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A fire erupted outside the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening, prompting an evacuation just hours before Manchester City’s Champions League match against Club Brugge. The incident occurred around 6:00 PM GMT when a merchandise kiosk near the entrance to the Colin Bell West Stand caught fire, sending flames and smoke into the air as fans gathered for pre-match festivities.
Supporters were attending an entertainment event featuring on-stage interviews with City’s January signings Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, and Abdukodir Khusanov. The event had already begun, with women's players Rebecca Knaak and Aemu Oyama on stage when the blaze broke out. Security and stewards swiftly moved spectators away as firefighters arrived to extinguish the flames.
Manchester City released a statement confirming that emergency services responded quickly and brought the situation under control. As a safety precaution, the club canceled all events scheduled at the West Stand reception, including the welcome event for new signings and the first-team’s pre-match arrival.
Despite the disruption, authorities confirmed there were no serious injuries. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service reported that two fire engines were dispatched to the scene, with crews using hose reels to contain and eliminate the fire. Firefighters remained on-site to dampen hotspots and ensure the area was safe.
By 6:22 PM, it was announced that the stadium was open to fans, though three entrance gates in the affected area remained temporarily closed. Manchester City later reassured supporters that the match would proceed as planned, kicking off at 8:00 PM GMT.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but Manchester City emphasized that the safety of fans and staff remains their top priority. The game went ahead without further disruption, with City securing a 3-1 victory to advance to the Champions League knockout stages.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels / Mylo Kaye, X / @hazznewt via @City_Xtra
