Football: two important football teams call this city home: Manchester City and Manchester United. The impact of football is quite profound here, most notably on Saturday evenings when fans head out to the pubs and bars in droves, to either celebrate victory or drown their sorrows after the afternoon’s game. Competitive sport: ice hockey also has a strong following in Manchester, with the home team being the Manchester Phoenix Ice Hockey Club. Hockey games are held at the MEN Arena, and will switch to Altrincham Ice Rink as soon as that facility’s refurbishment has been completed. Fitness: gymnasiums and fitness venues can be found all over the city, although you’ll find that most require a membership. A few will permit paying for single-day visits; however, most gyms will require you to attend an orientation for legal and insurance purposes. A good option is to stay at a hotel having a fitness centre. If you’re interested in swimming, the pool at the Aquatics Centre is open to the public. Additionally, there are municipal leisure centres scattered throughout the Manchester area offering indoor courts that can be hired by the hour, as well as pools and a variety of fitness-related classes on offer. | 
