Britannia Stadium
Encyclopedia
The Britannia Stadium is an all-seater
football stadium
in Stoke-on-Trent
, England
and the home of Premier League club Stoke City Football Club
. With space for 27,598 spectators (reduced from 28,384 due to segregation). The name is taken from the sponsors of the Stadium the Britannia Co-operative Bank. Along with hosting football matches, the stadium has played host to performers such as Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams and Elton John. The ground also holds conference and banqueting suites, the Delilahs Bar, and a club shop selling Stoke City merchandise.
The highest attendance being recorded at the stadium was 28,218 for the sell-out fixture against Everton in their FA Cup 3rd Round tie in 2002. The first goal in the stadium was scored by Graham Kavanagh
for Stoke in a league cup game against Rochdale
. The club had played at the Victoria Ground
until 1997. Club legend Sir Stanley Matthews
's ashes were buried beneath the centre circle of the pitch following his death in February 2000; he had officially opened the stadium on 30 August 1997.
of January 1990 to end 119 years at the Victoria Ground
. Relocation had been on the cards since 1994 and by early 1996 the decision to build a new stadium had been confirmed.
By early 1997, the skeletal steel superstructure was in place and the stadium began to take shape. In August 1997 it opened its doors for the first time as the Britannia Stadium thanks to a £1million, 10-year sponsorship deal with the Britannia Building Society which was instrumental in the overall funding of the project. Another £3,000,000 was given as a grant by the Football Trust.
On 27 August 1997, Rochdale
were the visitors for the historic first-ever competitive match - a 1–1 draw in the League Cup
watched by 15,439 - and four days later the first-ever league game took place against Swindon Town
before a crowd of 23,859. Ten years on and the Club obtained full ownership of the stadium in a deal worth £6 million following the previous joint-partnership with the Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Stoke-on-Trent Regeneration Ltd.
In total, the Britannia Stadium cost £14.7million and took around 10 months to construct on the former site of Stafford Colliery. Building work began in late autumn 1996 and was completed in August 1997. The all-seater stadium holds 28,384 supporters (although this has been reduced to 27,740 for the 2008/2009 season due to segregation) in four cantilever stands. The main West stand consists of two tiers of seating which house 7,357 spectators, plus all of the Stadiums corporate and media facilities. The L-shaped Boothen and East stands hold 6,006 and 8,789 people respectively. The South Stand, which is used mainly for away support can accommodate 4,996 people. The stadium is not eligible to be a UEFA 4 star stadium but only because it seats less than 30,000.
The clubs dressing rooms, offices, boardroom and expansive club megastore are positioned between the West and South stands.
The official opening of the stadium was made by club legend Sir Stanley Matthews
, then aged 82, who died less than three years later. His ashes are now buried beneath the stadium's centre circle.
Recently in 2006, work has taken place on the A50
to allow direct access to the stadium from the eastbound direction, involving the building of a bridge across the road. It is close to the Sideway
junction with the A500
. And at the start of the 2010-2011 season, the stadium was accessable via a new subway under the Stanley Matthews Way this was constructed to reduced traffic problems with exiting the area back onto the A50.
In the summer of 2009, surveyors were asked to investigate the feasibility of filling in one and possibly two of the stadium's open corners. Filling in a corner of the ground would cost approximately £3 million, increasing capacity by around 3,000 seats and taking the total capacity to over 30,000. In November 2009, chairman Peter Coates
said that a decision on expansion would be made at the end of the season and was dependent on the club's Premier League survival.
In February 2010, the club were still considering whether to expand the 27,500 capacity by filling in the scoreboard corner between the South and East stands. Chief Executive Tony Scholes cautioned that expansion might jeopardise the atmosphere at the stadium, one of the factors credited with Stoke City's resurgence in the top tier of English football. "The big risk when anyone expands their stadium is that they could lose that 'sell-out' factor, which would have an impact on the atmosphere. I would be to give that up."
