Manchester City opens new £10m facility for Women’s First Team
Manchester City Women has officially opened a new £10 million purpose-built training facility at the City Football Academy, marking one of the largest investments in a dedicated women’s first-team environment in football.
The new 17,000-square-foot building has been designed specifically for the Women’s First Team and includes a range of elite performance and recovery facilities. These include a high-performance gym, specialist strength and conditioning areas, medical and physiotherapy spaces, hydrotherapy and recovery zones, and advanced technology aimed at supporting player development and injury prevention.
At the centre of the facility is Manchester City’s signature circular dressing room concept, designed to strengthen team connection and collaboration. The building was developed with input from players and staff, creating a tailored environment that combines high-performance infrastructure with more personal and social elements.
The new facility also celebrates the history and identity of the team, featuring displays of the club’s trophies and recognising players who have made more than 100 appearances for the side.
The opening represents another major step in Manchester City’s long-term commitment to the women’s game, following the professional relaunch of the club’s women’s team in 2014. While the Women’s First Team now has its own dedicated home within the campus, it remains fully integrated within the wider City Football Academy ecosystem.
The campus also includes the Joie Stadium, the first purpose-built stadium in the Women’s Super League, alongside access to the club’s broader football and operational infrastructure.
The investment comes during another successful season for Manchester City Women, who recently secured the Women’s Super League title and are preparing for the upcoming FA Cup Final. The club views the new facility as both a performance asset and a statement of ambition as it continues to invest in the long-term growth of women’s football.
https://www.mancity.com/news/womens/new-building-announcement-63914192
RFU renews push for expanded concert programme at Allianz Stadium
The Rugby Football Union is preparing to submit a new planning application aimed at significantly increasing the number of concerts and non-sporting events hosted at Allianz Stadium, formerly known as Twickenham Stadium.
The RFU is seeking permission to stage up to 15 major non-sporting events annually, following earlier attempts that were partially rejected by Richmond Council. Current restrictions allow only three major non-rugby events per year at the stadium, despite it being one of the UK’s largest sports venues and remaining unused for much of the calendar year.
The governing body argues that expanding the event calendar is essential for the long-term sustainability of both the stadium and rugby in England. Allianz Stadium currently generates around 90% of the RFU’s revenues, and the organisation believes additional concerts and entertainment events could unlock significant new investment into the sport.
Under the latest proposal, concert attendance would be capped at 75,000 spectators on weekends, with lower capacities planned for midweek events. The RFU also intends to introduce operational measures aimed at reducing disruption for local residents, including fewer road closures compared to rugby matches and a gradual increase in event activity over time.
As part of the proposal, 1,000 tickets per event would be reserved for local residents, while a new Facility Fee applied to tickets could generate up to £1 million annually for local improvements and enhanced event-day operations.
According to the RFU, the expanded programme could deliver approximately £86 million in gross value added to the UK economy and support more than £500 million of investment into rugby over the next five years. Additional revenues would also contribute towards stadium upgrades, technology improvements and enhancements to fan experience.
The initiative reflects a broader trend across the stadium industry, where major venues are increasingly diversifying their event portfolios to maximise year-round utilisation and strengthen financial sustainability beyond sport alone.
If approved later this year, the first additional concerts could take place during the summer of 2027.
Sunderland AFC continues major infrastructure investment
Sunderland AFC has announced the next phase of its stadium and training ground investment programme, with new upgrades planned at both the Stadium of Light and the Academy of Light this summer.
The latest phase includes a multi-million-pound investment focused on infrastructure, technology and fan experience following the club’s return to the Premier League. At the Stadium of Light, a new LED perimeter advertising system will be installed ahead of the 2026/27 season, while additional premium hospitality enhancements are also planned.
At the Academy of Light, Sunderland will modernise first-team training areas, upgrade pitches and introduce new technologies aimed at improving player performance, preparation and recovery. The club is also refurbishing office facilities at Black Cat House as part of the wider transformation programme.
The announcement follows several years of continuous investment across Sunderland’s infrastructure. Previous upgrades at the Stadium of Light have included safe standing areas, new PA and lighting systems, an upgraded playing surface, redeveloped hospitality spaces and improvements to concourses and food & beverage operations.
The club has also invested heavily in premium matchday experiences, including the introduction of new hospitality concepts led by Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks.
Sunderland describes the latest phase as part of a long-term strategy to modernise the club across all areas of operation, strengthen commercial performance and support sustainable growth at Premier League level.
https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2026/05/12/sunderland-details-summer-of-stadium-academy-upgrades
Borussia Mönchengladbach upgrades Borussia-Park with Wifi 7 network
Borussia Mönchengladbach has partnered with Extreme Networks to deploy Wifi 7 and Wifi 6E connectivity across the Borussia-Park stadium and wider campus.
The rollout covers the entire Borussia-Park site, including the 54,000-seat stadium, hospitality areas, hotel, training pitches, retail spaces, museum and office facilities. The new network infrastructure is designed to support fan connectivity, mobile ticketing, cashless payments, livestreaming and in-stadium audiovisual systems through a unified high-performance platform.
The deployment also provides the club with centralised visibility and AI-driven analytics across its wired, wireless and cloud infrastructure, helping optimise stadium operations, communications and security management.
In addition to current matchday and operational needs, the network has been designed to support future digital services such as smart parking, EV charging infrastructure and biometric access systems.
The project reflects the growing importance of advanced connectivity within modern stadium environments, where clubs are increasingly investing in digital infrastructure to enhance fan experience, improve operational efficiency and future-proof venue operations.
https://capacityglobal.com/news/extreme-networks-borussia-monchengladbach
