Piccadilly Gardens is being transformed into a football fan zone to celebrate the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 championships starting later this month - and this is what it will look like.
The development will bring big screen football to the gardens once again. And council bosses have revealed the towering structures could be retained to host events in the future, including at Christmas. The possibility of performance spaces, community areas and children's activities being based there are all being mulled over in the town hall.
Contractors are currently on site and the huge metal shipping containers are certainly raising eyebrows, with social media posts comparing the gardens to scenes 'out of The Walking Dead' - the US post-apocalyptic horror series.
But computer-generated images released by the council show what the gardens should look like once the work is complete. The large containers, which are stacked up over the footpath through the city centre gardens, are being introduced as part of the development.
The tournament starts on July 6, with Manchester being among the host cities taking on matches. A big screen area will feature and is already in place - with planting and garden dressing due to start soon.
There will be food and drinks stalls on hand, along with football-themed activities and face painting as well as football taster sessions. The activities will start at 11am until 4pm each day from 6 July to the final on July 31. Council bosses have stressed the area is not yet complete, is still being built and is a work in progress.
But as the development starts to take shape before the opening, people shared images of the storage containers on social media. @EmBombIbiza said: "How have they made Piccadilly Gardens look even more s***?" as @gerwyn tweeted: "What is going on? Picc Gardens looks awful!"
@HedothR wrote: "Piccadilly gardens are worse now than ever before, you removed the wall and replaced it with a scene out of the walking dead. Who's idea is this? Absolute disgrace." and @GatzReborn said: "What nightmare are Manchester City Council allowing to be built on Piccadilly Gardens this time??"
Last Christmas, Piccadilly Gardens had been temporarily transformed into a outdoor street food hub with decking seating space, but the construction has still not been removed. Tournament bosses announced 'fan festival' sites will be popping up across England ahead of kick-off. All nine host cities will offer free entertainment throughout July.
Thousands of fans from across Europe are expected to descend on Manchester including strong contingents from Iceland, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Coun John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure for Manchester City Council, said: "In Manchester we're thrilled to be one of the host cities for the Women's Euros. The women's game is bigger than ever, and in a city where equality is at the heart of what we do, we're proud to provide a platform for these incredible athletes.
"At our purpose-built fan party in Piccadilly Gardens there will be so much on offer for fans of the game to come down and enjoy. Not only that, with some of the legends of the women’s game attending we hope it will inspire the next generation of footballing talent.”
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"We are currently working to develop the event space in Piccadilly Gardens ahead of the UEFA Women's Euros that begins in July. This will include a big screen area, food and drink traders and public space to create an official fan area.
"The beginning of the build is now visible at the event space in the Gardens and will undergo planting and dressing ahead of the Euros competition.
"There is then the potential for the event structure to be retained for the events programme that is being developed for the coming months, including Christmas this year. This could include a performance space, community area, children's activities and more.
"Using the Piccadilly Gardens space positively through activity and events is already reducing some of the more problematic anti-social behaviour in the area. The recent Manchester Day Youth Zone is a good example and we are continuing to develop a programme of events that will ensure the Gardens is welcoming for families and visitors alike."
Nine cities will play host to 31 games as well as an action-packed line-up of entertainment for fans to enjoy, including Brighton & Hove, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Rotherham, Sheffield, Southampton, Trafford and Wigan and Leigh.
UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Tournament Director, Chris Bryant said: "Showtime is almost upon us. UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 will be a landmark, ground-breaking tournament in so many ways and not just for the fantastic football on the pitch.
"All of our host cities are planning events before, during and after games. Whether you are a diehard football fan or just looking to enjoy your first tournament, we want everyone to share in the momentum of this event. There will be concerts, exhibitions, fan parties, match screenings, workshops and much more."
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