<P> The stadium's interior comprises a continuous oval bowl, with three tiers of seating at the sides, and two tiers at each end . Entry by patrons is gained by contactless smart card rather than traditional manned turnstiles . The system can admit up to 1,200 people per minute through all entrances . A service tunnel under the stadium provides access for emergency vehicles and the visiting team's coach to enter the stadium directly . Once inside the stadium patrons have access to six themed restaurants, two of which have views of the pitch, and there are 70 executive boxes above the second tier of seating in the north, west and east stands . The stadium is equip with stand - by generators should there be a electrical mains failure . These are capable of keeping the stadium electrics running as well as the floodlights at 800 lux, the minimum level stipulated by FIFA to continue to broadcast live football . </P> <P> To create the optimum grass playing surface in the stadium bowl, the roof was designed to maximise sunlight by using a ten - metre band of translucent polycarbonate at its periphery . Additionally, each of the corners of the stadium without seating have perforated walls with moveable louvres that can be adjusted to provide ventilation of the grass and general airflow through the stadium . Drainage and under - pitch heating were installed to provide optimum growing conditions for the grass . The pitch has a UEFA standard dimension of 105 by 68 metres (115 by 74 yd). and is covered with natural grass reinforced by artificial fibres made by Desso . The field of play is lit by 218 2000 - watt floodlights, consuming a total of 436,000 watts . The grass playing surface is recognised as being one of the best in English football, and has been nominated five times in the last nine seasons for best Premier League pitch, an accolade it won in 2010--11 among other awards . </P> <P> The stadium was named the City of Manchester Stadium by Manchester City Council before construction began in December 1999, but has a number of commonly used alternatives . City of Manchester Stadium is abbreviated to CoMS when written and spoken . Eastlands refers to the site and the stadium before they were named SportCity and CoMS respectively, and remains in common usage for both the stadium and the whole complex, as does SportCity but with less frequency . The stadium was also officially referred to as Manchester City Stadium for the 2015 Rugby World Cup . The football club, under its new ownership, renegotiated its 250 - year lease with the city council in October 2010, gaining the naming rights in return for a substantial increase in rent . The stadium was renamed the Etihad Stadium by the club in July 2011 as part of a ten - year agreement with the team kit sponsors Etihad Airways . The agreement encompasses sponsorship of the stadium's name, extends the team kit sponsorship for ten years, and includes plans to relocate the club's youth academy and training facilities to the City Football Academy on a new campus development adjacent to the stadium . </P> <P> Despite being a continuous oval bowl, each side of the stadium is named in the manner of a traditional football ground . All sides were initially named by compass direction (North Stand and South Stand for the ends, East Stand and West Stand for the sides). In February 2004, after a vote by fans, the West Stand was renamed the Colin Bell Stand in honour of the former player . The vote was almost cancelled (and the stand instead named after Joe Mercer) due to suspicions it had been hijacked by rival fans who wished to dub the renamed stand The Bell End . However, core supporters of the club made it clear they still wished the stand named after their hero . The East Stand is unofficially known by fans as the Kippax as a tribute to the very vocal east stand at the club's Maine Road ground . </P>

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