At the end of the 2009–10 season, Peter Coates indicated that the club would wait at least another 12 months before deciding whether to spend up to £6 million on expanding the stadium, saying: "You don't do these things lightly... It is on the drawing board and is something we will consider. But we want to feel confident we can justify it in terms of getting the increased capacity, filling it... and it making economic sense."
, Bryan Adams
, Busted, Elton John
have all played out on the pitch at the ground in addition to the numerous summer music concerts.
The stadium hosted the 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 playoff finals for the Conference National
and has also hosted an U21 international between England and Portugal on 16 April 2002. Portugal won the match 1–0. England U20s and 19s have also used the stadium.
However, in December 2007 Stoke City F.C. announced that they had agreed a deal to buy Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Stoke-on-Trent Regenerations shares in the stadium for £6 million, giving them full ownership.
All-seater stadium
An all-seater stadium is a sports stadium in which every spectator has a seat. This is commonplace in football stadiums in nations such as the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands. Most soccer and American football stadiums in the United States and Canada are all-seaters, as are most baseball...
football stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the home of Premier League club Stoke City Football Club
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
. With space for 27,598 spectators (reduced from 28,384 due to segregation). The name is taken from the sponsors of the Stadium the Britannia Co-operative Bank. Along with hosting football matches, the stadium has played host to performers such as Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams and Elton John. The ground also holds conference and banqueting suites, the Delilahs Bar, and a club shop selling Stoke City merchandise.
The highest attendance being recorded at the stadium was 28,218 for the sell-out fixture against Everton in their FA Cup 3rd Round tie in 2002. The first goal in the stadium was scored by Graham Kavanagh
Graham Kavanagh
Graham Anthony Kavanagh is an Irish footballer. He is assistant manager for Carlisle United, having also played for Home Farm, Middlesbrough, Stoke City, Cardiff City, Wigan Athletic, Sunderland and two loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday...
for Stoke in a league cup game against Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
. The club had played at the Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground may refer to:*Victoria Ground, the former name of Hartlepool United’s ground Victoria Park.*Victoria Ground, Stoke City’s ground from 1878 to 1997.*Victoria Ground, current home of Bromsgrove Rovers...
until 1997. Club legend Sir Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
's ashes were buried beneath the centre circle of the pitch following his death in February 2000; he had officially opened the stadium on 30 August 1997.
History
The all-seater stadium cost nearly £15 million to build and brought the club up to standards with the Taylor ReportTaylor Report
The Hillsborough Stadium Disaster Inquiry report, better known as the Taylor Report is a document, whose development was overseen by Lord Taylor of Gosforth, concerning the aftermath and causes of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. An interim report was published in August 1989, and the final...
of January 1990 to end 119 years at the Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground may refer to:*Victoria Ground, the former name of Hartlepool United’s ground Victoria Park.*Victoria Ground, Stoke City’s ground from 1878 to 1997.*Victoria Ground, current home of Bromsgrove Rovers...
. Relocation had been on the cards since 1994 and by early 1996 the decision to build a new stadium had been confirmed.
By early 1997, the skeletal steel superstructure was in place and the stadium began to take shape. In August 1997 it opened its doors for the first time as the Britannia Stadium thanks to a £1million, 10-year sponsorship deal with the Britannia Building Society which was instrumental in the overall funding of the project. Another £3,000,000 was given as a grant by the Football Trust.
On 27 August 1997, Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
were the visitors for the historic first-ever competitive match - a 1–1 draw in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
watched by 15,439 - and four days later the first-ever league game took place against Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
before a crowd of 23,859. Ten years on and the Club obtained full ownership of the stadium in a deal worth £6 million following the previous joint-partnership with the Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Stoke-on-Trent Regeneration Ltd.
