Ground improvements at British football stadia
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A large number of English football clubs have ongoing schemes to redevelop existing grounds, or to move to newly constructed stadiums. A trend towards all-seater stadiums was initially prescribed by the Taylor Report
, and was originally a condition only of Premier League admission. It has now become a requirement that within three years of promotion to the Championship
all paying spectators are seated, even if the club is subsequently relegated. This page provides an (incomplete) list and description of those clubs who have planned new stadiums or refurbishments, or who have already moved/refurbished since around the time of the Taylor Report.
The following list includes clubs that are based in Wales
but play in the English football league system
.
moved to Glanford Park
in 1988, it was the first time a Football League
club had moved to a new purpose-built home since 1955. Up to this point, most sides were playing in grounds that were more-or-less structurally unchanged for a century.
Ground improvements were seldom, most clubs rarely reached their capacity on a regular basis, and poor facilities were commonplace. The main source of income came from gate receipts, and most additional money was spent on transfers. It was not until the growing concern in the 1980s about the safety of existing stadiums, that clubs began to examine the possibilities offered by redeveloping their grounds.
The Taylor Report
recommended the conversion of all top-level football stadiums to all-seater arenas although this was subsequently applied to the top two levels. This was given governmental financial assistance, and while unpopular with many fans, attendances began to rise again having fallen heavily during the previous decade. The new all-seater arrangement tended to be more popular with both the clubs and football authorities, as they had the combined benefits of being safer and more profitable.
The boom in television rights following the creation of the Premier League in 1992 allowed a number of clubs to further expand their stadiums, or even move to new ones. Realising the commercial possibilities of new stadiums, many ambitious outfits constructed purpose-built stadiums often on the outskirts of cities or in urban regeneration areas. It has become common for clubs to tie these new stadiums in with residential or leisure complexes.
A number of lower-league clubs had plans for ground improvements halted following the collapse of ITV Digital
and the lucrative broadcasting contract they had agreed. Following the re-sale of rights, a number of these programmes have been re-activated in recent years, and some of the heaviest stadium redevelopment has been in the lower divisions. Most teams with ambitions of eventual promotion to the Premier League have plans for continued work on their grounds to bring them up to an appropriate standard. Even the biggest clubs have been affected, Manchester United have totally rebuilt Old Trafford
while Arsenal
moved to the Emirates Stadium
in 2006.
moved to the Emirates Stadium
in 2006, which has massively boosted club income. At present, the capacity is 60,355 (seated), with currently no public plans to expand it despite every Premier League match to date selling out. Emirates Stadium is the second largest club ground in England, after Old Trafford.
The Emirates replaced Highbury
, where the club had been based since 1913, which itself had been substantially updated in the early 1990s and reduced capacity from 59,000 to an all-seater 38,500. However, this was deemed inadequate by the end of the decade and led to the club's directors deciding that relocation was necessary, prompting the club to build a new stadium.
have planning permission to increase Villa Park
from 42,000 to 50,000 seats by expanding the North Stand, with their American
owner Randy Lerner
apparently keen to boost capacity. Villa Park has been all-seater since 1994, when the Holte End was rebuilt, but did not reach its current capacity until the Trinity Road Stand was rebuilt in the 2000-01 season
.
capacity by around 9,000 to 40,000. The stadium became all-seater for the 1994-95 season
after a two-year reconstruction programme which saw three of the stadium's stands rebuilt. The reconstruction of the Darwen End saw the demolition of the Fernhurst Mill and the new Jack Walker Stand's construction saw the demolition of houses along Nuttall Street. Any further development in the foreseeable future depends on an increase of attendance.
Despite the congestion caused by the development of Ewood Park, Blackburn Rovers believe that they have some historic connection to the Ewood area and resolutely turned down the more practical moving of the ground to a more suitable site.
moved into their new Reebok Stadium
in 1997, having previously played at Burnden Park
since 1895. The Reebok has an all-seated capacity of 28,723. The plans for relocation were formulated in the early 1990s, when the club was still in the third tier of the English league but had ambitions of reaching the top flight (achieved in 1995). Burnden Park was an antiquated structure that would have been unsuitable for modernisation, and so the decision was made to build a new stadium elsewhere.
's takeover, Chelsea
have examined expanding their current home at Stamford Bridge
to a capacity of over 50,000. Numerous problems over health and safety issues have stalled this, because due to the stadium's location fans can only exit onto the Fulham Road
. The club have thus been linked with moves to a number of potential sites in west London
, including a site at Earl's Court, although the club have indicated no such plans exist. A further stumbling block is that the club's naming rights
are owned by the Chelsea Pitch Owners
, which also owns the Stamford Bridge freehold. As a condition for using the Chelsea FC name, the club has to play its first team matches at Stamford Bridge. A move to a new stadium could mean the club having to change their name. Stamford Bridge was extensively rebuilt between 1993 and 1998, with three stands being replaced, and the only pre-1993 stand at the stadium being the 1974 East Stand structure.
are planning to relocate to a new stadium
in Kirkby
. This has generated a large amount of controversy, as it is beyond the city limits of Liverpool
. In June 2008 Kirkby council approved the new stadium, however, following a public inquiry that was held in December 2008, the stadium was rejected by the Secretary of State in November 2009.
It is planned to have 50,401 seats initially, with potential to increase to 60,000 at a later date. The club's current stadium has been all-seater since 1994, when a new stand was built at one end of the ground. The Main Stand was built in 1970, while the two remaining stands are refurbished interwar structures. The first plans for relocation were announced in 1996, and a site at King's Dock was identified in 2000, but these plans were shelved in 2003 when chairman Bill Kenwright
said that the club couldn't raise adequate funds.
promotion to the Premier League, and the conversion of Craven Cottage
to an all-seater stadium, the club have been slowly adding to the capacity of the ground every summer. There are periodic reports of a new stadium in White City
to be shared with Queens Park Rangers
, but such plans are not currently being pursued by either club, with both concentrating on developing their existing grounds. Craven Cottage was the most recent top division stadium to feature standing accommodation when Fulham were promoted in 2001, but closed a year later and Fulham ground-shared with Queens Park Rangers for two years until they returned to an all-seater Craven Cottage. The plan at the time had been for Craven Cottage to reach a 30,000 capacity, but these were delayed due to opposition from local residents and at first the club had to settle for a 22,000-seat stadium. There have been gradual increases since Fulham's return, the capacity now being 26,500. Plans are afoot to increase the capacity of Craven Cottage by an additional 4,000 seats, taking the capacity to over 30,000 mainly through redevelopment of the Riverside Stand; however this is yet to be implemented. Consulation of the project has been revived in October 2011.
are planning to move to a new Stanley Park Stadium
. The present plans involve a 66,754 seat ground. Preliminary construction has already started. Anfield has been all-seater since the mid 1990s, when the Spion Kop was rebuilt two years after the completion of the Centenary Stand on the southern side of the stadium. The Main Stand dates back to the early 1970s, while the Anfield Road Stand was already all-seater when it was rebuilt in 1997. Construction was halted in 2008 due to lack of funds combined with the impending recession
. The relocation was first proposed in 2000, when the club had been hoping to have a 70,000-seat stadium ready for the 2004-05 season. In 2002 it was decided that relocation was a more viable option than expansion, when the plans were amended for a less expensive 60,000-seat stadium to be built. However Fenway Sports group, new owners of the club, have stated they are still unsure whether to expand Anfield, or to build a new stadium entirely. Most supporters groups have stated that they favour the former option.
since 2003, and for the previous 80 years had played at Maine Road
, which had been converted into an all-seater format during the 1990s with the construction of two new stands. The decision to relocate to the City of Manchester Stadium was made in 1997, in place of previous plans for Maine Road to be expanded to 45,000 seats.
Manchester City were taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group
in September 2008, and quickly earmarked land around Eastlands for redevelopment. A memorandum of understanding has since been formed with Manchester City Council, and City jointly own 200 acres of land in the vicinity of Eastlands. In July 2011, the City of Manchester Stadium was renamed the Etihad Stadium which would help fund the redevelopment. The first developments include a new state-of-the-art training complex for Manchester City and the local community is to be built nearby the Etihad Stadium with a centrepiece bridge linking the complex to the stadium.
has undergone a massive facelift converting the stadium into a 76,000 all-seater, the largest club stadium in the United Kingdom
. Old Trafford became largely all-seater in the 1992-93 season
when the Stretford End was rebuilt, and completely all-seater the following season once the Scoreboard Paddock had been converted. Expansion took place in 1995-96
when the 30-year-old North Stand was bulldozed to make way for a new three-tier structure. The other two stands at Old Trafford were expanded in the 1999-2000 season
and the latest expansion took place in 2006-07
.
increased the capacity of Carrow Road
to c.27,000 over the Summer of 2010. There are plans to further expand Carrow Road by around 8,000.
, Newcastle United
announced plans to increase the capacity of St James' Park
by 8,000 to 60,000 by rebuilding the Gallowgate End as part of a £300m scheme to redevelop the stadium and its surrounding area. This would cure St James' Park
of its current lopsided appearance. The plans appeared to have been shelved upon the 2007 takeover and review of the club by Mike Ashley
, who subsequently announced in 2008 he would be selling the club. The club had trouble selling out games in the 2008/09 season as Newcastle flirted with relegation from the Premier League, a fate which was eventually confirmed on the last day of the season.
St James's Park was initially revamped in the early to mid 1990s to give it a 36,000-seat capacity, but the most recent expansion did not take place until 1999-2000, in time for the 2000-2001 season. In 1995, there had been plans relocate to a new 50,000-seat stadium at Castle Leazes
, but these were abandoned in favour of expanding the existing stadium.
have long harboured ambitions of playing in a larger stadium. This will either be done by expanding their existing Loftus Road
ground from its current 19,000 capacity or by locating to a new stadium elsewhere in West London, with a ground share in White City
with Fulham
commonly mentioned. The recent takeover of the club by Bernie Ecclestone
prompted increased speculation that they were going to move. QPR achieved premier league promotion in 2011, which could yet see the idea of expansion or relocation show its face once more.
Loftus Road
has been all-seater since 1993, when the club was still in the Premier League. A further relegation to Division Two (now League One) in 2001 saw a lesser need for a bigger stadium, but promotion in 2004 has seen further speculation regarding expansion or relocation.
, which holds 28,000 seated spectators, although the corners could be filled in at a later date to boost capacity over 30,000. The stadium was built in 1997 to replace the 119-year-old Victoria Ground
as the club complied with the requirements of the Taylor Report
, with the decision to relocate something of a surprise as the Victoria Ground had good road connections and sizable car parks.
