Manchester City fans woke to startling news this morning as the club’s official website ‘revealed’ plans to extend the Etihad stadium – with a 1,204ft Moonslide.
The club say the slide, which was revealed on April Fools Day morning, is inspired by the ‘The Orbit’, which was the iconic centrepiece at the London 2012 Olympics, and has now become a tourist attraction.
The announcement came only a day after plans City announced they are going to increase both ends of the 47,670-capacity arena by 6,250 – resulting in the overall capacity reaching 60,000.
City claim Moon Slide is set to open in the Spring of 2015 and fans will be able to use the attraction by using a payment system called MoonRocks.
Fans will enjoy a 25 second thrill as they descend down the slide which will be open to the public on non-match days.
The mastermind behind the attraction is rising Asian architectural superstar Flora Pi Lo who has dubbed the Moon Slide as her greatest achievement to date.
“I took my inspiration from many places but this will be a unique attraction,” said the 27-year-old.
“I am sure City fans will love it. If they are feeling brave and up for a challenge then they can exit the stadium via the vast slide free of charge as part of the ticket price.”
Manchester City claim the attraction will be one of the interactive centre-pieces of the Etihad Campus incorporating the City Football Academy.
ANNOUNCEMENT: 1,200 foot #moonslide set to adorn the Etihad Stadium in Spring 2015. Full story http://t.co/nYCjRlnVx9 pic.twitter.com/lgOHCZTrOV
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) April 1, 2014
The statement said it will be put to practical use on match days as well as being available for use on non-match days.
Flora Pi Lo said: “At other times it will be a tourist attraction on a par with the great fun rides of the world.
“There is a touch of the Carsten Holler slide that some people might remember from the Turbine Hall space at the Tate Modern though ours will be longer and the drops more severe.
“Think a mix of that Holler creation and the Wild Wadi Waterpark in Dubai – without the water.”
City fans have taken to social media to express their excitement at the announcement.
Speaking on Twitter, @5SecKingslandRd said: “I think @MCFC have got it right i mean this #moonslide is gonna be amazing i really wanna go and see city to go on it it would be so cool.”
@MarcusAlfred24 said: “@MCFC #moonslide this is fantastic, innovative thinking. Enter -> In Style , Exit -> In a Slide !”
One disgruntled Blues fan, Ben Lowndes, clearly wasn’t impressed with the news.
Speaking on Twitter, he said: “Not sure about this slide at MCFC. Seems like a strange thing to put on a football stadium. We’re not a theme park. We’re a football club.”
Of course the rather bizarre announcement has been dismissed as an elaborate April Fools prank by many fans.
The Citizens have been involved in April Fools day pranks before as last year Micah Richards joked with staff that he had picked up another serious injury, before coming clean later in the day.
Tom Donaghy said on Twitter: “Can we forget its April fools and actually get a slide going out of the etihad #moonslide.”
Dave Fisher : “I seriously worry for anybody that took the @mcfc #moonslide tweet seriously. You crazy foolsm.”
Manchester City have not moved to claim that the announcement is in fact a hoax, so the dream remains alive for now.
Image courtesy of Forgemind ArchiMedia, with thanks.