Structure and facilities
| Stand | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Boothen End sponsored by Staffordshire University Staffordshire University Staffordshire University is a university with its main campus based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and with other campuses in Stafford, Lichfield and Shrewsbury.- History :... |
North | 6,006 |
| Q-railing Stand | West | 7,357 |
| Seddon Stand + Family area | East | 8,789 |
| Marston's Pedigree Stand | South | 4,996 |
In total, the Britannia Stadium cost £14.7million and took around 10 months to construct on the former site of Stafford Colliery. Building work began in late autumn 1996 and was completed in August 1997. The all-seater stadium holds 28,384 supporters (although this has been reduced to 27,740 for the 2008/2009 season due to segregation) in four cantilever stands. The main West stand consists of two tiers of seating which house 7,357 spectators, plus all of the Stadiums corporate and media facilities. The L-shaped Boothen and East stands hold 6,006 and 8,789 people respectively. The South Stand, which is used mainly for away support can accommodate 4,996 people. The stadium is not eligible to be a UEFA 4 star stadium but only because it seats less than 30,000.
The clubs dressing rooms, offices, boardroom and expansive club megastore are positioned between the West and South stands.
The official opening of the stadium was made by club legend Sir Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
, then aged 82, who died less than three years later. His ashes are now buried beneath the stadium's centre circle.
Recently in 2006, work has taken place on the A50
A50 road
The A50 is a major trunk road in England. It runs from Warrington to Leicester; however, it was once a much longer route.-Current route:...
to allow direct access to the stadium from the eastbound direction, involving the building of a bridge across the road. It is close to the Sideway
Sideway
Sideway is an area of Stoke-on-Trent, approximately one mile south west of Stoke-upon-Trent. It is located on the junction of the A500 and the A50 adjacent to the Britannia Stadium....
junction with the A500
A500 road
The A500 is a major primary A road in Staffordshire and Cheshire, England. It is dual carriageway for most of its length and connects Nantwich, junctions 16 and 15 of the M6 motorway with the city of Stoke-on-Trent...
. And at the start of the 2010-2011 season, the stadium was accessable via a new subway under the Stanley Matthews Way this was constructed to reduced traffic problems with exiting the area back onto the A50.
Future development
Peter Coates
Peter Coates is a businessman and current owner of the Stoke City Football Club. He has been listed as the 25th richest person in British football. He founded Bet365 in 2000, as well as Signal Radio in 1983....
said that a decision on expansion would be made at the end of the season and was dependent on the club's Premier League survival.
In February 2010, the club were still considering whether to expand the 27,500 capacity by filling in the scoreboard corner between the South and East stands. Chief Executive Tony Scholes cautioned that expansion might jeopardise the atmosphere at the stadium, one of the factors credited with Stoke City's resurgence in the top tier of English football. "The big risk when anyone expands their stadium is that they could lose that 'sell-out' factor, which would have an impact on the atmosphere. I would be to give that up."
At the end of the 2009–10 season, Peter Coates indicated that the club would wait at least another 12 months before deciding whether to spend up to £6 million on expanding the stadium, saying: "You don't do these things lightly... It is on the drawing board and is something we will consider. But we want to feel confident we can justify it in terms of getting the increased capacity, filling it... and it making economic sense."
Other events
The stadium also has full Conference, Banqueting and Events facilities and has, as well as football, also staged firework displays and music concerts. The likes of rock group Bon JoviBon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
, Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
, Busted, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
have all played out on the pitch at the ground in addition to the numerous summer music concerts.
The stadium hosted the 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 playoff finals for the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
and has also hosted an U21 international between England and Portugal on 16 April 2002. Portugal won the match 1–0. England U20s and 19s have also used the stadium.
Stadium ownership
The Stadium was originally owned jointly by Stoke City F.C., Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Stoke-on-Trent Regeneration Ltd.However, in December 2007 Stoke City F.C. announced that they had agreed a deal to buy Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Stoke-on-Trent Regenerations shares in the stadium for £6 million, giving them full ownership.