Stadium of Light
is designed to allow expansion to 64,000 seats. In 2003 the club received planning permission to add another 7,200 seats to the South Stand which would have taken capacity to 56,000 but the plans were put on hold due to Sunderland's relegation. In 2007 chairman Niall Quinn
said the club had no current plans to increase capacity, as with many top flight clubs Sunderland struggle to fill their current capacity.
The Stadium of Light was one of the first new stadiums to be built during the modern era, opening in 1997 as replacement for 99-year-old Roker Park
, with then chairman Bob Murray deciding in the early 1990s that a new stadium was the best option as Roker Park was unsuitable for converting into an all-seater stadium as its confined location would have given a capacity much lower than the club would have wanted.
moved to the purpose built 20,520 all-seater stadium Liberty Stadium
in 2005 replacing Vetch Field
which had been their home since they were founded. Construction commenced in the autumn of 2003 with the opening game taking place in the stadium between Swansea and Fulham
on 23 July 2005. Should Swansea become established in the Premier League, it is expected they would pursue expansions to this relatively new stadium.
have been planning a larger stadium for some years, however, it was undecided whether this strategy would involve expanding White Hart Lane
or moving to a new site. Meanwhile in October 2010 the club announced it was interested in also pursuing the option to move to the Olympic Stadium
in Stratford, London
.
(NDP) on 30 October 2008 that the club planned to build a new stadium on the existing White Hart Lane site combined with land purchased or optioned to the north, creating a 56,000-seater stadium. The new development would include leisure facilities, shops, housing, a club museum, public space and also a new base for the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. Initial public consultations took place in December 2008 and a further consultations on the NDP's more detailed plans were held at the start of April 2009. A planning application was submitted to Haringey Council in October 2009. However following criticism by English Heritage
and other conservation groups about the proposed demolition of listed buildings, the club withdrew the plans in May 2010 in favour of a revised plan which retained the listed buildings and improved the public areas around the stadium.
The White Hart Lane name may be abandoned in favour of a sponsorship link. On 30 September 2010 the Planning Committee of Haringey Council unanimously approved the revised planning application and the Mayor of London
gave his approval on 25 November 2010.
After an extended period of negotiations with Haringey Council and the Mayor of London, leading to a Section 106 agreement, planning permissions were issued on 20 September 2011. Following the riots in Tottenham, other parts of London and elsewhere in England
in August 2011, the Greater London Authority
and Haringey Council announced on 28 September that it would relieve the club of all community infrastructure payments that planners would normally require, estimated at £8.5m, and to provide a further £8.5m for regeneration and infrastructure projects.
stated that as there remained some uncertainties about the finalising of the NDP, the club was also keeping their options open by registering an interest in taking over the Olympic Stadium
in conjunction with AEG (Europe)
and on 12 November 2010 the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) announced that the Tottenham Hotspur/AEG consortium had been shortlisted as one of the two preferred bidders along with West Ham United.
The OPLC announced on 11 February 2011 that West Ham
had been selected as the preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium, subject to the decision being ratified by Government departments and the Mayor of London.
Tottenham Hotspur joined with Leyton Orient seeking a judicial review to overturn the OPLC's decision. The appeal was rejected in June 2011 The decision not to have a review was appealed on 29 June 2011. The OPLC announced on 5 July 2011 that an independent review into the awarding of the Olympic Stadium to West Ham was to be carried out following the discovery on 30 June 2011 that an employee, Dionne Knight, had been engaged by West Ham to carry out consultancy work relating to the Olympic Stadium without permission of the OPLC. Ms Knight, had already declared to the OPLC that she was in a personal relationship with a director of West Ham and, was suspended whilst a possible conflict of interest was investigated. On 22 August 2011 the independent investigation ruled that the process was not compromised and thus the bid process will not be reopened.
On 24 August 2011, Tottenham and Leyton Orient won a review of the decision, being told that they had an arguable case. The review was schediled to take place on 18 October 2011. However, on 11 October the deal to sell the stadium to West Ham collapsed. On 17 October 2011 it was announced by the government that Tottenham Hotspur (and Leyton Orient) had withdrawn legal action seeking a judicial review into the handing of the Olympic Stadium's future use to West Ham.
has been reduced over previous years due to a redevelopment of the Halfords Land End (West Stand). Chairman Jeremy Piece announced at the end of the 2010/11 season plans to increase the capacity of the Hawthorns to 30,000 over the next 3 years. It is not yet clear how this will be achieved however it could mean rebuilding the Halfords Lane End or rebuilding the East Stand corners.
by the 2014/15 season from 29,303 to 36,000, with work beginning at the end of the 2010/11 season on the renovation of the Stan Cullis Stand, affectionately known as the North Bank.
This work is due to be completed at the end of the 2011/12 season, where work on both the Steve Bull and Jack Harris Stand's will commence, Taking capacity to the 36,000 target. Preliminary plans are in place to then develop the Billy Wright Stand, taking capacity above 50,000, but this is subject to demand and has not yet received planning permission as part of the current renovations.
Three of the stadium's four stands were built in the early 1990s, while the first stand was built in 1979. On the new-look stadium's completion in 1993, it was one of the largest club stadiums in England but has since been eclipsed by many other clubs who have relocated to new stadiums or expanded their existing ones.
have announced that they are to demolish the old West Stand at Oakwell and replace it with a new 9,000 seater stand similar to the current East Stand . Oakwell Stadium
currently holds 23,000 all-seated spectators and has done so since the mid 1990s. The plans for the reconstruction of the West Stand were first announced in the late 1990s.
chairman claimed that plans to build a new ground on the edge of the town were unlikely to be revived. In 1996 Blackpool had been preparing to move to a 40,000 seat superstadium, part of a shopping complex. Instead the club are set on redeveloping Bloomfield Road. On 8 July 2008, the club released a statement from club president, Valeri Belokon
stating that work on both the new South Stand and the South-West corner would begin immediately, with Belokon and the Oyston family in a full partnership to fund the building of the stands.
The South Stand was originally projected to be complete by May 2009. Work began on the South Stand and South West Corner in December 2008. The stand officially opened on 10 March 2010 by Jimmy Armfield
, former Blackpool player and the stand's namesake. The current stadium capacity is now 12,555.
On 14 November 2009 it was revealed that the football club hope to work with Urban Regeneration Company
ReBlackpool to build a new East Stand that would contain both seating and office/retail space rather than as originally planned for just seating. This will mean a larger stand is to be built which will require additional land to be acquired.
On 13 May 2010, Karl Oyston pledged that construction of the East Stand would begin immediately, so long as they gain promotion to the Premier League.
On 14 June the temporary seating comprising the East Stand was removed, which will be replaced with a 5,070-seat covered temporary stand which, when built, will raise the capacity to around 15,500.
From 28 August 2010, the capacity of Bloomfield Road will be 16,220 after the completion of the new temporary East Stand.
would be moving to a new stadium in South Bristol
. This proposed new stadium
will have a capacity of 30,000 seats. Ashton Gate currently holds more than 21,000 all-seated spectators and has done since the mid 1990s, as the initial plan was to upgrade the existing stadium rather than relocate to a new site.
have an ongoing £20m development of Turf Moor
planned. This will involve refurbishing some of the older stands, and will see capacity raised slightly above 22,000. Further development after that is probable, with the Chief Executive Paul Fletcher confirming a second tier would be added to the Bob Lord Stand after the club won promotion to the Premier League. This would increase the capacity to around 28,000. The redevelopment will also include the new Stadiarena stand which effectively converts an outdoor stadium stand into an indoor arena and exhibition space within six minutes.
opened in 2009 and is shared with the Cardiff Blues
rugby union club. The new Cardiff City Stadium initially holds 27,000, with short term possibility to increase to 35,000. It is to be the second largest stadium in Wales
, after the Millennium Stadium
, also in the Welsh
capital.
moved to the 32,500 seater Ricoh Arena
in 2005, leaving their historic home Highfield Road
which was the first all-seater ground in England. Coventry had long planned a move to a purpose-built 45,000-seat stadium, with original suggestions including a retractable roof and pitch à la Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem
. Coventry
had even hoped to become the home of the new national stadium, joining Birmingham
and London
in the race to be the new Wembley
, but were unsuccessful in their bid. The Ricoh Arena includes a vast exhibition centre built onto the main stand. Despite a slight increase in attendance figures since moving from Highfield Road, Coventry City's continued failure to regain their place among the upper echelons of the League structure means there are always many empty seats at the Ricoh Arena.
announced plans to move from their Selhurst Park
home to return to the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
(on the site of the original ground the club left in 1915, a stadium that also hosted the FA Cup final
from 1895 to 1914). The plans involve demolishing the existing structure and redeveloping it into a 40,000-seater, purpose-built football stadium
. Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
also released plans to redevelop the NSC into a 25,000-seater stadium, maintaining it as an athletics stadium, as part of their plans to redevelop the Olympic Stadium
after the 2012 Summer Olympics
and Paralympics
. However, Spurs' failure to secure the site, which instead went to West Ham United
has left the road clear for Palace to pursue the site.
released details of a proposed £20m development around their Pride Park Stadium
which would create about 250 jobs. The Pride Plaza project would include a 165-bed hotel, bars, restaurants and office space. On November 9, 2007 Derby City Council agreed to let the plans go ahead.
Additionally the club has announced plans to expand the capacity up from 33,500 to 44,000, with the work due to take place during the 2007–08 close season., provided the club avoided relegation. The plans include adding rows of seats to the north, south and east stands. If completed, this would allow the club to break its current club record home attendance, Pride Park was opened in 1997 when Derby left the Baseball Ground
, as one of the first clubs to relocate to a new stadium to comply with the Taylor Report
. The new stadium was opened just 18 months after the decision to relocate was made public; the previous plan had been for the Baseball Ground to be rebuilt with a 26,000-seat capacity. However, the club failed to maintain its top-flight status and when, in January 2008, was sold into new American ownership, in the form of General Sports and Entertainment both the Plaza plan and the Ground expansion initiatives were scrapped.
On 3 October 2011, Derby County announced that they had submitted plans to Derby City Council for a £7 million development of land outside the stadium, which the club named "The Plaza @ Pride Park".
These plans include five cafes
/restaurant
s, two convenience store
s and 2,000 square metres of office space
. These plans have been scaled down from the planned £20 million pound development proposed in 2007. Derby County CEO Tom Glick, said that these plans would help the club deal with the new Financial Fair Play regulations which will be introduced in the Football League
from 2012, as revenue from the Plaza will be reinvested back into the club.
This planned development also coincides with a plan from the City Council to build a multi-use sports arena on the same site as the proposed Plaza.
held its first sporting fixture. even though it did not have its official opening until August 2007 when they played Manchester United in a pre-season friendly.
