Save the date for an inspiring conference

Manchester Sportcity: the journey to sporting, social and economic benefits from sports-led regeneration

Etihad Stadium

Explore an exciting project

IAKS UK and Ireland will be hosting an exciting event in Manchester that will explore how the sports-led regeneration of the then derelict Eastlands part of the city into the Sportcity development for the 2002 Commonwealth Games has continued to deliver sporting, social and economic benefits for the city and the local community.
Co-op Live Manchester

Visit four venues

The event will take place across Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 September 2026 and will include a day of seminars and a tour at the Etihad Stadium, along with venue tours of Co-op Live, National Cycling Centre and City Football Academy. We will be joined by a range of key speakers and stakeholders who will share their experience and perspectives on the Manchester project.
2025-lee-valley-tour_c.jpg

Celebrate the new the section

The Manchester event will also see the launch of the new IAKS UK and Ireland section as a formal part of the international community of IAKS members.

Registration will open in June

Key facts at a glance

The conference and venue tours on 22-23 September will

  • map out the steps required to bring the vision of Manchester Sportcity to life over the past 30 years,
  • bring together key individuals from the main partners in this project,
  • include building tours with the operators of the major venues,
  • host a informal networking drinks and dinner in Manchester on Monday 21 September,
  • invite for a networking dinner in Etihad Stadium's Mancunian Suite on 22 September.

About Manchester Sportcity

National Cycling Centre exterior

(c) National Cycling Centre

How the journey began

The journey to the development of Manchester Sportcity can be traced back to an initial bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games, with a further attempt to bid for the 2000 Olympic Games.  Although both bids were unsuccessful, the process of bidding for these events brought together key decision makers in Manchester City Council and National Government to focus on the opportunity for regenerating the Eastlands area of the city and led to the construction of the Manchester Velodrome (now the National Cycling Centre).

Etihad Stadium

(c) Etihad Stadium

A forward-thinking strategy

The focus then shifted to the opportunity to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games, with a successful bid leading to the development of the City of Manchester Stadium (now the Etihad Stadium) and a range of other sports facilities that were needed to host the games.  A forward-thinking legacy strategy ensured that the stadium was designed to be converted from athletics to football use after the event, along with ensuring that the other venues would support both elite and community sport.

Co-op Live Manchester

(c) Co-op Live

The benefits for local sports projects

An innovative funding model was then developed which allowed the stadium to generate significant revenue for re-investment into local sports projects, as well as creating a framework agreement between Manchester City Council, City Football Group and arena operator Oak View Group that has enabled the ongoing development of the Etihad Stadium, City Football Academy and the recent opening of Co-Op Live (the largest indoor arena in the UK).

Programme 

 

 

Tuesday 22. Venue: Co-Op Live
 

Tuesday 22 September

Venue: Co-Op Live - Vertu Place

9.00Arrival and registration
10.00Welcome and introductions
10.10Overview of Co-Op Live Arena within Eastlands masterplan
10.30Co-Op Live Arena tour
12.00Walk to National Cycling Centre – In-field area
12.15The origin of Sportcity: Transforming a derelict site to serve the needs of elite and community sport  
MCR Active, Sport England; Better, British Cycling
13.15Lunch
14.00National Cycling Centre tour
15.00Walk to Etihad Stadium East Reception for City Football Academy tour
15.15City Football Academy tour (with viewing of training facilities from platform)
17.00Afternoon Tea – Canalside (adjacent to Co-Op Live)
19.00Dinner – Etihad Stadium (The Mancunian – pitch view)
23.00Close
23 September
 

Wednesday 23 September

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Tunnel Club

9.00Arrival and registration 
(with refreshments)
9.45Welcome and introductions 
10.00Keynote
Manchester City Council
10.15Sporting legacy of Sportcity
MCR Active, Sport England, City Football Group
11.00Eastlands Regeneration Framework 
Manchester City Council, City Football Group, Oak View Group
11.40Refreshment break
12.00Phased development of Etihad Stadium
City Football Group, Populous
12.30Entertainment Destinations
Medlock Square – City Football Group, Oak View Group, Populous 
13.00Lunch 
(including formal signing of new IAKS UK&I Section)
14.00Etihad Stadium tours
15.00Refreshment break
15.30Panel 1
Manchester community sports projects beyond Sportcity
MCR Active
16.00Panel 2
Socio-economic benefit of sports-led regeneration
Manchester Metropolitan University, The Sports Consultancy
16.30Closing remarks and networking 
18.00Close

