Manchester City opens bookings for Etihad Campus hotel
Manchester City FC has opened bookings for The Medlock, its new 401-room on-site hotel located at the Etihad Stadium, marking a significant step in the continued expansion of the Etihad Campus into a year-round destination.
Operating under the Radisson Blu brand, the upscale hotel is positioned as a central pillar of the club’s wider entertainment district strategy. Named after the River Medlock that runs beneath the campus, the property reflects Manchester’s industrial heritage while integrating contemporary design and premium hospitality standards. The hotel will offer a range of room categories, including suites and penthouse accommodation, alongside restaurants, bars, conferencing facilities and flexible event spaces.
The hotel will form part of the wider entertainment destination offering around the stadium, which will also include a museum experience, restaurants and more. The development will tie in with City’s expansion of the North Stand at Etihad Stadium, which will increase the stadium’s capacity from 53,400 to over 60,000.
Strategically located next to the stadium and the new Co-op Live arena, the development is designed to enhance the matchday experience while also capturing non-matchday demand from concerts, corporate events and leisure tourism. By embedding hospitality infrastructure directly within the stadium footprint, Manchester City is further diversifying its revenue model and strengthening the commercial ecosystem surrounding the Etihad Campus.
The launch of bookings represents a key milestone in the club’s long-term infrastructure vision, reinforcing the growing trend of integrated stadium-led districts that blend sport, entertainment, hospitality and urban regeneration.
https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2026/02/10/manchester-citys-on-site-hotel-open-for-bookings/
Stadio Luigi Ferraris redevelopment moves into next phase
The redevelopment of the Stadio Luigi Ferraris has moved a step closer after the City of Genoa officially declared the project to be of public interest. This formal recognition is essential, as it allows the plans to move forward into the next phase of detailed studies and approvals.
The stadium, shared by Genoa CFC and UC Sampdoria, is set to undergo a major upgrade. The aim is to modernise the venue by improving spectator comfort, safety and accessibility, while also creating better hospitality and premium areas to strengthen long-term revenues. Technical systems and energy efficiency measures will also be updated to meet current standards and UEFA requirements.
A key part of the plan is a 99-year concession agreement. The stadium will remain publicly owned, but the clubs are expected to finance and manage the redevelopment. This model is designed to combine public oversight with private investment, ensuring both financial sustainability and continued availability of the stadium for football and other major events.
With public-interest status now confirmed, the project moves into the technical and economic feasibility stage. During this phase, the final design, costs and timeline will be clarified before the initiative proceeds to further approvals and, eventually, construction.
Birmingham City appoints Veolia to support Sports Quarter development
Birmingham City FC has appointed Veolia UK and Ireland as a key sustainability partner to help shape the club’s proposed Sports Quarter project. The partnership comes at an early stage of planning and is intended to ensure that environmental considerations are fully integrated into the design and development of the wider district from the outset.
The Sports Quarter forms part of Birmingham City’s long-term vision to create a modern, mixed-use destination anchored by a new stadium and supported by commercial, community and leisure facilities. By bringing in Veolia at this stage, the club aims to develop a clear strategy around energy use, waste management, water efficiency and resource optimisation before detailed designs are finalised.
Veolia will provide expertise in areas such as circular economy solutions, low-carbon energy systems and smart infrastructure. This could include exploring renewable energy generation, efficient heating and cooling networks, advanced recycling systems and innovative approaches to reducing environmental impact across the site. The goal is to create a development that not only supports the club’s sporting ambitions but also delivers long-term environmental and community benefits.
Club leadership has described the appointment as an important milestone in what it sees as a transformative period for both the club and the surrounding area. By embedding sustainability principles into the Sports Quarter at an early stage, Birmingham City is seeking to future-proof the project and align it with wider urban regeneration and climate objectives.
135,000-seat stadium in Hanoi set to become world’s largest stadium
Vietnam has unveiled plans for what is set to become the world’s largest football stadium, a 135,000-seat venue to be built on the outskirts of Hanoi. The ambitious project, known as Trống Đồng Stadium, will significantly surpass the capacity of existing global giants and is positioned as the centrepiece of a much wider urban and sports-led development.
The stadium’s design draws inspiration from Vietnam’s historic Đông Sơn bronze drums, incorporating circular architectural elements and cultural symbolism intended to reflect national identity. Beyond its scale, the project proposes a range of advanced technical features, including a retractable roof and a movable pitch system designed to allow rapid surface transitions for different events.
The development forms part of a broader “sports city” concept, integrating residential, commercial and leisure components alongside the stadium. The masterplan envisions improved transport links and supporting infrastructure to accommodate the significant visitor volumes such a venue would generate.
While the scale of the project has drawn international attention, it represents a clear statement of intent regarding Vietnam’s aspirations in global sport and large-scale event hosting.
Huddersfield Town FC appoints Levy to enhance Accu Stadium experience
Huddersfield Town FC has secured a long-term partnership with sports and entertainment hospitality provider Levy UK and Ireland to significantly elevate the fan and venue experience at Accu Stadium. The agreement comes after the club secured full ownership and operational control of the 24,500-capacity ground last year.
The collaboration is designed to transform matchday hospitality and general admission catering, with Levy set to refresh food and beverage offerings and introduce enhanced service standards across the venue. Levy will also invest in concourse equipment, technology and other hospitality developments to deliver a “world-class service” for supporters and visitors as the partnership evolves.
Beyond football fixtures, the arrangement aims to position Accu Stadium as a year-round destination for conferences, exhibitions and private events, unlocking non-matchday revenue streams and expanding the stadium’s commercial potential. As part of the agreement, Levy will also implement sustainability initiatives focused on reducing waste and boosting environmental efficiency at the venue.
Paul Reeves, Huddersfield Town’s Chief Revenue Officer, noted that the partnership aligns with the club’s ambition to make Accu Stadium a vibrant hub 365 days a year, while Levy’s COO emphasised the intent to create a matchday environment that reflects the passion of the club’s fanbase and supports the wider community.
Palmki pilots palm-based payments at Belgian Corda Campus
Palmki, developed by Belgian technology company Perfect-ID, is launching a live pilot at Corda Campus to test its “pay by palm” solution in a real-world setting. The system enables users to make payments without a physical card, smartphone or cash, instead using biometric identity authentication based on the palm of the hand.
Installation of the test environment is scheduled from the end of February. The pilot will allow Palmki to measure key performance indicators such as user adoption, transaction speed, ease of use and overall throughput in a high-footfall location that welcomes thousands of daily visitors. Participation is voluntary, and the company positions the system as fully GDPR-compliant, with data protection and privacy embedded into the design.
The concept is not entirely new to the sports industry. Palmki has previously been trialled at KAA Gent, where the technology was used to provide fast-lane stadium access and reduce entry queues. Insights from that test are now being applied to broader use cases, including frictionless food and beverage transactions and other matchday services.
As an ESSMA partner, Palmki’s expansion into payment functionality highlights the growing potential of identity-based technology within stadium environments. By combining access control and cashless payments into a single biometric solution, venues could further reduce queues, streamline operations and enhance the overall fan experience.
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2026/02/10/corda-campus-hasselt-betalen-handpalm/