The stadium's construction began in 2005 and cost an estimated £32 million. The stadium has a capacity to hold 15,231 people, however if demand for ticket sales goes up and Doncaster Rovers establish themselves as a league contender the stadium can be expanded by placing second tiers on both the north and south stand ends,the goal ends, this would increase the capacity to about 20,000.
The ground has many facilities, and was considered as a training ground for the 2018/2022 England world cup bid, the second pitch with track and 500 seater stand, as well as 6 mini-pitches helped with this. it also has international standard changing room facilities. As well as a top quality hospitality service centre. However, England lost this bid.
KC Stadium
, which opened in 2002, is designed to provide for future expansion to a capacity of approximately 30,000 by the addition of a second tier on the Arco East Stand. In March 2008 the Hull chairman said an expansion could potentially take place within two years if there was a clear need for further capacity.
When Hull moved to the stadium in December 2002, they were still playing in Division Three (they reached the Premier League in 2008). For the 56 years prior to that, they had played at Boothferry Park
but the decision was made to build a new stadium when a takeover by Adam Pearson
in 2001 the club's new owner declared his ambition to build a stadium suited to top flight football, as Boothferry Park was too confined to develop a stadium fit for top division football.
stadium should they be promoted back to the Premier League, via 'Project Leap'. This would involve the area for the 3000 seats needed for Premier League away teams, as the current area foraway fans is not big enough, and would mean expanding into premium season ticket holders seating.
were examining a potential move to a new 67,000-seat stadium in nearby Stourton
, while there were also plans to redevelop Elland Road
as a 60,000-seat "Wembley of the North". Following the club's collapse into administration and dropping down two divisions, the sum of Leeds stadium ambitions at the present is simply to regain ownership of Elland Road
, which had to be sold to offset debts.
The current stadium has been all-seater since 1994, when the Kop (now the Don Revie Stand) was refurbished. The most significant recent development took place in 1992/1993, when the 17,000 seat East Stand was built, on the old Lowfields Road end, pushing capacity up to just over 40,000.
There are now plans to redevelop the land around Elland Road
with a shopping arcade, new club megastore, two hotels and nightclub. There are also plans to increase the seating capacity
to 50,000-60,000 should Leeds United return to the Premier League within the near future.
The club have played at their 32,500-seat stadium since relocating from nearby Filbert Street
in 2002. They had spent 111 years at Filbert Street and converted it into an all-seater format in 1993 with the construction of one new stand and the refurbishment of the three others, but a run of success in the top flight prompted demand for tickets vastly outstripping supply, and the stadium's confined location made expansion difficult, so by 1998 the decision was made to build a new stadium.
appear happy with the size of their 35,000 seat Riverside Stadium
, with average crowds well below the current limit. However they have planning permission to expand by another 7,000 seats. If England
had been successful in bidding to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup
, the expansion would have been likely to occur to ensure consideration as a World Cup venue. Middlesbrough have played at the Riverside since 1995, when they moved from Ayresome Park
in the first relocation of a top division club's stadium for 72 years. The stadium took a mere 32 weeks to build and the relocation decision was only made public just over a year before the stadium was opened.
. The club had plans to move into a 50,000 seat new stadium
in the Clifton area of the city. The club is unlikely to move to Clifton as it initially announced, Nottingham City Council is in favour of a location closer to the city centre. There have also been plans for the Main Stand (the oldest part of the ground) to be rebuilt, but nothing definite has yet been confirmed.
for the City Centre Area. This document's consultation period has now closed and thus the publication of the final AAP is awaited for more information on preferred sites for a new stadium.
At the end of the 2010/11 season demolition of the away terrace (Moyes End) commenced. This making way for a new all seater stand, but leaving visiting supporters with only 3-4 thousand seats for the duration of the 2011/12 season.
had the smallest stadium in the Premier League during the 2007-08 season. The board planned to remedy this by rebuilding Fratton Park
turning the pitch round 90 degrees. This was then abandoned in favour of a 35,000 'Pompey Village' plan, and then superseded by the current proposed Portsmouth Dockland Stadium
which is planned to hold 36,000 seated spectators, which they had been hoping to have ready in 2011. However it has been revealed that Portsmouth FC are now preparing to build a 36,000 seater stadium at Horsea Island
Portsmouth have been considering relocation since the early 1990s, but had upgraded their stadium to an all-seater capacity as a short-term measure.
In May 2009 all stadium relocation plans were put on hold. The club are looking to expand the current Fratton Park stadium by going back to its original plan of turning it around and increasing capacity to 30,000.
announced plans for the expansion of the Madejski Stadium
. The proposal involves increasing the stadium to 38,000 seats by expanding all stands except the West Stand, and rebuilding the roof. These plans were dependent on Reading staying in the Premiership.; following relegation in 2008, the plans are uncertain. A new railway station Reading GreenPark is opening near to the ground.
The Madejski Stadium was opened in 1998, having first been proposed in 1994 as Reading climbed up the league and construction of an all-seater stadium was necessary. Elm Park
was deemed unsuitable for renovation due to its confined location and the ambitions of chairman John Madejski
to establish Reading in the top flight, so the decision to build a new stadium was made.
play their home games at the 20,000 seater Vicarage Road
Stadium. In 2007, the club announced renovation work to the stadium, including a new stand, the filling in of two corners with media centres, and a new dugout/changing room area. The £32.5 million development will also include key worker housing to the rear of the Rookery Stand, primarily for workers at adjacent Watford General Hospital.
shelved plans for a new stadium
in east London at a Parcelforce depot adjacent to West Ham tube station following their chairman's bankruptcy in the Icelandic financial crisis. In October 2010 the club formally registered an interest in conjunction with Newham Borough Council in taking over the nearby 2012 Olympic Stadium
. The plan involved a 60,000 capacity stadium and the retention of the running track. A converted Olympic stadium would be part of the 2018 World Cup bid. On 12 November 2010 the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) announced that West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur were the two preferred bidders to take over the Olympic stadium after the 2012 Olympics. The OPLC announced on 11 February 2011 that West Ham
had been selected as the preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium, subject to the decision being ratified by Government departments and the Mayor of London.
are hoping to move to a new 20,000 capacity stadium
in nearby Kew Bridge
. After several years of effort, the club announced in December 2007 that they had been given an option on the site at Lionel Road, and announcing two months later a link-up with property developer Barratt Homes to develop the site. The proposed move is strongly backed by fans, particularly as it will keep them in the London Borough of Hounslow
. The new stadium may be shared with a professional rugby club.
At one point it was reported that the club would increase the capacity of their existing Griffin Park
ground from 12,500 to 17,000 but these plans now appear to be hold in relation to the new stadium.
have planning permission from Greenwich Council
to rebuild the East Stand at The Valley, increasing capacity to 31,000. Potential future improvements could see this raised to 40,000 but this is unlikely to happen unless the club is promoted back to the Premier League or comes under new ownership.
took possession of a new stadium, funded by the local council, in July 2008. The Colchester Community Stadium cost £16 million to build and has a capacity of 10,000 seats. There is potential for future expansion to 18,000.
opened their Stadium:mk home in 2007. Capacity is currently 22,000 and plans are to expand to 32,000 as MK Dons build a larger fan base in the town. Plans are now in place to increase the capacity between 46,000 - 55,000 seats but with England
's failure to win the bidding for the 2018 World Cup any improvements to increase the stadium's attendance would be dependent on promotion to the Barclays Premier League at least. In November 2011, MK Dons
announced that they will expand Stadium mk to 32,000 for the 2012–13 season.
are currently planning a move to a new 12,000 capacity stadium
in Failsworth
, on the site of the Lancaster Club. The site is currently designated as having charitable trust status, but in June 2010 the Charity Commission for England and Wales agreed to Oldham council's
request for the designation to be swapped with other land in the borough, in order that the site could be developed for a stadium. The next step is for a public consultation on the alternative replacement community sites.
Plans to redevelop Boundary Park
, starting with the Broadway Stand, were scrapped in on 5 September 2008, after Simon Blitz
told podcast World Soccer Daily
that although Oldham still plan to continue the development of Boundary Park and surrounding areas, the plans are on hold for now because of the financial crisis of 2007–2010 and the subsequent downturn in the UK property market. This was despite the Broadway Stand already being demolished.
Boundary Park
has been all-seater since the mid 1990s, though the improvements were very much a task of refurbishment rather than reconstruction.
completed its Invincibles Stand in 2008. Deepdale's
capacity is 24,000.
are keen to build up their non-football related income. In light of this, the club have built a new four-star hotel at the complex. In addition the Kop Stand is to be redeveloped and expanded by 3,000, and should the club ever be promoted back to the Premier League, the South Stand would be increased by 4,000, to take total capacity to just over 40,000. Plans to then further the capacity of Bramall Lane to 45,000 were granted permission in October 2009.
Bramall Lane
became all-seater in the mid 1990s after the completion of two new stands and the refurbishment of two existing stands.
standards for hosting World Cup
matches.
To remove any viewing restrictions the current pillars that support the roof of the Kop and West Stand will be removed. An 'iconic' roof structure will support the Kop's roof while the West Stand will have a completely new roof. The North West Terrace will get a roof and a corner of seating will be added between the Kop and North Stand with a roof. The current layout of tiers on the West Stand will be radically changed and a new tier of seats will be added as well as a 'new specific learning zone' between the new upper tier and present upper tier. The mega-store and gymnasium behind the North Stand will be demolished and the North Stand will be expanded to create the 'biggest classroom in Europe' as well as 'enterprise zones' and 17 boxes. The South Stand floor plan and stadium surroundings will be improved to comply with FIFA requirements. Stadium parking and access will be improved as will the exterior appearance of all stands.
Planning permission was granted for the entire scheme in 20 October 2009 but work hasn't started yet as of 16 July 2010.
's capacity to 30,000 should the club have reached the Premier League. With this now looking unlikely, the club are looking to replace their ageing Main Stand for a more modern structure.
Tranmere have been linked with a new stadium as part of the £4.5 Billion "Wirral Waters" Scheme, That has recently been given the go ahead. The capacity may be lowered from the current Prenton Park due to dwindling attendances.
have announced they have gained planning permission to rebuild the William Sharp End, adding an extra 2,300 seats and raising overall capacity at the Bescot Stadium
to 13,500.
Bescot Stadium was opened in 1990 to replace nearby Fellows Park
, and originally had a capacity of just under 10,000, of which approximately two thirds was seated. The construction of a new all-seater stand on the site of the terraced section took place in 2002.
in partnership with London Wasps
were looking to build a new 20,000 capacity ground in High Wycombe
to replace the current Adams Park
(only built in 1990 to replace Loakes Park
) where the capacity is capped, and further expansion is not possible.
The current Adams Park
stadium was taken out of the Green Belt
in April 2008, allowing expansion of the ground if additional access routes are provided to cover emergency access.
