The new ground enabled the Blues to attract huge attendances, and City still hold the record attendance for any English club match when 84,569 spectators watched them take on Stoke in an FA Cup tie in 1934. Maine Road also became the home for Manchester United in the years following World War 2 after a bomb damaged Old Trafford.

The ground remained much the same until 1953 when floodlights were added, then during the 1957 close season a roof was erected over the popular Kippax side. By the time of City's relegation in 1963 the middle section of the Main Stand roof was replaced by a rather odd construction which allowed an unhindered view for the directors and those in the most expensive seats.

The Platt Lane was also seated with wooden benches at this time. In 1981 dramatic plans were announced, and in 1982 the Main Stand roof was replaced by another odd looking affair. Relegation in 1983 caused the other redevelopment plans to be halted, and apart from the replacement of seats in the Main Stand and the construction of a new scoreboard in the Platt Lane /Kippax corner, little obvious development occurred during that decade.

The Taylor Report (1990) which followed the Hillsborough tragedy resulted in yet more changes to Maine Road as the ground became all-seater. 1992-93 saw the Platt Lane end replaced by the new Umbro Stand (which was subsequently reverted it's name back to the Platt Lane) and in 1994 the legendary Kippax Stand was demolished and replaced by a new, three-tier seated stand.

In its final years Maine Road appeared disjointed due to the apparent absence of any previous overall development policy. Despite it's somewhat odd appearance, Maine Road will be remembered as one of the great English stadia, with it's electric atmosphere and friendly welcome (to some teams at least).