As you'll be aware, Manchester City Council is carrying out a major refurbishment at the National Squash Centre and Manchester Regional Arena. 

The centre will temporarily close at the end of day, Thursday 16th April until early 2027. During this period, the squash courts and indoor arena will be unavailable but the outdoor arena will remain open throughout. 

We're in the process of contacting all our users to provide information about what this means with details of alternative arrangements to enable sessions and lessons and courses to continue throughout the closure period.

Squash improvements include:

• Improvements to the court walls and flooring
• Lighting and mechanical and electrical upgrades
• Installation of a new seating area 
• Redecoration
• A new matted floor for stretching

Indoor Arena improvements include:

• A new track overlay
• Upgrades to plant and toilet facilities
• New athletics equipment including high jump beds, pole vault beds and hurdles

These improvements will deliver a significantly enhanced experience for all users once completed. We thank you for your co-operation and understanding while this important investment in the venue takes place.

If you have any questions, please speak to a member of the team on your next visit. Further details about the refurbishment can be found on the Manchester Active website and will be updated as the project progresses.                                

Useful Information - Athletics Lessons & Courses 

As sessions will take place outdoors, there may be occasions where weather conditions mean your child's lesson cannot go ahead. Should this be the case, we will notify you directly.

Appropriate Clothing

Please ensure that your child wears suitable clothing for outdoor activity, appropriate to the weather conditions. This may include a waterproof jacket, warm layers, suitable footwear, applying SPF during warmer weather and ensuring they stay hydrated at all times.

Toilets & Changing Facilities

Throughout the refurbishment there will be no changing facilities, so we're asking that everybody arrives dressed ready for their lesson or session.

Toilet facilities will be available in the West Stand. For safeguarding reasons, we ask that parents or guardians fo children on our lessons and courses programme remain within the facility during your child's lessons and accompany their child to the toilets.

Useful Information - Car Parking

Parking at Gate 13 will be for blue badge holders only and will be also be available for lessons and courses drop off. 

Parking will be available in Blue Car Parks G & H, please access through Gate 2 as shown on the diagram linked at the bottom of this page.

Booking your Session 

From Friday 17th April, all outdoor sessions must be booked in advance. to ensure we're able to correctly allocate zones to each user group. Whether you book online or via the Better UK app, you will see two options under the Athletics tile - Athletics or Club Athletics. 

The following clubs can book to attend their usual club training sessions via the 'Club Athletics' option: Belle Vue Racers, Fast Girls Run Club, M11 Track Club, Manchester Front Runners, Manchester Harriers,  Sale Harriers and University of Manchester Athletics. If you think your club has been missed off this list, please let us know.

Individuals doing their own training (outside club sessions) or members of other clubs or groups and the public should book via the 'Athletics' option.

You can view the Outdoor Programme from April 17th by clicking on the link below: