IAKS event to highlight sporting transformation of Manchester’s east end

An IAKS UK & Ireland event is set to offer incredible insights from leading industry thinkers who’ve driven the sport-led transformation of Manchester’s east end.

Manchester Sportcity: sports-led regeneration has behind the scenes access to the Etihad Stadium, the new Co-op Live, the City Football Academy and the National Cycling Centre on 22-23 September and will uncover how sports-led regeneration has led to social and economic benefits.

It promises a host of takeaways, lessons learnt and how-to’s.

This will be an object lesson for forward thinking people in the sport, leisure and activity industries, local authorities, operators, architects, venue design teams, event organisers, host cities, consultants and professional services and students.

Manchester has an incredible story to tell with lots of takeaways for other cities and anyone in the industry, and the event has a strong line up of speakers.

The seminars will cover the whole story of the evolution and development of Sportcity, from the collapse of traditional industry in East Manchester, to its origins at the National Cycling Centre, through to the transformation of the Etihad Stadium from an athletics stadium for the 2002 Commonwealth Games to a multifunctional venue hosting major European football club Manchester City and concerts.

Now with the introduction of Medlock Square, a 365-day destination has been built that will help to drive footfall and activity around the site.

The 2026 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition – focused on elevating the live experience across sports and entertainment – is being hosted at Everton FC’s spectacular new Hill Dickinson Stadium, Oct 1st and 2nd, with an Opening Night Icebreaker at Liverpool FC’s iconic Anfield Stadium on Sept 30th.

There’ll be lessons, how to’s and takeaways for cities and for people involved in sport and leisure, plus opportunities for networking, developing contacts and sharing ideas.

The event is perfect for forward thinking people in the sport, leisure and activity industries, local authorities, operators, architects, venue design teams, event organisers, host cities, consultants and professional services and students.

IAKS UK & Ireland is a not for profit open to anyone in the industry who believes in the power of leisure and physical activity as a force for good for individuals, communities and society as a whole.

They hold events, seminars and site tours to promote sustainable and high quality indoor and outdoor sports and leisure facilities that are fully inclusive, universally accessible and socially relevant.

Source and images courtesy of IAKS. Click here for  More information and tickets

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