MANCHESTER: Manchester City are soon to have the second largest stadium in the Premier League after revealing plans to increase the capacity of their ground to 61,000.

The former Premier League champions will add a third tier behind the goals of the Etihad Stadium’s North and South stands updating their 48,000 current capacity, subject to planning approval.

They will be second on the list of highest capacity’s in the league trailing neighbours Manchester United (over 75,000) and just ahead of Arsenal (just under 61,000).

Tiers will include about 6,750 seats, with fans able to join a season ticket waiting list for the seats next week.

The club aim to submit the plans next month and hope work will start on the project in February.

City said the work would not impact season ticket holders attending home matches. The tiers are expected to be completed for the beginning of the 2015/16 season.

A club spokesman said: “Should the club’s exciting plans receive planning approval, City’s home, which this year celebrates its 10th birthday, is set to be even more visually dramatic”.

The stadium initially had a capacity of 38,000 when it was built for the Commonwealth Games, which were held in Manchester in 2002. The team has played its home fixtures at the stadium since 2003 where the ground was previously known as the City of Manchester stadium.