IAKS UKI Conference: Sports-led regeneration

Save the date for an inspiring conference

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

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.

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.

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 early 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

(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).

(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.

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

23 September
	Wednesday 23 September
9.00	Arrival and registration (with refreshments)
9.45	Welcome and introductions
10.00	Keynote Manchester City Council
10.15	Sporting legacy of Sportcity MCR Active, Sport England, City Football Group
11.00	Eastlands Regeneration Framework Manchester City Council, City Football Group, Oak View Group
11.40	Refreshment break
12.00	Phased development of Etihad Stadium City Football Group, Populous
12.30	Entertainment Destinations Medlock Square – City Football Group, Oak View Group, Populous
13.00	Lunch (including formal signing of new IAKS UK&I section)
14.00	Stadium tours
15.00	Refreshment break (including overlap of multiple tours)
15.30	Panel 1 Manchester community sports projects beyond Sportcity MCR Active
16.00	Panel 2 Socio-economic benefit of sports-led regeneration Manchester Metropolitan University, The Sports Consultancy
16.30	Closing remarks and networking
18.00	Close

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IAKS UK Conference: Sports-led regeneration

22.09.2026 – 23.09.2026