Plans to build a stadium in east Manchester were made around 1990 as part of the city's bid to host the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Manchester City Council paid for a design for an 80,000 seat stadium on a brownfield site known as Eastlands.
However, in October 1993, the games were awarded to Sydney, Australia.
Manchester then made a successful bid to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
They used the stadium plans from the Olympic bid.
In 1996, the planned stadium competed with Wembley Stadium to gain funding to become the national stadium.
The money was used to redevelop Wembley instead.

City of Manchester Stadium's foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in December 1999.
Construction began in January 2000.
The stadium was designed by Arup and built by John Laing.
The stadium cost about £110 million.
£77 million of that was paid by Sport England and the rest was paid by the Manchester City Council.
For the Commonwealth Games, the stadium had one lower level along three sides of the athletics track.
There was a second level on the two sides.
It had an open-air temporary stand at one end.
The first public event at the stadium was the opening ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games on 25 July 2002.
Among the celebrities present at the ceremony was Queen Elizabeth II.
During the ten days of competition, the stadium hosted all athletics events and the rugby sevens.
Four Commonwealth records were set at the stadium, including the women's triple jump and the women's 5000 m.
After the Commonwealth Games, the stadium was changed so it could be used as a football stadium.
Athletics events had been very successful at the Commonwealth Games.
Athletics figures such as Jonathan Edwards and Sebastian Coe therefore criticised the decision to change the stadium into a football stadium.
Redevelopment was called necessary to give the stadium a future.
Sections of the track were removed and placed at other athletics stadiums.
The ground level was lowered to make way for another level of seating.
The temporary stand was taken apart.
It was replaced with a permanent structure of similar design to the existing one at the southern end.
This work took a year and added 12,000 seats.
Manchester City F.C. moved to the new ground for the 2003–04 season.
The change cost over £30 million.
It was paid for by the football club.

The first public football match at the stadium was a friendly between Manchester City and Barcelona on 10 August 2003.
Manchester City won the game 2–1.
The first goal at the stadium was scored by Nicolas Anelka.
The first competitive match followed four days later.
It was a UEFA Cup game between Manchester City and Welsh Premier League side TNS.
City won 5–0.
Manchester City started the Premier League season with an away match.
They beat Charlton 3–0.
Their first home league match in their new stadium was not until 23 August.
They drew 1-1 with Portsmouth.
David Sommeil scored City's goal.
Portsmouth's was scored by Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
Their first Premier League win did not come until 14 September.
Nicolas Anelka scored a hat-trick to help City beat Aston Villa 4–1.
The record football attendance at the stadium is 47,348.
It was set at a Premier League game against Chelsea on 5 December 2009.

The stadium has also hosted several other sporting events.
It became the 50th stadium to host an England international football match when the English and Japanese national teams played on 1 June 2004.
On 30 October of that year, it played host to a rugby league match between Great Britain and Australia in the Tri-Nations series.
In June 2005, the stadium hosted England's opening game in the UEFA Women's Championship.
It set an attendance record for the competition.
It is rated as an elite stadium by UEFA.
It hosted the 2008 UEFA Cup Final between Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg.

The stadium has a number of unofficial nicknames.
Eastlands was used before the stadium was officially named.
It is still commonly used.
City of Manchester Stadium is sometimes abbreviated to COMS when written.
The Blue Camp, a pun on Barcelona's Nou Camp,
Plans to build a stadium in east Manchester were made around 1990 as part of the city's bid to host the 2000 Summer Olympics. Manchester City Council paid for a design for an 80,000 seat stadium on a brownfield site known as Eastlands. However, in October 1993, the games were awarded to Sydney, Australia. Manchester then made a successful bid to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games. They used the stadium plans from the Olympic bid. In 1996, the planned stadium competed with Wembley Stadium to gain funding to become the national stadium. The money was used to redevelop Wembley instead.
City of Manchester Stadium's foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in December 1999. Construction began in January 2000. The stadium was designed by Arup and built by John Laing. The stadium cost about £110 million. £77 million of that was paid by Sport England and the rest was paid by the Manchester City Council. For the Commonwealth Games, the stadium had one lower level along three sides of the athletics track. There was a second level on the two sides. It had an open-air temporary stand at one end. The first public event at the stadium was the opening ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games on 25 July 2002. Among the celebrities present at the ceremony was Queen Elizabeth II. During the ten days of competition, the stadium hosted all athletics events and the rugby sevens. Four Commonwealth records were set at the stadium, including the women's triple jump and the women's 5000 m.
After the Commonwealth Games, the stadium was changed so it could be used as a football stadium. Athletics events had been very successful at the Commonwealth Games. Athletics figures such as Jonathan Edwards and Sebastian Coe therefore criticised the decision to change the stadium into a football stadium. Redevelopment was called necessary to give the stadium a future. Sections of the track were removed and placed at other athletics stadiums. The ground level was lowered to make way for another level of seating. The temporary stand was taken apart. It was replaced with a permanent structure of similar design to the existing one at the southern end. This work took a year and added 12,000 seats. Manchester City F.C. moved to the new ground for the 2003–04 season. The change cost over £30 million. It was paid for by the football club.
The first public football match at the stadium was a friendly between Manchester City and Barcelona on 10 August 2003. Manchester City won the game 2–1. The first goal at the stadium was scored by Nicolas Anelka. The first competitive match followed four days later. It was a UEFA Cup game between Manchester City and Welsh Premier League side TNS. City won 5–0. Manchester City started the Premier League season with an away match. They beat Charlton 3–0. Their first home league match in their new stadium was not until 23 August. They drew 1-1 with Portsmouth. David Sommeil scored City's goal. Portsmouth's was scored by Yakubu Aiyegbeni. Their first Premier League win did not come until 14 September. Nicolas Anelka scored a hat-trick to help City beat Aston Villa 4–1. The record football attendance at the stadium is 47,348. It was set at a Premier League game against Chelsea on 5 December 2009.
The stadium has also hosted several other sporting events. It became the 50th stadium to host an England international football match when the English and Japanese national teams played on 1 June 2004. On 30 October of that year, it played host to a rugby league match between Great Britain and Australia in the Tri-Nations series. In June 2005, the stadium hosted England's opening game in the UEFA Women's Championship. It set an attendance record for the competition. It is rated as an elite stadium by UEFA. It hosted the 2008 UEFA Cup Final between Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg.
The stadium has a number of unofficial nicknames. Eastlands was used before the stadium was officially named. It is still commonly used. City of Manchester Stadium is sometimes abbreviated to COMS when written. The Blue Camp, a pun on Barcelona's Nou Camp,
City of Manchester Stadium