Imagine the roar of the crowd, the pounding of feet on the track. Welcome to the Manchester Regional Arena. This multipurpose stadium stands as a testament to Manchester’s commitment to sports and athletic excellence.
Originally, the Manchester Regional Arena was built as a warm-up track. It supported the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The main games unfolded at the adjacent City of Manchester Stadium. Think of this arena as the unsung hero. It prepared athletes for their moment in the spotlight.
Since its opening in April 2002, the Manchester Regional Arena has hosted many events. The AAA Championships and Paralympic World Cup have taken place here. It has been a training ground for champions. The arena also served as home to Manchester City reserve team. They played here until 2010. Manchester City Women also called this place home until 2014.
In 2015, the Manchester Regional Arena welcomed a new tenant. Manchester Rangers, an amateur rugby league side, moved in. The arena is adaptable. It accommodates various sports.
The Manchester Regional Arena has a capacity of 6,500. Its surface is natural grass. The construction cost was about £3.5 million. Faulkner Browns with TTH Architects designed the arena. John Laing was the main contractor.
Polytan installed a new Rekortan M track in 2020. This upgrade met World Athletics Class 1 standards. The arena can now host high-level competitions, like the Diamond League. The project finished two days ahead of schedule.
The Rekortan M track is known for its high performance and reliability. Many World Athletics certified tracks use this system. The original track was also a Polytan/Rekortan system. It lasted for 19 years with just one re-topping.
The Manchester Regional Arena uses green technology. The polyurethane is from Polytex in Germany. They use 100% renewable electricity and are ISO certified. The track also uses recycled materials. About 24 tonnes of EPDM were recycled or repurposed during the 2020 project.
The Manchester Regional Arena stands as a hub for sports. It is a place where athletes train. It is a place where memories are made. Its legacy continues to grow.