Manchester |
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Coordinates | 53°27′4″N 2°14′7″W |
Owner | Manchester City F.C. |
Capacity | 35,150 (at closing) 88,000 (maximum) |
Construction | |
Built | 1923 |
Opened | 23 August 1923 |
Closed | 11 May 2003 |
Demolished | 2003–2004 |
Tenants | |
Manchester City F.C. (1923–2003) Manchester United F.C. (1946–49) |
When first opened, the stadium was the largest club ground in England and the second largest in the country after Wembley Stadium. Maine Road's record attendance was set in 1934, when 84,569 people attended an FA Cup tie between Manchester City and Stoke City. It is the record for an English club ground (the 1923 FA Cup Final holds the world record). The following February the stadium recorded the highest Football League attendance. This stood at 79,491 for a game against Arsenal.[2] The record has since been beaten for the League, but it is still Manchester City's largest League crowd. The design of the ground changed several times over its 80-year history. Before it closed, Maine Road was an all-seater stadium, with a capacity of 35,150.
The 2002-03 season was Manchester City's last at Maine Road. The last match was played on 11 May 2003. The following season Manchester City moved to City of Manchester Stadium in east Manchester. Maine Road was torn down in 2004.