Two sites are currently being considered, the site of the current Sports Centre at Handy Cross is ideal as it has motorway links with the M25 and M40. Another possible site is at the nearby Booker Airfield, which is roughly a mile away from the Handy Cross Site and motorway links. It is under 3 miles away from the current ground Adams Park.
The Wycombe Board are contemplating a new stadium so that their partnership with Wasps can continue. As the minimum capacity of a Premiership Rugby ground will be 15,000 in the near future and Adams Park cannot be expanded beyond 12,500, which itself can only be a temporary increase, a new stadium is required to keep the partnership intact.
moved in with Kingstonian at Kingsmeadow, purchasing the ground. They do have long term plans to relocate the club to the London Borough of Merton
, the traditional home of Wimbledon F.C.
, whom they claim descent from. There was speculation that the club might try to purchase Wimbledon Stadium
, currently used for greyhound racing, which was put up for sale in September 2007.
were given permission to redevelop the Memorial Stadium
into a 18,500 seat complex, with a hotel and restaurant. Construction was due to begin in 2008 and finish in 2010, but the redevelopment stalled after a major contributor pulled out shortly before development was due to begin. The work was then due to begin in summer 2009 with the redevelopment expected to be finished around 2011, during which time the club will continue to play at the ground with the capacity never dropping below 8,500 during the redevelopment. Originally, it was planned that Rovers would play at Whaddon Road
in Cheltenham
. Since this, Bristol Rovers haven't been able to find the financial backing to be able to finish the project.
The club now plans to move to the UWE Stadium
on the outskirts of Bristol, near Frenchay
. The sale of the Memorial Ground to supermarket chain Sainsbury's will partially fund the project. Therefore any move to the stadium would be dependent on planning permission for both the supermarket and the new stadium.
about building a new 10,000 seater stadium. The ground would be built on what is a tented area during the Cheltenham Gold Cup
and would include a double sided stand one side being for the football club the other for the racecourse. Until any move happens the club will continue to upgrade the current ground, Whaddon Road
in accordance with the football regulations.
plan to expand Broadfield Stadium
by rebuilding the East Stand, which would increase capacity at the stadium by 2,151 seats. The plans include new turnstile blocks, toilets and concession areas as well as improved floodlighting. If planning permission is granted work should be finished by February 2012.
has been entirely rebuilt since 1997, but Gillingham
chairman Paul Scally
has made clear his intention of moving to a new stadium, despite Gillingham dropping from the Championship to League Two since 2005. Although the club have since bounced back to League One, the chairman has announced plans for a new stadium are on hold due to the current financial climate.
moved from its previous ground at Christie Park to The Globe Arena
at the start of the 2010/11 season. The ground has a capacity of 6000, comprising 2000 seats and 4000 standing spaces.
have plans to purchase the Kassam Stadium
and to build a fourth side to it. Now that they have regained Football League
status and attendances rise to sufficiently justify it, this is increasingly likely.
The stadium was first planned in 1995 and construction began in 1997, but financial difficulties saw construction suspended shortly after it begin, and the relocation from the dilapidated Manor Ground was not completed until 2001. By then, two relegations in three seasons had dragged the club from Division One to Division Three, coinciding with a fall in attendances, and this was the reason for the stadium initially only having three sides incorporating 12,500 seats. The planned fourth stand would take the capacity to around 16,000.
are undertaking a long-term transition of Home Park
. The next stage will involve converting the remaining standing areas of the ground, turning it into a 18,500 all-seater (a slight capacity reduction from the current 19,500). Further expansion would be possible from there, by adding additional tiers, though this is not part of present plans. The most recent development at the ground took place in 2001, with the replacement of three stands with a new all-seater horseshoe-shaped stand. Before that, there had been plans to move to a new 25,000-seat stadium elsewhere, but these were scrapped in favour of regenerating Home Park.
A bid by Plymouth to become a candidate city for the English bid for the World Cup in 2018 or 2022
was announced on August 21, 2009. This included plans for a new, 40,000-seater stadium to be built in Central Park
, close to the site of the current stadium Home Park. Following the financial crisis at the club in 2010 in 2011, all stadium projects have been cancelled.
's Vale Park
saw the Lorne Street stand demolished in 1998, and work began on a £3 million all-seater replacement. However as funds ran out, and with the overall capacity of 19,052 already more than adequate, as of March 2011 the stand remains half completed. Plans to install under-soil heating have also not advanced past the planning stage.
expressed dissatisfaction with their current Millmoor
home. Because of this the club are looking in to the construction of a new stadium in the town. Any move is unlikely in the near future because of the current financial difficulties at the Yorkshire
club. Since the 2008-09 season Rotherham have been playing their home games at the Don Valley Stadium
in Sheffield
due to ownership disputes over Millmoor. The Football League has said that the club must return to Rotherham
by 2012.
The club now plan to move to the New Rotherham United Stadium
which is scheduled to open in August 2012.
moved to the New Meadow
in Summer 2007. In November 2007 the club announced that the New Meadow
would be expanded by filling in the corners between the Roland Wycherley Stand, South Stand and West Stand, bringing the overall capacity up to 12,500. Work was hoped to commence summer 2008, however, plans were put on hold to concentrate on events on field.
is difficult to expand, Southend United
have committed to moving to a new home at Fossetts Farm
which will have 22,000 seats. The development proposal was finally given full approval by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
in July 2008. Following delays associated with obtaining the necessary funds, minor changes to the scheme were submitted to and approved by the council. However, by summer 2010, work has yet to commence on the new site as the club continued to suffer from huge financial difficulties. Although supermarket chain Sainsbury's, who intend to build a new hypermarket complex on the Roots Hall site, reached a deal with the club's owners to loan suitable capital to continue its operation, including supplying the cash that allowed the club to avoid several winding-up applications during 2010, there is still no firm date set for the beginning of construction.
play at the New Bucks Head
It was originally built for Telford United to play at before they went bankrupt. The stadium is on the same site as the original Bucks Head, which had been home to Telford United and Wellington Town for over a century. The stadium was completed in 2003, and has a capacity of 6,300. It is covered on three out of four sides. The stadium lease and assets are currently held by Telford and Wrekin
Council, completed in 2003 and was the 111th largest football stadium in England
.
are investigating building a new stadium in the Docklands section of the town, which would be shared with the Barrow Raiders
rugby league side.
had plans to move from Twerton Park
to join with Bath Rugby
at The Rec
which has a capacity of 10,600. There are long term plans at the club to find a new home.
had been investigating the possibility of improving their Abbey Stadium
home, but now appear to have abandoned redeveloping the stadium, and are instead proposing a move to a new stadium in Milton
.
have invested a lot in Highbury Stadium
recently following many promotions and increased attendances in recent years. In February 2007 the new Percy Ronson Stand was opened. A £500,000-plus development the stand is all terracing, and holds 1,243. making the ground suitable for the Conference National
if they should get promoted in future. In July 2007, further plans for the stadium development were announced which included three new stands. The plans were finalized in December 2007 and in March 2008, planning permission was given for the first phase, construction of the north and west terraces. Construction began in May 2008, and will be complete by the opening game of the 2008-09 season. The new west stand will initially be seated while the final phase of redevelopment, all-seater west stand is built which will include facilities such as function rooms, new changing rooms and club office. Once completed, the west stand will have its seats removed. In May 2010, a couple of days before Fleetwood's playoff final at the stadium work began on the new stand. The stadium was completed in Spring 2011 and opened on 16 April for Fleetwood's game against Altrincham F.C.
, which they won 3-1. The stadium's capacity is now 5,500; it is the 118th largest stadium by capacity in England and the sixteenth largest in their league
.
, adjacent to the A180 dual carriageway
. Planning permission has been granted for the provisionally-titled Conoco Stadium
, and if all goes to plan this will be ready for the 2010-11 season, about a decade after relocation was first planned Blundell Park
is the lowest football stadium in the United Kingdom
, at a height of only 2 feet above sea-level. While not in immediate danger from rising tides, it is prudent for Grimsby Town to pursue a move to higher ground.
. Chairman Imraan Ladak insists plans are on track, with a site identified and potential funding sourced. In 2011 Kettering Town moved to Nene Park
, former home of rivals Rushden & Diamonds
.
, but these plans have been delayed because of the club's financial difficulties. Relocation has been in the pipeline since the early 1990s, even though Kenilworth Road
was converted to all-seater capacity of around 10,000, and at one stage there were plans to move to an indoor stadium but these were scrapped in 1998 when club ownership switched.
has been under discussion for redevelopment of the away end, called the Railway End, as they planned to add an extra tier and roof to the stand. However due to land behind the stadium being owned by the council, who are currently not willing to sell the land, these plans have been put on hold. Another plan was to build the Popular side and add another tier with executive boxes, but all these plans have been put on hold.
The stadium achieved an 11,000-seat capacity in the late 1990s, when the club was playing in Division One. At one stage there were plans for County to relocate to Maine Road
once Manchester City
vacated it in 2003, but these plans were scrapped and Maine Road has since been demolished.
were investigating improving Bootham Crescent, but have now switched their plans to the construction of a new stadium to be shared with the York City Knights
rugby club.
are currently groundsharing with Cheltenham Town at the Abbey Business stadium (Whaddon Road) in Cheltenham
following the flooding of their Meadow Park stadium in 2007. Gloucester spent one season groundsharing with Forest Green Rovers
at The New Lawn in Nailsworth
and in Cirencester. They are now looking at a move back to the city of Gloucester
. However, there has not been a site found yet for a return.
, increasing the Main Stand to take capacity to over 10,000. Financial difficulties meant that development had to put on hold for the foreseeable future, leaving the Main Stand half-finished.
With the club resurrected as FC Halifax Town in the Northern Premier League First Division (North), the Main Stand was completed in March 2010.
are rebuilding the Bridge Road End, bringing the seating capacity
of the stadium up to 1700 and the overall capacity of their Glassworld Stadium
to over 4000.
, home to professional rugby union side, the Bees. The clubs have submitted (Nov08) planning applications for facility and ground improvements which will see the Borough of Solihull offered a centre of excellence and a Community Foundation which will benefit its own populace and beyond. Solihull Moors were founded in 2007 by a merger of local sides Moor Green
and Solihull Borough
.
are planning to move to a new stadium, leaving St George's Lane after more than a century. They have entered into an agreement with developers St Mowden to construct a new 6000 seat stadium at Nunnery Way.
are redeveloping their Borough Park
home, to comply with FA regulations. The ground formerly played host to league football until the club's relegation in 1977.
