Salford's spectacular new stadium will cost £35m and should be ready in time for the start of the 2009 season

It will be built at Barton on the outskirts of Manchester and will seat 22,000 spectators. Salford's average attendance at The Willows, their home for the last 105 years, is 4,500

Salford won government approval for the ambitious project following a public inquiry and 10 years of negotiations

The stadium is part of a £130m development that includes plans for a 210-room hotel, casino and shopping centre

There has been speculation that Sale Sharks and Manchester United reserves will also play their home games at the arena

The club hopes the City of Salford Stadium will give them added pulling power in their bid to lure the game's top players