Moss Side
In 1923, Manchester City Football Club moved into their capacious new stadium at Maine Road which on several occasions in its early years drew crowds of more than 80,000. But its capacity was gradually reduced over the years and by the mid 1990's it held just under 35,000 spectators all seated. The club's board initially planned to create a 45,000 capacity at Maine Road, but this was abandoned in favour of relocating to the government funded City of Manchester Stadium which would host the 2002 Commonwealth Games. After the running track was removed and a permanent fourth stand constructed, Manchester City moved into their new 48,000-seat home for the start of the 2003-04 season and managed to virtually fill their stadium for most games despite narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premiership. Maine Road has since been demolished and houses are expected to be built on the site.
Moss Side has been subject to massive investment due to its social problems over the last decades.
Around the turn of the 20th century, hundreds of terraced houses were built around Moss Side although some were later purchased by landlords and rented out to tenants. Many Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses were demolished in the 1960s to make way for dozens of blocks of low and high rise council flats. Most of the crime which made Moss Side one of the worst parts of England involved people living in these flats. But a large number of flats in Moss Side were demolished in the 1990s to make way for new low rise homes, while the remaining flats have been renovated.
