Live events by city · United Kingdom
Live events in Manchester.
Football, music, and live events in Manchester — verified tickets with the 100% Buyer Guarantee. The Manchester derby. Old Trafford vs the Etihad, is now the most globally-followed local rivalry in football.
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About
Football in Manchester
Manchester is football's most concentrated derby city. Old Trafford (74,310, Manchester United's home since 1910) and the Etihad Stadium (53,400, Manchester City's home since 2003) sit just over four miles apart, both reachable on the Metrolink tram network. Combined matchday capacity is approximately 130,000. Equivalent to 1.5% of Greater Manchester's population on any given derby weekend. The Manchester derby has become global must-see television in the Pep Guardiola era; both clubs have invested £1 billion+ each in stadium and infrastructure since 2010. Manchester also hosts Bury FC, Salford City, Stockport County and Oldham Athletic in the lower leagues. Wider Manchester-area football includes Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic, both within 30 minutes by tram or train.
Clubs in Manchester · 2 senior clubs
Manchester football clubs
Beyond the football
Music & live events in Manchester
Manchesteris one of the world's busiest live-event cities — concerts and tours, festivals, and big-ticket sport beyond football all pass through its arenas and stadiums. Browse what's on, all backed by the 100% Buyer Guarantee.
Local rivalries
Manchester derbies
Manchester Derby
Manchester United vs Manchester City. Contested twice each Premier League season plus periodic cup and European meetings. Globally the most-watched English club fixture after Liverpool vs United.
Getting to Manchester grounds
Transit
Old Trafford is served by the Old Trafford Metrolink stop (5-minute walk) and Manchester United Football Ground railway station (5-minute walk). The Etihad uses the Etihad Campus Metrolink stop (5-minute walk). The Metrolink runs additional matchday services on relevant lines on home Saturdays and European nights. Driving and parking around both grounds is heavily restricted within a 1km matchday zone. Tram is universally faster.
Match-day tips
On a Manchester match-day
Pre-match pubs cluster on Sir Matt Busby Way (Old Trafford) and Ashton New Road (Etihad). Both grounds enforce strict bag policies (A4 or smaller) and require photo ID for tickets sold on the secondary market. Concessions are cashless. Old Trafford's South Stand redevelopment is constrained by the Manchester-Liverpool railway line directly behind it. Long-rumoured expansion to 87,000-90,000 has not yet been formally approved.
When to visit
Manchester football season
Manchester football runs August through May. The two derby weekends. Typically October/November and March/April, are the highest-demand fixtures of the season and require booking 2-4 weeks in advance for any reasonable price. Champions League knockout rounds (February-May) are the second-highest demand window.
Notable facts
Things to know about Manchester football
- 01Old Trafford has been Manchester United's home continuously since 19 February 1910, except for 1941-49 when bomb damage forced them to share Maine Road with Manchester City.
- 02The Etihad was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games (athletics) and converted to a football-only stadium for City's 2003-04 season. The seating bowl was lowered after the Games to bring fans closer to the pitch.
- 03Manchester City's 2024 Premier League title was their fourth consecutive. Equalling Manchester United's 1999-2002 record set under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Tickets on Anyseats
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FAQ
Manchester football tickets — frequently asked
How far apart are Old Trafford and the Etihad?
Old Trafford (Manchester United) and the Etihad Stadium (Manchester City) are approximately 4 miles apart via the M602 motorway. Both are reachable on the Metrolink tram network (Old Trafford stop and Etihad Campus stop respectively). Multi-ground tours on a single visit are credible. Total combined Metrolink time including transfer is typically 25-30 minutes.
When is the Manchester derby played?
Manchester United vs Manchester City is contested twice each Premier League season. Typically once in October-November and once in March-April. Periodic cup meetings (FA Cup, EFL Cup) and European fixtures (Champions League, Europa League) add additional derby dates in some seasons.
How do I get to Old Trafford on matchday?
Old Trafford is a 5-minute walk from the Old Trafford Metrolink stop and a 5-minute walk from Manchester United Football Ground railway station. The Metrolink adds matchday capacity on the Altrincham line. Driving is heavily restricted within a 1km matchday zone and parking is severely capped. Tram is the recommended option.
What is the capacity of Manchester's two main football grounds?
Old Trafford has a 74,310 capacity (the largest English club ground). The Etihad Stadium has a 53,400 capacity (currently undergoing expansion to 60,000+). Combined matchday capacity across both grounds is approximately 127,710. Manchester's combined football capacity per square mile of city centre is among the highest in world football.