's ground, the Borough Sports Ground
, has a rather distant terrace at the east end, and the club hope to bring the terrace much closer to the goal, along with several other improvements to the clubhouse.
side to gain League status, Truro City F.C.
have plans to build a new Stadium for Cornwall
at a new site to the north of the city at Pencoose Farm, Kenwyn
which will include a 16,000 all seater stadium, sports bar, training facilities and a youth academy.
have been ground sharing with Chesham United
since their eviction from Buckingham Road in 2006. There are plans to move into a new 10,000 seat stadium if plans to build a sports village are approved.
had been planning to leave their current Horsfall Stadium
for the redeveloped Grattan Stadium
, which would be shared with Bradford Bulls
. With this redevelopment being continually delayed, through, Avenue are now planning to build a new 20,000 capacity stadium in South Leeds
.
home in 2010. Their long term future regarding a new stadium is unclear, and it is possible they may be forced to share with their cross-city rivals, Cambridge United
at the Abbey Stadium
or relocate to another settlement on a temporary basis.
have not had their own home ground. Instead, they share a ground with Bury F.C.
, using their Gigg Lane
ground.
In March 2010, the club announced plans to build their own 5,000-capacity football ground in Newton Heath
, the original home of Manchester United. Manchester City Council initially approved, but within a year had backed out from funding the stadium. The council pledged to help FC United build a stadium in a new location with reduced costs, and the alternative site was announced in April 2011 in the Broadhurst Park area of Moston
, Manchester. The club hopes to be playing in the Moston Community Stadium for the start of the 2012-13 season.
, but the rebuilding of Surrey Docks Stadium remains a possibility.
had plans to redevelop the New Recreation Ground
to facilitate entry into the football league. The club are now seeking to pursue the construction of a new stadium. It is proposed they will ground share with another club while the new arena is built. However it was announced on April 12, 2008 that Grays Athletic plan to move to a new stadium in Aveley
, Thurrock
.
that re-formed following the dissolution of the original Maidstone United
are currently playing their games at Sittingbourne, but are constructing a new stadium at James Whatman Way
to open at the start of the 2012-13 season.
if the council wouldn't back plans to build a new 10,000 stadium on Green Belt land on the outskirts of St Albans
. Little has been of the proposition since, and the current Clarence Park has been given a superficial makeover.
currently share Knowsley Road
with St Helens RLFC, and plan to move with them into their new 18,000 seat stadium
.
outlined plans to construct a new 6,000 all-seater stadium, hoped to be open by 2012 when the area hosts sailing events during the London Olympics. A large part of the cost would be offset by the sale and redevelopment of the existing Wessex Stadium.
Taylor 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...
, and was originally a condition only of Premier League admission. It has now become a requirement that within three years of promotion to the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
all paying spectators are seated, even if the club is subsequently relegated. This page provides an (incomplete) list and description of those clubs who have planned new stadiums or refurbishments, or who have already moved/refurbished since around the time of the Taylor Report.
The following list includes clubs that are based in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
but play in the English football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
.
History
When Scunthorpe UnitedScunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
moved to Glanford Park
Glanford Park
Glanford Park is a football stadium in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, and the current home of Scunthorpe United. It is the smallest stadium by capacity in the Championship ....
in 1988, it was the first time a Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
club had moved to a new purpose-built home since 1955. Up to this point, most sides were playing in grounds that were more-or-less structurally unchanged for a century.
Ground improvements were seldom, most clubs rarely reached their capacity on a regular basis, and poor facilities were commonplace. The main source of income came from gate receipts, and most additional money was spent on transfers. It was not until the growing concern in the 1980s about the safety of existing stadiums, that clubs began to examine the possibilities offered by redeveloping their grounds.
The Taylor Report
Taylor 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...
recommended the conversion of all top-level football stadiums to all-seater arenas although this was subsequently applied to the top two levels. This was given governmental financial assistance, and while unpopular with many fans, attendances began to rise again having fallen heavily during the previous decade. The new all-seater arrangement tended to be more popular with both the clubs and football authorities, as they had the combined benefits of being safer and more profitable.
The boom in television rights following the creation of the Premier League in 1992 allowed a number of clubs to further expand their stadiums, or even move to new ones. Realising the commercial possibilities of new stadiums, many ambitious outfits constructed purpose-built stadiums often on the outskirts of cities or in urban regeneration areas. It has become common for clubs to tie these new stadiums in with residential or leisure complexes.
A number of lower-league clubs had plans for ground improvements halted following the collapse of ITV Digital
ITV Digital
ITV Digital was a British digital terrestrial television broadcaster, which launched a pay-TV service on the world's first digital terrestrial television network as ONdigital in 1998 and briefly re-branded as ITV Digital in July 2001, before the service ceased in May 2002. Its main shareholders...
and the lucrative broadcasting contract they had agreed. Following the re-sale of rights, a number of these programmes have been re-activated in recent years, and some of the heaviest stadium redevelopment has been in the lower divisions. Most teams with ambitions of eventual promotion to the Premier League have plans for continued work on their grounds to bring them up to an appropriate standard. Even the biggest clubs have been affected, Manchester United have totally rebuilt Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
while Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
moved to the Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
in 2006.
Arsenal
ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
moved to the Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
in 2006, which has massively boosted club income. At present, the capacity is 60,355 (seated), with currently no public plans to expand it despite every Premier League match to date selling out. Emirates Stadium is the second largest club ground in England, after Old Trafford.
The Emirates replaced Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
, where the club had been based since 1913, which itself had been substantially updated in the early 1990s and reduced capacity from 59,000 to an all-seater 38,500. However, this was deemed inadequate by the end of the decade and led to the club's directors deciding that relocation was necessary, prompting the club to build a new stadium.
Aston Villa
Aston VillaAston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
have planning permission to increase Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...
from 42,000 to 50,000 seats by expanding the North Stand, with their American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
owner Randy Lerner
Randy Lerner
Randolph D. Lerner is an American entrepreneur and sports team owner.Lerner has been the owner of the American football team, the Cleveland Browns, of the National Football League since October 2002, and the Chairman of Aston Villa Football Club of the English Premier League since 2006...
apparently keen to boost capacity. Villa Park has been all-seater since 1994, when the Holte End was rebuilt, but did not reach its current capacity until the Trinity Road Stand was rebuilt in the 2000-01 season
2000-01 in English football
The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
.
Blackburn Rovers
There are long-term plans to redevelop the 1988-built Riverside Stand which would raise Ewood Park'sEwood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
capacity by around 9,000 to 40,000. The stadium became all-seater for the 1994-95 season
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
after a two-year reconstruction programme which saw three of the stadium's stands rebuilt. The reconstruction of the Darwen End saw the demolition of the Fernhurst Mill and the new Jack Walker Stand's construction saw the demolition of houses along Nuttall Street. Any further development in the foreseeable future depends on an increase of attendance.
Despite the congestion caused by the development of Ewood Park, Blackburn Rovers believe that they have some historic connection to the Ewood area and resolutely turned down the more practical moving of the ground to a more suitable site.
Bolton Wanderers
Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
moved into their new Reebok Stadium
Reebok Stadium
The Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of English Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, and is located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is commonly known as 'The Reebok'...
in 1997, having previously played at Burnden Park
Burnden Park
Burnden Park was the home of English FA Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers who played home games here between 1895 and 1997. As well as hosting an FA Cup Final replay it was the scene of one of the greatest disasters in English football and the subject of an L. S...
since 1895. The Reebok has an all-seated capacity of 28,723. The plans for relocation were formulated in the early 1990s, when the club was still in the third tier of the English league but had ambitions of reaching the top flight (achieved in 1995). Burnden Park was an antiquated structure that would have been unsuitable for modernisation, and so the decision was made to build a new stadium elsewhere.
Chelsea
Following Roman AbramovichRoman Abramovich
Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich is a Russian businessman and the main owner of the private investment company Millhouse LLC.In 2003, Abramovich was named Person of the Year by Expert, a Russian business magazine. He shared this title with Mikhail Khodorkovsky...
's takeover, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
have examined expanding their current home at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
to a capacity of over 50,000. Numerous problems over health and safety issues have stalled this, because due to the stadium's location fans can only exit onto the Fulham Road
Fulham Road
Fulham Road is a street in London, England, that runs from the A219 road in right in the centre of Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, through Chelsea to Brompton Road Knightsbridge and the A4 in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.Fulham Road runs parallel...
. The club have thus been linked with moves to a number of potential sites in west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, including a site at Earl's Court, although the club have indicated no such plans exist. A further stumbling block is that the club's naming rights
Naming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
are owned by the Chelsea Pitch Owners
Chelsea Pitch Owners
Chelsea Pitch Owners plc a is a non-profit organization that owns both the freehold of the Stamford Bridge stadium and the naming rights of Chelsea Football Club.-History:...
, which also owns the Stamford Bridge freehold. As a condition for using the Chelsea FC name, the club has to play its first team matches at Stamford Bridge. A move to a new stadium could mean the club having to change their name. Stamford Bridge was extensively rebuilt between 1993 and 1998, with three stands being replaced, and the only pre-1993 stand at the stadium being the 1974 East Stand structure.
Everton
EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
are planning to relocate to a new stadium
Everton Kirkby Project
The Kirkby Project was a proposed new football stadium in Kirkby, England for . The plan originated in 2006, was the subject of a Public Inquiry in December 2008, but was eventually rejected by central government in November 2009...
in Kirkby
Kirkby
Kirkby is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in the metropolitan county of Merseyside in England. The town was developed from the 1950s through 1970s as a means to house the overspill of Liverpool. It is situated roughly north of Huyton, the administrative HQ of the borough and about...
. This has generated a large amount of controversy, as it is beyond the city limits of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. In June 2008 Kirkby council approved the new stadium, however, following a public inquiry that was held in December 2008, the stadium was rejected by the Secretary of State in November 2009.
It is planned to have 50,401 seats initially, with potential to increase to 60,000 at a later date. The club's current stadium has been all-seater since 1994, when a new stand was built at one end of the ground. The Main Stand was built in 1970, while the two remaining stands are refurbished interwar structures. The first plans for relocation were announced in 1996, and a site at King's Dock was identified in 2000, but these plans were shelved in 2003 when chairman Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright CBE is a leading West End theatre producer and film producer.He is also the Chairman of Everton Football Club, an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool....
said that the club couldn't raise adequate funds.
