Manchester City receive green light to construct ABBA themed venue next to Etihad Stadium | OneFootball

Manchester City Council have granted Manchester City planning permission to develop a new entertainment venue next to the Etihad Stadium.

The development will further add to the footprint surrounding the stadium’s newly expanded North Stand, establishing a constant, year-round, non-matchday destination for visitors to the city.

The building – filed as “Project Taverna” – will transform a industrial construction space into an architectural showpiece, with the development seamlessly bridging the gap between the expanding stadium bowl and the 401-room Radisson hotel.

It is the latest breakthrough as Manchester City’s hierarchy successfully ensures that major infrastructure progress remains entirely uninterrupted throughout the non-club football period this summer.

ABBA party venue coming to Man City’s Etihad Campus

As revealed by BBC News, plans for an ABBA themed party venue, “Mamma Mia! The Party”, next to the Etihad Stadium have been recommended for approval by council planners.

The venue is expected to be built within Medlock Square and behind Manchester City’s new North Stand, offering a ‘theatrical dining experience’ for up to 600 guests per show, with the Club working with entertainment firm Pophouse Entertainment on the venue.

Council planning documents have revealed plans for a three-storey venue to be open throughout the year, creating around 150 jobs.

Managing director of Manchester City Operations, Danny Wilson said, “We know there is ever increasing demand for more immersive, entertainment experiences in the north of England.”

Wilson also said that the club remained “focused on ensuring our local community benefit from any new facilities… Not only in terms of jobs and training during construction, but through our local supply chain enabling local people to build their careers with us.”

Chief Executive of Pophouse, Jessica Koravos said, “Manchester is known for its innovation in music and entertainment and we cannot think of anywhere better to bring one of the world’s most popular and ground breaking theatrical productions.

“‘Mamma Mia! The Party’ has been hugely successful in London and we are excited to be able to expand on that success.”

Man City becomes more than just a football destination

The move dramatically expands the campus’ cultural reach, complementing the adjacent Co-op Live arena and ensuring thousands of new entertainment-focused tourists flood the area on days when football is not being played.

As developers prepare to break ground on the project, the broader Medlock Square complex is rapidly nearing its grand public unveiling ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign kick-off on the weekend of Saturday, 22 August, 2026.

Alongside the theatrical dining experience, upcoming site additions include a roof-top sky walk and a 3,000-capacity outdoor covered fan festival zone set to debut simultaneously.

For the club’s ownership, creating an unyielding, multi-million-pound commercial asset district ensures that Manchester City remains a pinnacle of the entertainment world, and independent to action on the football pitch.