Manchester’s National Football Museum welcomed its 350,000th visitor this week, sailing past its annual target in just nine months and towards the half-a-million mark.
The attraction opened opposite Manchester’s Printworks on July 6, 2012, and exceeded all expectations since then.
Thanks to a collection of memorabilia, interactive games and ever-changing displays, fans have continued to pour through the doors since day one.
“We are absolutely delighted,” said Kevin Moore, museum director. “We are way ahead of where we predicted we would be at this stage in the new National Football Museum’s life.
“Manchester is the UK’s biggest footballing city with millions of football fans as well as other tourists visiting every year.
“The National Football Museum is positively reaping the reward of that footballing passion.”
The museum’s 350,000-visitor target for its first year was ambitious, but its popularity has continued to increase.
It was launched as a ‘world-class home for the greatest collection of football memorabilia ever assembled’, taking over the city’s landmark Urbis building.
Its instant popularity has ensured the museum is firmly on track to become one of the biggest visitor attractions in the UK.
And now Mr Moore believes the visitor count will break 500,000 before the museum’s first birthday comes around in July.
“The feedback from visitors has been absolutely fantastic,” he added. “People really seem to be able to relate to the stories we are telling here.
“Everyone who has come through the door has been hugely complimentary of the museum and we are very proud of what we have on offer”
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