The son of former two-division world champion boxer Ricky Hatton, Campbell took a break from his rigorous training camp to visit the Etihad as he prepares to fight Jimmy Joe Flint for the Central Area super-lightweight title.
The pair are fighting on the undercard of Chorley star Jack Catterall’s meeting with former world champions Regis Prograis at the Co-op Live on October 26.
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The recently opened state-of-the-art arena is situated just opposite the site of Manchester’s newest entertainment destination, which is currently being built on the Etihad Campus.
Commenting on the Club’s ambitious £300m plans and his upcoming fight, Campbell said:
“The plans for the new Entertainment District look incredible. The combination of the Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live is not only great for the east of the city but also continues to reinforce Manchester’s and the North West’s standing as a destination for world-class sport.
“It’s a dream come true, to be able to watch the team you love and have followed all your life, then fight a stones-throw away on your home turf, in the first major boxing event to be held at the Arena.
“I’ve always enjoyed amazing support from the people of Manchester and look forward to fighting in front of them.”
Campbell isn’t the first public figure to praise the Entertainment Destination plans. Last month, City fan Joe Jonas compared it to ‘something out of an Avengers movie’, while Kings of Leon drummer, and also a City fan, Nathan Followill said ‘it looks phenomenal, like its own Olympic village’.
Approved proposals for the entertainment destination are centred around an expanded North Stand, which will see the Club increase the Etihad Stadium capacity to over 60,000.
The new development will include a stunning new sky bar with views overlooking the pitch, a stadium roof walk experience and a covered City Square fan zone, with capacity for 3,000 people.
In addition, the new development will also boast a wide variety of food and drink outlets, a new club shop, museum experience, commercial office space and a 400-bed hotel, one of the biggest in Manchester.
Hatton also spoke to fans on stage during the first-ever pre-match zone to be held in the Co-op Live. ‘The Street’ played host to 3,000 City fans who enjoyed pre-match entertainment and matchday build-up in the heart of the UK’s largest live entertainment arena.
Fans came together in a relaxed atmosphere to discuss the match, listen to a live DJ, hear form guest speakers and take part in a range of exclusive competitions.
The Co-op Live will be hosting follow-up pre-match fan zones including pre-Sparta Prague.
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More information on the Entertainment Destination plans can be found here.