 

Secure your front-row seat

attendance fee
 

early bird

(until 15 July)

standard

(starting 16 July)

IAKS membersEUR 290 (GBP 250)EUR 375 (GBP 325)
others (public sector)EUR 325 (GBP 280)EUR 420 (GBP 365)
others (private sector)EUR 435 (GBP 375)EUR 565 (GBP 490)
studentsEUR 70 (GBP 60)EUR 90 (GBP 80)
Dinner on 22 SeptemberEUR 60 (GBP 50)EUR 60 (GBP 50)

 

Free cancellation until 7 September 2026. After that, we charge a 50% cancellation fee. All prices are including VAT.

Student discount apply to full-time students (certificate of matriculation must be provided).

Dinner on 22 September
Two course dinner including half a bottle of wine at the Mancunian Suite of Etihad Stadium, overlooking the bowl.

Registration open until 15 September 2026.

Meet the speakers

Shaun Dawson

Shaun Dawson (Chief Executive, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority)

Shaun has created a dynamic and award winning organisation with a host of attractions that both delivers its core remit and also works with partners to ensure that the 4,000 hectare Regional Park adds value to the bigger social and economic agendas in the communities it serves in London, Essex and Hertfordshire. He was a key player during the bid process for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and now leads the Authority’s work on its three thriving legacy venues.
Neil Fairlamb_portrait pic

Neil Fairlamb (Strategic Director, Manchester City Council)

Neil is Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) at Manchester City Council responsible for the planning and delivery of local and Citywide Neighbourhood Services. This includes the City’s Libraries, Parks and Leisure services as well as the Cultural Strategy. His other priorities include improving highways, tackling homelessness, improving the Council’s social housing stock and ensuring that neighbourhoods are vibrant and clean. Neil also leads the Crime and Disorder Strategy which aims to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. Neil sits on the board of the National Football Museum and is Chair of Manchester Active and leads on bringing a range of services together with partners in Manchester’s neighbourhoods.
Mike Hall_portrait pic

Mike Hall (Partner, FaulknerBrowns Architects)

Mike is a Partner at FaulknerBrowns Architects and leads their work in the sport and leisure sector, both nationally and internationally. From his experience working closely with sports governing bodies such as FINA, UCI, IAAF and ICF, Mike has extensive knowledge of the requirements for sports facilities and is passionate about the importance of active infrastructure in our towns and cities. He sits on the IAKS International Expert Aquatics Circle and is also a representative of the International Union of Architects.
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Charles Johnston (Managing Director, Centrix Consult Ltd)

After a wide ranging career across a number of sectors, Charles is currently Managing Director of Centrix Consult Ltd, which provides advice on Property Strategic planning and management, mostly in the leisure and commercial fields in the UK, Europe and Middle East. Charles held senior property and facilities roles at Sainsbury’s, MDA Consulting and Sport England. He helped secure the £100m National Leisure Recovery Fund and has supported major sport facilities including London 2012 and Birmingham 2022. He is an independent member of the DCMS Grassroots Facility Programme Board and a qualified engineer/project manager with MBA studies at City University.
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Tom Jones (Senior Principal, Populous)

Tom is a Senior Principal in the London office of Populous and has a keen interest in how sports and entertainment buildings and events can enhance cities and communities. He has a great passion for sport and has been able to use this in the design and delivery of a number of high-profile projects around the world, including the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Emirates Stadium for Arsenal FC and the Olympic Stadium for the London 2012 Olympic Games. He has also worked on other major sports events, including the ICC Cricket World Cup and NFL Super Bowl. Tom has been Vice President of IAKS since 2017.
Eamonn O'Rourke_portrait pic

Eamonn O’Rourke (CEO, Manchester Active)

Eamonn has worked in public and private across the Sport and Leisure Sector. However predominantly working for Manchester City Council through the 1980’s to 2016 producing the first Sport and Physical Activity Strategy in 1996 which is the bedrock of later investment. During this time he has worked in teams delivering significant regeneration projects for the city, including the regeneration of Hulme and Moss Side, Crumpsall and Broughton and East Manchester. Leading on the sport strategy for the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and having worked on the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Bids contributing to what became the legacy of the games that we see today.

53.485571803452, -2.19194325

22.09.2026 – 23.09.2026
Manchester, United Kingdom
Manchester
United Kingdom (UK)
Event language: English
Organizer: IAKS UK & Ireland