Fulham
Since Fulham'sFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
promotion to the Premier League, and the conversion of Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
to an all-seater stadium, the club have been slowly adding to the capacity of the ground every summer. There are periodic reports of a new stadium in White City
White City Stadium
White City Stadium was built in White City, London, for the 1908 Summer Olympics, often seen as the precursor to the modern seater stadium and noted for hosting the finish of the first modern distance marathon. It also hosted speedway and a match at the 1966 World Cup, before the stadium was...
to be shared with Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, but such plans are not currently being pursued by either club, with both concentrating on developing their existing grounds. Craven Cottage was the most recent top division stadium to feature standing accommodation when Fulham were promoted in 2001, but closed a year later and Fulham ground-shared with Queens Park Rangers for two years until they returned to an all-seater Craven Cottage. The plan at the time had been for Craven Cottage to reach a 30,000 capacity, but these were delayed due to opposition from local residents and at first the club had to settle for a 22,000-seat stadium. There have been gradual increases since Fulham's return, the capacity now being 26,500. Plans are afoot to increase the capacity of Craven Cottage by an additional 4,000 seats, taking the capacity to over 30,000 mainly through redevelopment of the Riverside Stand; however this is yet to be implemented. Consulation of the project has been revived in October 2011.
Liverpool
LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
are planning to move to a new Stanley Park Stadium
Stanley Park Stadium
Stanley Park is a proposed football stadium in Liverpool that if built, would become home to Liverpool Football Club. The stadium would have a capacity of 60,000 to 72,000 all-seated if built as originally planned...
. The present plans involve a 66,754 seat ground. Preliminary construction has already started. Anfield has been all-seater since the mid 1990s, when the Spion Kop was rebuilt two years after the completion of the Centenary Stand on the southern side of the stadium. The Main Stand dates back to the early 1970s, while the Anfield Road Stand was already all-seater when it was rebuilt in 1997. Construction was halted in 2008 due to lack of funds combined with the impending recession
Late 2000s recession
The late-2000s recession, sometimes referred to as the Great Recession or Lesser Depression or Long Recession, is a severe ongoing global economic problem that began in December 2007 and took a particularly sharp downward turn in September 2008. The Great Recession has affected the entire world...
. The relocation was first proposed in 2000, when the club had been hoping to have a 70,000-seat stadium ready for the 2004-05 season. In 2002 it was decided that relocation was a more viable option than expansion, when the plans were amended for a less expensive 60,000-seat stadium to be built. However Fenway Sports group, new owners of the club, have stated they are still unsure whether to expand Anfield, or to build a new stadium entirely. Most supporters groups have stated that they favour the former option.
Manchester City
City have played at the City of Manchester StadiumCity of Manchester Stadium
The City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England – also known as the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship purposes– is the home ground of...
since 2003, and for the previous 80 years had played at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
, which had been converted into an all-seater format during the 1990s with the construction of two new stands. The decision to relocate to the City of Manchester Stadium was made in 1997, in place of previous plans for Maine Road to be expanded to 45,000 seats.
Manchester City were taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group
Abu Dhabi United Group
The Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment is a United Arab Emirates private equity company owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, member of the Abu Dhabi Royal Family and Minister of Presidential Affairs for the UAE...
in September 2008, and quickly earmarked land around Eastlands for redevelopment. A memorandum of understanding has since been formed with Manchester City Council, and City jointly own 200 acres of land in the vicinity of Eastlands. In July 2011, the City of Manchester Stadium was renamed the Etihad Stadium which would help fund the redevelopment. The first developments include a new state-of-the-art training complex for Manchester City and the local community is to be built nearby the Etihad Stadium with a centrepiece bridge linking the complex to the stadium.
Manchester United
Since 1990, Old TraffordOld Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
has undergone a massive facelift converting the stadium into a 76,000 all-seater, the largest club stadium in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Old Trafford became largely all-seater in the 1992-93 season
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
when the Stretford End was rebuilt, and completely all-seater the following season once the Scoreboard Paddock had been converted. Expansion took place in 1995-96
1995-96 in English football
- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
when the 30-year-old North Stand was bulldozed to make way for a new three-tier structure. The other two stands at Old Trafford were expanded in the 1999-2000 season
1999-2000 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
and the latest expansion took place in 2006-07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
.
Norwich City
Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
increased the capacity of Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
to c.27,000 over the Summer of 2010. There are plans to further expand Carrow Road by around 8,000.
Newcastle United
In 2007 under the chairmanship of Freddy ShepherdFreddy Shepherd
Freddy Shepherd , is an English businessman and the former chairman of Newcastle United football club.During his time at Newcastle, both as an active assistant to and later replacement of Sir John Hall as chairman for ten years, Shepherd proved an often outspoken and controversial figure, at times...
, Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
announced plans to increase the capacity of St James' Park
St James' Park
St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'...
by 8,000 to 60,000 by rebuilding the Gallowgate End as part of a £300m scheme to redevelop the stadium and its surrounding area. This would cure St James' Park
St James' Park
St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'...
of its current lopsided appearance. The plans appeared to have been shelved upon the 2007 takeover and review of the club by Mike Ashley
Mike Ashley (businessman)
Michael James Wallace "Mike" Ashley is an English millionaire retail entrepreneur in the sporting goods market...
, who subsequently announced in 2008 he would be selling the club. The club had trouble selling out games in the 2008/09 season as Newcastle flirted with relegation from the Premier League, a fate which was eventually confirmed on the last day of the season.
St James's Park was initially revamped in the early to mid 1990s to give it a 36,000-seat capacity, but the most recent expansion did not take place until 1999-2000, in time for the 2000-2001 season. In 1995, there had been plans relocate to a new 50,000-seat stadium at Castle Leazes
Castle Leazes
Castle Leazes is a piece of common land in Newcastle upon Tyne. It is situated in an area which separates Leazes Park and Spital Tongues.This area of land has been considered as a possible site for a replacement stadium by Newcastle United football club, particularly in the mid-1990s...
, but these were abandoned in favour of expanding the existing stadium.
QPR
Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
have long harboured ambitions of playing in a larger stadium. This will either be done by expanding their existing Loftus Road
Loftus Road
Loftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
ground from its current 19,000 capacity or by locating to a new stadium elsewhere in West London, with a ground share in White City
White City, London
White City is a district in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, to the north of Shepherd's Bush. Today, White City is home to the BBC Television Centre and BBC White City, and Loftus Road stadium, the home of football club Queens Park Rangers FC....
with Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
commonly mentioned. The recent takeover of the club by Bernie Ecclestone
Bernie Ecclestone
Bernard Charles "Bernie" Ecclestone is an English business magnate, as president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration and through his part-ownership of Alpha Prema, the parent company of the Formula One Group of companies. As such, he is generally considered the primary...
prompted increased speculation that they were going to move. QPR achieved premier league promotion in 2011, which could yet see the idea of expansion or relocation show its face once more.
Loftus Road
Loftus Road
Loftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
has been all-seater since 1993, when the club was still in the Premier League. A further relegation to Division Two (now League One) in 2001 saw a lesser need for a bigger stadium, but promotion in 2004 has seen further speculation regarding expansion or relocation.
Stoke City
There are currently no plans to expand the Britannia StadiumBritannia Stadium
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 . The name is taken from the sponsors of the Stadium the Britannia Co-operative Bank...
, which holds 28,000 seated spectators, although the corners could be filled in at a later date to boost capacity over 30,000. The stadium was built in 1997 to replace the 119-year-old 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...
as the club complied with the requirements of the Taylor Report
Taylor 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...
, with the decision to relocate something of a surprise as the Victoria Ground had good road connections and sizable car parks.
Sunderland
Sunderland'sSunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
Stadium of Light
Stadium of Light
The Stadium of Light is an all-seater football stadium in Sunderland, England. With space for 49,000 spectators, the Stadium of Light has the fifth-largest capacity of any English football stadium. The stadium primarily hosts Sunderland A.F.C. matches...
is designed to allow expansion to 64,000 seats. In 2003 the club received planning permission to add another 7,200 seats to the South Stand which would have taken capacity to 56,000 but the plans were put on hold due to Sunderland's relegation. In 2007 chairman Niall Quinn
Niall Quinn
Niall John Quinn honorary MBE is a former Irish international footballer, and the ex-chairman of Sunderland AFC. He still works at the club as an overseas manager. He is also heavily involved in the management side of horse racing...
said the club had no current plans to increase capacity, as with many top flight clubs Sunderland struggle to fill their current capacity.
The Stadium of Light was one of the first new stadiums to be built during the modern era, opening in 1997 as replacement for 99-year-old Roker Park
Roker Park
Roker Park was an English football stadium situated in Roker, Sunderland. The stadium was the home of the English football club Sunderland A.F.C. from 1897 to 1997 before the club moved to the Stadium of Light. Near the end of the stadium's history, its capacity was around 22,500 with only a small...
, with then chairman Bob Murray deciding in the early 1990s that a new stadium was the best option as Roker Park was unsuitable for converting into an all-seater stadium as its confined location would have given a capacity much lower than the club would have wanted.
Swansea City
SwanseaSwansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
moved to the purpose built 20,520 all-seater stadium Liberty Stadium
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
The Liberty Stadium is a purpose-built sports stadium and conferencing venue in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. The stadium is all-seated, with a capacity of 20,532 making it the largest purpose-built venue in Swansea and the third largest stadium in Wales after the Millennium Stadium and the...
in 2005 replacing Vetch Field
Vetch Field
The Vetch Field was a multi-purpose stadium in Swansea, Wales. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home ground of Swansea City until the Liberty Stadium opened in 2005. Opened in 1912, the ground held around 12,000 at the time of its closure, but upwards of 30,000 at its peak...
which had been their home since they were founded. Construction commenced in the autumn of 2003 with the opening game taking place in the stadium between Swansea and Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
on 23 July 2005. Should Swansea become established in the Premier League, it is expected they would pursue expansions to this relatively new stadium.
Tottenham Hotspur
TottenhamTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
have been planning a larger stadium for some years, however, it was undecided whether this strategy would involve expanding White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
or moving to a new site. Meanwhile in October 2010 the club announced it was interested in also pursuing the option to move to the Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (London)
The London Olympic Stadium will be the centrepiece of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The stadium is located at Marshgate Lane in Stratford in the Lower Lea Valley and has capacity for the Games of approximately 80,000 making it temporarily the third largest stadium in Britain behind...
in Stratford, London
Stratford, London
Stratford is a place in the London Borough of Newham, England. It is located east northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an agrarian settlement in the ancient parish of West Ham, which transformed into an industrial suburb...
.
Northumberland Development Project
Spurs announced in the Northumberland Development ProjectNorthumberland Development Project
The Northumberland Development Project is a project to build a football stadium which will replace White Hart Lane as the home stadium of Tottenham Hotspur. The stadium is intended to have a capacity of 56,250 spectators. The development plans also include 200 homes, a 150-room hotel, a supermarket...
(NDP) on 30 October 2008 that the club planned to build a new stadium on the existing White Hart Lane site combined with land purchased or optioned to the north, creating a 56,000-seater stadium. The new development would include leisure facilities, shops, housing, a club museum, public space and also a new base for the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. Initial public consultations took place in December 2008 and a further consultations on the NDP's more detailed plans were held at the start of April 2009. A planning application was submitted to Haringey Council in October 2009. However following criticism by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
and other conservation groups about the proposed demolition of listed buildings, the club withdrew the plans in May 2010 in favour of a revised plan which retained the listed buildings and improved the public areas around the stadium.
