Manchester City groundsman reveals first look at brand new Etihad Stadium pitch ahead of 2024/25 season | OneFootball

A new look Etihad Stadium pitch is ready to go for the 2024/25 season, as a Manchester City groundsman showcased the team’s work completed during the off-season.

Pep Guardiola and his players remain on their pre-season tour of the United States, embarking on their second of four matches scheduled across the space of three weeks as they take on AC Milan in New York City this weekend.

But back home at the City Football Academy and Etihad Campus, work remains ongoing in preparation for the club’s return to domestic action and the various competitions that will be played out and prepared for over the course of the upcoming season.

As part of the work ongoing at the Etihad Stadium, construction staff are continuously working on the brand new expansion project of the arena which will take the capacity of the stadium to over 60,000 during the 2025/26 season in a £300 million investment.

But more imminently, grounds staff at Manchester City have been putting together the finishing touches on the hallowed turf at the Etihad Stadium ahead of the club’s opening home game of the Premier League season.

Revealing several photos of the new-look Etihad Stadium on social media this week, Manchester City’s Head of Grounds and Landscapes, John Ledwidge revealed the fresh surface ready for the return of Pep Guardiola’s players next months.

Manchester City’s opening competitive game of the new season will see them travel to Wembley Stadium to take on bitter rivals Manchester United in the traditional curtain-raiser to the campaign, with the FA Community Shield honour up for grabs.

Even then, City’s bow at home will be further pushed back as they open up their Premier League account with a trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Enzo Maresca’s revamped and reworked Chelsea side on the opening weekend of the top-flight season.

As such, the first game played out on the refreshed surface at the Etihad Stadium will see Manchester City take on Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town on Saturday 24 August in a 15:00 kick-off.