Shorts: Manchester City, Target Darts, Blast

Manchester City have celebrated a significant construction milestone in the development of their new £300m entertainment destination with a ‘topping out’ ceremony.

This marked the completion of the highest structural point of the project with the installation of the final piece of steel on site.

The development is part of the club’s strategy to create a year-round attraction adjacent to the Etihad Stadium and will increase the stadium’s capacity to over 60,000.

It will also create a new covered 3,000-capacity fan zone, introduce a museum experience, and include The Medlock, a 401-room hotel in collaboration with Radisson, alongside various food and beverage outlets designed to operate 365 days a year.

This £300m investment builds on the regeneration work City Football Group (CFG) has delivered in East Manchester since 2008 and is intended to create lasting long-term economic and social benefits for the local community, including hundreds of new jobs.

These new facilities will sit alongside the 23,500-capacity Co-op Live arena – a joint venture between City Football Group and Oak View Group.

Roel de Vries, Chief Operating Officer, City Football Group, said, “This is a proud moment for Manchester City and for everyone involved in the club’s project to create a year-round entertainment destination at the Etihad Campus.

“The delivery of this project will enable us to enhance and expand our offering to our fans and visitors, both on matchday and non-matchday, and create lasting long-term economic and social benefits for our local community, building on the regeneration work City Football Group has delivered in East Manchester since 2008.”

Women’s world No.1 and three-time WDF Women’s World Champion, Beau Greaves, has signed a multi-year deal with Target Darts.

Greaves joins a Target roster that includes PDC World Champion Luke Littler, 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor, and Premier League players Rob Cross, Nathan Aspinall, Chris Dobey, and Stephen Bunting.

Target will release a line of signature Beau Greaves products as part of its September product launch.

Greaves became the youngest women’s world champion in history in 2022 at 18. She successfully defended her WDF World Championship title in 2023 and 2024, making her a three-time world champion before turning 21. She holds 34 titles in the PDC Women’s Series and won consecutive Women’s World Matchplay titles in 2023 and 2024.

Beau Greaves, said, “Joining Team Target feels like the perfect next step in my career, and I’m proud to be joining such a powerful brand alongside the best players in the world.

“I want to keep pushing myself, keep learning, and keep competing at the highest level, and with Target behind me, I believe I’ve got the tools and support to break more records and win more World titles.”

Global esports entertainment company Blast has announced its expansion into the United States with the opening of a new office in New York City.

This move signifies a key part of its North American growth strategy, targeting the $1.3bn U.S. esports market.

The New York office will serve as Blast’s North American hub, facilitating partnerships with US-based companies, collaborations with creators and talent agencies, and aiming to deliver more regional events and digital content.

Leo Matlock, Chief Business Officer at Blast, will relocate from Copenhagen to New York City to lead the new U.S. office and a dedicated local team. By the end of 2025, Blast aims to have delivered 15 arena events across five continents.

Leo Matlock, Chief Business Officer of BLAST, said, “We’ve been deeply committed to the growth of esports in the U.S. for six years – hosting some of our most iconic live events here since 2019.

“We have some incredible live events coming up across North America this year and are excited to continue to advocate this unmatched fandom and to work with national and local partners and brands, creating a positive impact everywhere we are.”

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