Manchester Aquatics Centre - have you swum there?

[Chris]

Has anyone swum (raced?) in the new Manchester Aquatics Centre in which they're holding the Commonwealth Games?

What did you think of it?

Is there sufficient seating to handle the crowds that the Commonwealth Games will be expecting? What about the facilities for the swimmers?

[lane4]

It is an excellent facility but a shameful venue for the Commonwealth Games. No where near big enough for such an event, meaning spectator numbers will be low once all the athletes, officials, VIPs, sponsors, media have been allocated their places. However, as people will be packed in like sardines there is sure to be a pretty good atmosphere.

[Michael]

I agree, the pool itself is excellent, but there wasn't nearly enough room for everyone when I swam there last year!

I've heard there will be seating added to the venue for the games though! :p

[Katie]

10 lanes might be nice...!!! Also, we had a chat with one of the guys organising the swimming in the commonwealth games, and he didn't seem to think there would be sufficient space for competitors to have their bags with them on poolside!! They were talking about keeping all bags in a tent outside! He also said they were thinking of having tents for physios. Although I really like the pool itself, and I'm sure they'll find a good solution for everything, surely if the swimmers have to walk as far as they had to in the trials just to get to the call room (which I think is also going to be in a tent!!!) they're going to be very tired before they've even started the race!!! :cool:

[Pete]

I seem to remember seeing a tv programme about the pool and the reason for only 8 lanes and limited spectator facilities being that there was not enough land. Where are the tents? On the roof?:D

[Katie]

I don't know! I've forgotten the guy's name, but he used to be v important in Scottish Swimming. Erm.... I think he used to be a performance director or something in Scotland, but he left last year I think. :confused:

[bobby]

Was that Martin Woodruffe, Katie?

[Katie]

Yep! V good! That's the one.

[red dragon]

Having sat in the aquatics centre last year I'd like to suggest a cushion if you're going to be there a while - the seats are not comfortable for more than a coouple of hours!!

[swimusa]

I have yet to come across a pool with comfortable seating for more than a few hours.

[nsswimmer]

i know one. eisenhower park in new york. 50 meter pool with bulkheads if needed and ceiling is waaaaaay high, so it never gets to hot in there for the spectators. the seats have cushion-y stuff on them, so it IS comfortable, and not that hot, to boot.

[Pete]

Bring back the Derby Baths at Blackpool. Flip up, spring cushioned seats like the old cinemas on 3 sides of the pool. The atmosphere created there was second to none. Gone are those days. The architects who build new pools rarely consult the people who use them most.
The Commonwealth Games is the biggest multi-sports event in England and we cost cut on making it a true international pool.:confused:

[Natasha]

I've swam at Manchester once in a DEVA League hehe. But it wasn't in the main pool, it was in the diving pit LOL! But it looked like a great place to race!

[FlyingBean]

I really liked the Manchester Aquatic Centre when we swam the Masters GBs there earlier this year. The pool felt fast, the gala ran smoothly, warm up & warm down facilities were good, and the officials were great, both swimming officials and staff at the centre.

We particularly enjoyed being able to see the reaction times off the blocks - it gave us a whole new competitive possibility. I may never beat anyone in the team at swimming, but it was more of a level playing field when it came to reaction times!

And as for somewhere to eat - a whole mile of curry houses in striking distance from the pool couldn't be bad.