By Reid Martin & Jorge Castillo
Our third day of the trip functioned as a rest day. Since there were no assigned lectures or tours for us, we had a free exploration day in the city of Manchester. Sunday was a massive day for sports in England as it was the final matchday for the Premier League season and tensions were high. Firstly, everyone had the opportunity to rest and sleep for a little as the game wasn’t until four o’clock. Jet lag was still in effect so we all made use of the extra rest to regain energy. To start the day, we went to a shopping mall in the city called Arndale center. It was rather busy as locals and tourists wanted to get some Sunday shopping in. In the heart of Manchester, it helped us understand part of the local life and how it was both similar and different to life in the United States. There were many similarities within the fashion industry, as there were stores that we already have in the U.S such as H&M, Urban Outfitters, or Foot Locker. However, there were some differences in food, such as the places to eat.
After we were finished, we headed to the hotel to prepare for the game. Tensions were high because this matchday would decide who would be crowned champion, and no one knew what was going to happen across the league because all of the games started at the same time. Manchester City was looking for their 4th Premier League title in a row which would make history, whereas Arsenal was behind them looking for their first title in 20 years. Manchester City just needed a win in order for the trophy to be theirs, while Arsenal needed City to falter. Many of us split up for the game as there was no unanimous spot to watch the game. Eventually, we found a Manchester City bar about a mile away. The atmosphere was great and everyone was super excited. To experience the game with locals of the team was spectacular. They were chanting, singing, and screaming at all points leading up to the match. Everyone erupted after Manchester City scored a goal in the opening minutes and energy was at an all time high. Soon enough they scored again and once more the crowd was energetic and excited. Manchester City would go on to win 3-1 while Arsenal would also win, despite it being all for naught. Manchester were champions yet again and the town was feeling it.
After the game was over, we spent the rest of the day hanging out at different spots around town. In the afternoon we went to a sky bar that had a very European vibe to it. It was colorful and had lots of plants and vines around the interior. There were booths and tables for folks to hang out and relax. We had a good time experiencing the vibe and eventually we went to an English pub which was near the hotel. We had fun, made fun conversations amongst each other to bond, and even played some pool.
On Monday we visited Etihad Campus. Since it is located in East Manchester, we grabbed a quick bite at the hotel, checked out and took off early in the morning. We used the tram rail transit system to reach our destination and tour around the several facilities and grounds that Etihad offers. First, we started off with a lecture emphasizing some of the main keys towards Manchester City’s recent success. The lecturer mentioned how critical it is to keep a fanbase happy and how changing too much can jeopardize the future of the club. Similarly, he went through some of the main points that have made the business of Manchester City increase and stay profitable through tough situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales, hospitality suites, advertisements, and exclusive content are essential towards securing the future of one of the most prestigious soccer teams in the world, as it can generate a completely new reach. Focusing on jersey sales by either raising prices or significantly lowering them (depending on what the market and the demand is) is a prime example of how the success of a team’s season can dictate the route of your business.
Following the conclusion of the lecture, we took a tour inside the stadium and then hopped on a small bus that took us through the entire Etihad training grounds and facilities. The tour included: Etihad stadium, home to Manchester City and where they play their home games, the City Football Academy (CFA) training grounds, Manchester City Joie Stadium, home to the women’s Manchester City team and where the youth teams play at times, the Manchester City school campus, where academy players go for education. and the Club World Headquarters, where much of the business happens and representatives work. The facilities were outstanding, but the most impressive and interesting part of them all was the psychology behind each one. Legendary coach Pep Guardiola emphasized to the team the need for psychological advantages over other opponents, where they can start winning off the field that will eventually translate into positive results on the field. Buildings were built in a way where a young academy player playing at Joie Stadium can see the big sign of Etihad Stadium, provoking strong feelings of motivation. Similarly, the Manchester City locker room was constructed as a circle to improve communication between the players and coaches, whereas the visitor’s locker room is more narrow to make it as legally uncomfortable for their opponents.
After the conclusion of the tour, we took the tram back to the hotel where we picked up our luggage. We then proceeded to Piccadilly Station and traveled to London by train. Unfortunately, due to some mandated check by the authorities, the train was delayed a couple of hours which made us reach our destination later than planned. After checking in and resting for a bit we found a good spot for dinner called Goose, where a good group of us decided to have dinner before going back to the hotel and get some sleep.
