Manchester: Old Trafford, new opportunities

It’s one of the most iconic football stadia in the world, and now, it is going to make history by hosting football during summer 2012

Manchester is a vibrant city located in the heart of North West England. In an effort to ensure that different venues across the UK get the opportunity to represent their country during the 2012 Olympics, Old Trafford is going to be hosting a total of nine football matches.

The biggest of these events includes the semi-finals for both the male and female football tournaments. In addition to the wealth of attractions that can be found just minutes away in the city centre, and at other hotspots including Liverpool, Southport and Lancashire, it’s a great chance to see more of the UK. For those of you who crave to see a bit of the action take place at the Wembley Arena in the capital, high-speed services connect the city with London Euston in just over two hours – every 20 minutes.

The stadium itself has been a permanent fixture for years, and it has been the home of Manchester United for 100 years. You’ll be hard-pressed not to find a seat at this venue: after all, there are over 75,000 up for grabs!

90 minutes that could make history

Visiting Manchester during the 2012 Summer Games is a tantalising opportunity to see history in the making, particularly as you will see some of the world’s finest football teams battle for a place in the grand final.

With over 500 athletes all vying for a medal, and 28 teams in total, everyone will be on the edge of their seats as the drama unfolds.

The format of the football rounds for the Olympics is not unlike the World Cup, where all of the teams are divided into groups. For this event, the 16 men’s football teams and the 12 women’s football teams are going to be divided into groups of four, meaning that there will be seven groups in total. With football matches taking place in each group, the best eight men’s and women’s teams will go through to separate quarter-final stages where the real competition will begin. Just like in any other discipline, bronze, silver and gold medals are there for the taking.

Best summer 2012 holiday accommodation

Exploring Manchester could be a sport in itself!

Shopping in Manchester

With more bus routes than you could shake a stick at, Old Trafford is a matter of minutes away from the Trafford Centre, where there are hundreds of shops and eateries for you to enjoy. One day isn’t enough to fully appreciate everything that’s available here, and if you are looking to renovate the home with more than a fresh lick of paint, the homeware section at the newly-built Barton Square will meet your requirements!

Attractions in Manchester

One of the newest attractions drawing attention is the Chill Factore, an innovative real snow centre with an indoor ski slope. If this wasn’t enough, there is also indoor skydiving available in this complex, which is about three minutes away from the Trafford Centre. As you can see, everything’s happening in this city!

Eating in Manchester

As well as Piccadilly Gardens, which has an array of delectable restaurants such as local chain KRO, the Printworks near the MEN Arena also has a stretch of great venues to consider – including Chiquito, Wasabi Sushi and the New Orleans restaurant. For party animals, there are also great festivals and DJs on during the weekend.

Transport’s covered in Manchester

In addition to a reliable tram network with connections throughout Manchester, National Rail services from Manchester Victoria cover short journeys to Wigan, Southport, Liverpool and Leeds.

Meanwhile, Manchester Piccadilly, one of the busiest stations in the country, offers frequent services to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Bournemouth and York – allowing you to see more of the UK during your staycation, or get home easily without having to bring the car.

Buses are also available throughout Manchester frequently, with many routes operating as a night service seven days a week. The Metroshuttle has two separate lines that run every 10 minutes, and everyone is invited to hop onto this service for free without having to pay any fare. Finally, with taxis also available in abundance, travelling between Old Trafford, your accommodation and the city will be a breeze. Manchester Airport is also a fully-functional airport, offering frequent flights to the USA, Asia, Europe and Australia. Manchester’s so good, you’ll be hoping for extra time!