Huge fire breaks out at Etihad Stadium ahead of Manchester City game
A merchandise stand outside the Etihad Stadium has burst into flame just hours before Manchester City’s Champions League game against Club Brugge.
The blaze broke out in the supporters area outside the stadium shortly before 6pm, close to where Pep Guardiola’s City team had been due to enter the stadium at around 6.30pm.
Fans had gathered in the area for a pre-match entertainment show which included on-stage interviews with January signings Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov.
The show had already begun with women’s players Rebecca Knaak and Aemu Oyama on stage at the time of the fire.
But it was quickly suspended as flames took hold of the stand, and stewards ushered fans away from the fire before emergency services arrived on the scene.
The area was quickly evacuated by stewards and security staff and a fire engine was on the scene within minutes.
It is unknown at this stage whether the incident will affect the scheduled kick-off time of 8pm.
The fire soon appeared to be brought under control.
It was announced at 6.22pm that the stadium was open and fans could enter but three entrance gates inside the cordoned-off area close to the scene of the fire were still closed.
The remainder of the pre-match show was cancelled.
A club statement read: ‘Manchester City FC can confirm that there has been a fire in one of the outside merchandise kiosks, located near the entrance to the Colin Bell West Stand. Emergency services are present at the scene and the fire has now been extinguished.
‘The safety of all attending the match tonight is our top priority, and as such all events planned for West Stand reception have been cancelled, including the welcome event for new players, and the first team arrival.’
‘All entrances are open, and fans can move around the Etihad Stadium as per usual. Thank you for your cooperation.
‘We can confirm that tonight’s match will kick off at 8pm as originally planned. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Etihad Stadium for tonight’s match.’
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘Just before 6pm this evening (Wednesday 29th January), two fire engines from Blackley and Philips Park fire station were called to reports of a building fire involving an outbuilding on the car park of the football ground on Rowsley Street, Manchester.
‘Crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels to extinguish the fire, they are currently dampening down any hotspots and making the area safe.
‘Firefighters have been in attendance for around twenty minutes and are still at the scene.’
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