The White Hart Lane name may be abandoned in favour of a sponsorship link. On 30 September 2010 the Planning Committee of Haringey Council unanimously approved the revised planning application and the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
gave his approval on 25 November 2010.
After an extended period of negotiations with Haringey Council and the Mayor of London, leading to a Section 106 agreement, planning permissions were issued on 20 September 2011. Following the riots in Tottenham, other parts of London and elsewhere in England
2011 England riots
Between 6 and 10 August 2011, several London boroughs and districts of cities and towns across England suffered widespread rioting, looting and arson....
in August 2011, the Greater London Authority
Greater London Authority
The Greater London Authority is the top-tier administrative body for Greater London, England. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of London, currently Boris Johnson, and an elected 25-member London Assembly with scrutiny powers...
and Haringey Council announced on 28 September that it would relieve the club of all community infrastructure payments that planners would normally require, estimated at £8.5m, and to provide a further £8.5m for regeneration and infrastructure projects.
Olympic Stadium bid
In a statement on 1 October 2010 Spurs Chairman Daniel LevyDaniel Levy
Daniel Levy may refer to:*Daniel Levy , Chairman of the British football club Tottenham Hotspur*Daniel Levy , Israeli political analyst, active in the joint non-governmental Israeli-Palestinian Geneva Initiative...
stated that as there remained some uncertainties about the finalising of the NDP, the club was also keeping their options open by registering an interest in taking over the Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (London)
The London Olympic Stadium will be the centrepiece of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The stadium is located at Marshgate Lane in Stratford in the Lower Lea Valley and has capacity for the Games of approximately 80,000 making it temporarily the third largest stadium in Britain behind...
in conjunction with AEG (Europe)
AEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
and on 12 November 2010 the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) announced that the Tottenham Hotspur/AEG consortium had been shortlisted as one of the two preferred bidders along with West Ham United.
The OPLC announced on 11 February 2011 that West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
had been selected as the preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium, subject to the decision being ratified by Government departments and the Mayor of London.
Tottenham Hotspur joined with Leyton Orient seeking a judicial review to overturn the OPLC's decision. The appeal was rejected in June 2011 The decision not to have a review was appealed on 29 June 2011. The OPLC announced on 5 July 2011 that an independent review into the awarding of the Olympic Stadium to West Ham was to be carried out following the discovery on 30 June 2011 that an employee, Dionne Knight, had been engaged by West Ham to carry out consultancy work relating to the Olympic Stadium without permission of the OPLC. Ms Knight, had already declared to the OPLC that she was in a personal relationship with a director of West Ham and, was suspended whilst a possible conflict of interest was investigated. On 22 August 2011 the independent investigation ruled that the process was not compromised and thus the bid process will not be reopened.
On 24 August 2011, Tottenham and Leyton Orient won a review of the decision, being told that they had an arguable case. The review was schediled to take place on 18 October 2011. However, on 11 October the deal to sell the stadium to West Ham collapsed. On 17 October 2011 it was announced by the government that Tottenham Hotspur (and Leyton Orient) had withdrawn legal action seeking a judicial review into the handing of the Olympic Stadium's future use to West Ham.
West Bromwich Albion
The capacity of The HawthornsThe Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
has been reduced over previous years due to a redevelopment of the Halfords Land End (West Stand). Chairman Jeremy Piece announced at the end of the 2010/11 season plans to increase the capacity of the Hawthorns to 30,000 over the next 3 years. It is not yet clear how this will be achieved however it could mean rebuilding the Halfords Lane End or rebuilding the East Stand corners.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Plans were announced in May 2010 to expand the capacity of MolineuxMolineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
by the 2014/15 season from 29,303 to 36,000, with work beginning at the end of the 2010/11 season on the renovation of the Stan Cullis Stand, affectionately known as the North Bank.
This work is due to be completed at the end of the 2011/12 season, where work on both the Steve Bull and Jack Harris Stand's will commence, Taking capacity to the 36,000 target. Preliminary plans are in place to then develop the Billy Wright Stand, taking capacity above 50,000, but this is subject to demand and has not yet received planning permission as part of the current renovations.
Three of the stadium's four stands were built in the early 1990s, while the first stand was built in 1979. On the new-look stadium's completion in 1993, it was one of the largest club stadiums in England but has since been eclipsed by many other clubs who have relocated to new stadiums or expanded their existing ones.
Barnsley
BarnsleyBarnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
have announced that they are to demolish the old West Stand at Oakwell and replace it with a new 9,000 seater stand similar to the current East Stand . Oakwell Stadium
Oakwell Stadium
Oakwell is a multi-purpose sports development in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England used primarily by Barnsley Football Club for playing their home fixtures, and those of their reserves....
currently holds 23,000 all-seated spectators and has done so since the mid 1990s. The plans for the reconstruction of the West Stand were first announced in the late 1990s.
Blackpool
In March 2008, the BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
chairman claimed that plans to build a new ground on the edge of the town were unlikely to be revived. In 1996 Blackpool had been preparing to move to a 40,000 seat superstadium, part of a shopping complex. Instead the club are set on redeveloping Bloomfield Road. On 8 July 2008, the club released a statement from club president, Valeri Belokon
Valeri Belokon
Valeri Belokon is a Latvian businessman, chairman of the Council, and shareholder in the Baltic International Bank and President of English football club Blackpool....
stating that work on both the new South Stand and the South-West corner would begin immediately, with Belokon and the Oyston family in a full partnership to fund the building of the stands.
The South Stand was originally projected to be complete by May 2009. Work began on the South Stand and South West Corner in December 2008. The stand officially opened on 10 March 2010 by Jimmy Armfield
Jimmy Armfield
James Christopher "Jimmy" Armfield, CBE, DL is an English former professional football player and manager who currently works as a football pundit for BBC Radio Five Live. He played the whole of his Football League career at Blackpool, usually at right back...
, former Blackpool player and the stand's namesake. The current stadium capacity is now 12,555.
On 14 November 2009 it was revealed that the football club hope to work with Urban Regeneration Company
Urban Regeneration Company
Urban Regeneration Companies are private companies in the United Kingdom that seek to achieve a radical physical transformation of their areas through masterplanning and co-ordinating financial assistance to developers from both the public and private sector....
ReBlackpool to build a new East Stand that would contain both seating and office/retail space rather than as originally planned for just seating. This will mean a larger stand is to be built which will require additional land to be acquired.
On 13 May 2010, Karl Oyston pledged that construction of the East Stand would begin immediately, so long as they gain promotion to the Premier League.
On 14 June the temporary seating comprising the East Stand was removed, which will be replaced with a 5,070-seat covered temporary stand which, when built, will raise the capacity to around 15,500.
From 28 August 2010, the capacity of Bloomfield Road will be 16,220 after the completion of the new temporary East Stand.
Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton's 14-year wait for a permanent home came to an end when Brighton moved to The American Express Community Stadium in 2011. The stadium has built into its design the ability to have capacity increased to 30,000. There are plans to increase the capacity of the ground to 30,000 at the end of the 2011-12 Season. This will be done by filling in all four corners of the stadium and adding an extra tier on both the East and the North stand. However, Brighton have yet to receive the results of their planning application from Lewes Council. In November 2011, Brighton received a £2,000,000 donation from the Football Stadium Improvement Fund. This proves the club's ambition to become a stable Premier League club. A goal, which the club have been chasing for a long time.Bristol City
On 29 November 2007 it was announced that after over 100 years at Ashton Gate, Bristol CityBristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
would be moving to a new stadium in South Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. This proposed new stadium
Bristol City Stadium
The Bristol City Stadium is a proposed football stadium, announced in November 2007, which would be built on land at Ashton Vale, Bristol, England, and would replace Ashton Gate stadium as the home stadium of Bristol City F.C...
will have a capacity of 30,000 seats. Ashton Gate currently holds more than 21,000 all-seated spectators and has done since the mid 1990s, as the initial plan was to upgrade the existing stadium rather than relocate to a new site.
Burnley
BurnleyBurnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
have an ongoing £20m development of Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
planned. This will involve refurbishing some of the older stands, and will see capacity raised slightly above 22,000. Further development after that is probable, with the Chief Executive Paul Fletcher confirming a second tier would be added to the Bob Lord Stand after the club won promotion to the Premier League. This would increase the capacity to around 28,000. The redevelopment will also include the new Stadiarena stand which effectively converts an outdoor stadium stand into an indoor arena and exhibition space within six minutes.
Cardiff City
A new all-seater stadium, planned since the late 1990s, for Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
opened in 2009 and is shared with the Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club....
rugby union club. The new Cardiff City Stadium initially holds 27,000, with short term possibility to increase to 35,000. It is to be the second largest stadium in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, after the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
, also in the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
capital.
Coventry City
Coventry CityCoventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
moved to the 32,500 seater Ricoh Arena
Ricoh Arena
The Ricoh Arena , home to Coventry City F.C., is a stadium complex situated in the Rowleys Green district of the city of Coventry, England containing a 32,609 seater football stadium, a 6,000 square-metre exhibition hall, a hotel, a leisure club, and a casino...
in 2005, leaving their historic home Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
which was the first all-seater ground in England. Coventry had long planned a move to a purpose-built 45,000-seat stadium, with original suggestions including a retractable roof and pitch à la Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem
Vitesse Arnhem
Stichting Betaald Voetbal Vitesse is a Dutch football club from Arnhem, which was founded on 14 May 1892. Vitesse has had considerable success in the Eredivisie, and featured in the UEFA Cup competition, but has never been considered a close competitor of the top three clubs of Netherlands...
. Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
had even hoped to become the home of the new national stadium, joining Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the race to be the new Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, but were unsuccessful in their bid. The Ricoh Arena includes a vast exhibition centre built onto the main stand. Despite a slight increase in attendance figures since moving from Highfield Road, Coventry City's continued failure to regain their place among the upper echelons of the League structure means there are always many empty seats at the Ricoh Arena.
Crystal Palace
In January 2011, Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
announced plans to move from their Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
home to return to the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
(on the site of the original ground the club left in 1915, a stadium that also hosted the FA Cup final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
from 1895 to 1914). The plans involve demolishing the existing structure and redeveloping it into a 40,000-seater, purpose-built football stadium
Crystal Palace Park (stadium)
Crystal Palace Park is a proposed football stadium which would be built in Crystal Palace, London, England, and would replace Selhurst Park as the home stadium of Crystal Palace Football Club...
. Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
also released plans to redevelop the NSC into a 25,000-seater stadium, maintaining it as an athletics stadium, as part of their plans to redevelop the Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (London)
The London Olympic Stadium will be the centrepiece of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The stadium is located at Marshgate Lane in Stratford in the Lower Lea Valley and has capacity for the Games of approximately 80,000 making it temporarily the third largest stadium in Britain behind...
after the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
and Paralympics
2012 Summer Paralympics
The 2012 Summer Paralympic Games will be the fourteenth Paralympics and will take place between 29 August and 9 September 2012. The Games will be held in London, United Kingdom after the city was successful with its bid for the Paralympics and Summer Olympic Games.Even though 2012 will be London's...
. However, Spurs' failure to secure the site, which instead went to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
has left the road clear for Palace to pursue the site.
Derby County
In April 2007, Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
released details of a proposed £20m development around their Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium is an all-seater football stadium located on the Pride Park business park on the outskirts of Derby, England. It is the current home of Football League Championship club Derby County, who moved to the stadium from the Baseball Ground upon its opening in 1997...
which would create about 250 jobs. The Pride Plaza project would include a 165-bed hotel, bars, restaurants and office space. On November 9, 2007 Derby City Council agreed to let the plans go ahead.
Additionally the club has announced plans to expand the capacity up from 33,500 to 44,000, with the work due to take place during the 2007–08 close season., provided the club avoided relegation. The plans include adding rows of seats to the north, south and east stands. If completed, this would allow the club to break its current club record home attendance, Pride Park was opened in 1997 when Derby left the Baseball Ground
Baseball Ground
The Baseball Ground was a stadium in Derby, England. It was first used for baseball as the home of Derby County Baseball Club from 1890 until 1898 and then for football as the home of Derby County from 1895 until 1997. It was commonly referred to as the "BBG".As the name suggests, the stadium was...
, as one of the first clubs to relocate to a new stadium to comply with the Taylor Report
Taylor 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...
. The new stadium was opened just 18 months after the decision to relocate was made public; the previous plan had been for the Baseball Ground to be rebuilt with a 26,000-seat capacity. However, the club failed to maintain its top-flight status and when, in January 2008, was sold into new American ownership, in the form of General Sports and Entertainment both the Plaza plan and the Ground expansion initiatives were scrapped.
On 3 October 2011, Derby County announced that they had submitted plans to Derby City Council for a £7 million development of land outside the stadium, which the club named "The Plaza @ Pride Park".
These plans include five cafes
Coffeehouse
A coffeehouse or coffee shop is an establishment which primarily serves prepared coffee or other hot beverages. It shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant, but it is different from a cafeteria. As the name suggests, coffeehouses focus on...
/restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s, two convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
s and 2,000 square metres of office space
Office
An office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organization with specific duties attached to it ; the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one's duty. When used as an adjective, the...
. These plans have been scaled down from the planned £20 million pound development proposed in 2007. Derby County CEO Tom Glick, said that these plans would help the club deal with the new Financial Fair Play regulations which will be introduced in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
from 2012, as revenue from the Plaza will be reinvested back into the club.
This planned development also coincides with a plan from the City Council to build a multi-use sports arena on the same site as the proposed Plaza.
Doncaster Rovers
In December 2006 the Keepmoat Stadium in DoncasterDoncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
held its first sporting fixture. even though it did not have its official opening until August 2007 when they played Manchester United in a pre-season friendly.
The stadium's construction began in 2005 and cost an estimated £32 million. The stadium has a capacity to hold 15,231 people, however if demand for ticket sales goes up and Doncaster Rovers establish themselves as a league contender the stadium can be expanded by placing second tiers on both the north and south stand ends,the goal ends, this would increase the capacity to about 20,000.
The ground has many facilities, and was considered as a training ground for the 2018/2022 England world cup bid, the second pitch with track and 500 seater stand, as well as 6 mini-pitches helped with this. it also has international standard changing room facilities. As well as a top quality hospitality service centre. However, England lost this bid.
Hull City
Hull'sHull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
KC Stadium
KC Stadium
The KC Stadium, often shortened to the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull , England. Conceived as early as the late 1990s, it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately £44 million. It is named after the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider KC,...
, which opened in 2002, is designed to provide for future expansion to a capacity of approximately 30,000 by the addition of a second tier on the Arco East Stand. In March 2008 the Hull chairman said an expansion could potentially take place within two years if there was a clear need for further capacity.
When Hull moved to the stadium in December 2002, they were still playing in Division Three (they reached the Premier League in 2008). For the 56 years prior to that, they had played at Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park was a football stadium in Kingston upon Hull, and was home to the football club Hull City for over 50 years from 31 August 1946 until December 2002, when they moved to the Kingston Communications Stadium....
but the decision was made to build a new stadium when a takeover by Adam Pearson
Adam Pearson
Adam Pearson is Head of Football Operations of Hull City and owner of Hull F.C. rugby league club. He is the former chairman of English association football club Derby County.-Career:...
in 2001 the club's new owner declared his ambition to build a stadium suited to top flight football, as Boothferry Park was too confined to develop a stadium fit for top division football.
Ipswich Town
Ipswich have plans to modernise Portman RoadPortman Road
Portman Road is an association football stadium in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. It has been the home ground of Ipswich Town F.C. since 1884. The stadium has also hosted a number of England youth international matches, and one senior England friendly international match, against Croatia in 2003...
stadium should they be promoted back to the Premier League, via 'Project Leap'. This would involve the area for the 3000 seats needed for Premier League away teams, as the current area foraway fans is not big enough, and would mean expanding into premium season ticket holders seating.
Leeds United
At one point, while flying high in Europe, LeedsLeeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
were examining a potential move to a new 67,000-seat stadium in nearby Stourton
Stourton, West Yorkshire
Stourton is a mainly industrial area of the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.The area is 2 miles to the south east of Leeds city centre and lies between Hunslet, the M1 motorway and Cross Green in the LS10 postcode area....
, while there were also plans to redevelop Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
as a 60,000-seat "Wembley of the North". Following the club's collapse into administration and dropping down two divisions, the sum of Leeds stadium ambitions at the present is simply to regain ownership of Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
, which had to be sold to offset debts.
The current stadium has been all-seater since 1994, when the Kop (now the Don Revie Stand) was refurbished. The most significant recent development took place in 1992/1993, when the 17,000 seat East Stand was built, on the old Lowfields Road end, pushing capacity up to just over 40,000.
There are now plans to redevelop the land around Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
with a shopping arcade, new club megastore, two hotels and nightclub. There are also plans to increase the seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
to 50,000-60,000 should Leeds United return to the Premier League within the near future.
Leicester City
Leicester have plans to extend the King Power Stadium if they reach the Premier League and begin to settle there. The stadium plans could possibly extend the south, north or east stand into a 2 tier stadium, bringing the final capacity to around 40-45,000 seats.The club have played at their 32,500-seat stadium since relocating from nearby Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Filbert Street, in Leicester, England, was a football stadium, and the home of Leicester City from 1891 to 2002. Although officially titled "The City Business Stadium" in the early 1990s, it remained known almost exclusively by its address, like many English football stadia.- Early years :The club,...
in 2002. They had spent 111 years at Filbert Street and converted it into an all-seater format in 1993 with the construction of one new stand and the refurbishment of the three others, but a run of success in the top flight prompted demand for tickets vastly outstripping supply, and the stadium's confined location made expansion difficult, so by 1998 the decision was made to build a new stadium.
Middlesbrough
Currently Middlesbrough F.C.Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
appear happy with the size of their 35,000 seat Riverside Stadium
Riverside Stadium
The Riverside Stadium is a football stadium in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England, which has been the home of Middlesbrough F.C. since it opened in 1995...
, with average crowds well below the current limit. However they have planning permission to expand by another 7,000 seats. If 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...
had been successful in bidding to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup
2018 FIFA World Cup
The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups was the process by which the locations for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups were selected. The process began officially in March 2009; eleven bids from thirteen countries were received, including one which was withdrawn and one that was...
, the expansion would have been likely to occur to ensure consideration as a World Cup venue. Middlesbrough have played at the Riverside since 1995, when they moved from Ayresome Park
Ayresome Park
-External links:**-References:...
in the first relocation of a top division club's stadium for 72 years. The stadium took a mere 32 weeks to build and the relocation decision was only made public just over a year before the stadium was opened.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest currently play at the 30,602 capacity City GroundCity Ground
The City Ground is a football stadium in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Trent. It has been home to Nottingham Forest Football Club since 1898, and has a capacity of 30,602 ....
. The club had plans to move into a 50,000 seat new stadium
New Nottingham Forest Stadium
The New Nottingham Forest Stadium was a proposed football stadium which would have been built in Nottingham. Several locations were discussed, with the hope that the ground would host matches at the 2018 World Cup had England's bid been successful. The stadium would also have been home of...
in the Clifton area of the city. The club is unlikely to move to Clifton as it initially announced, Nottingham City Council is in favour of a location closer to the city centre. There have also been plans for the Main Stand (the oldest part of the ground) to be rebuilt, but nothing definite has yet been confirmed.
Peterborough United
have played at London Road since 1934, although due to its age and the fact that it has terracing the club are considering options to move. A number of alternative sites have been put forward in Peterborough council's January 2009 Area Action PlanArea Action Plan
An area action plan is an optional development plan document specified in United Kingdom planning law forming part of a local development framework...
for the City Centre Area. This document's consultation period has now closed and thus the publication of the final AAP is awaited for more information on preferred sites for a new stadium.
At the end of the 2010/11 season demolition of the away terrace (Moyes End) commenced. This making way for a new all seater stand, but leaving visiting supporters with only 3-4 thousand seats for the duration of the 2011/12 season.
Portsmouth
PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
had the smallest stadium in the Premier League during the 2007-08 season. The board planned to remedy this by rebuilding Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
turning the pitch round 90 degrees. This was then abandoned in favour of a 35,000 'Pompey Village' plan, and then superseded by the current proposed Portsmouth Dockland Stadium
Portsmouth Dockland Stadium
Portsmouth Dockland Stadium was the codename for a future football stadium to be located in Portsmouth, England. The stadium was expected to have a capacity of 36,000 people. The stadium would have been built on reclaimed land from the Portsmouth Harbour and would be located near the city's naval...
which is planned to hold 36,000 seated spectators, which they had been hoping to have ready in 2011. However it has been revealed that Portsmouth FC are now preparing to build a 36,000 seater stadium at Horsea Island
Horsea Island
Horsea Island was an island located off the northern shore of Portsmouth Harbour; gradually subsumed by reclamation, it is now connected to the mainland...
Portsmouth have been considering relocation since the early 1990s, but had upgraded their stadium to an all-seater capacity as a short-term measure.
In May 2009 all stadium relocation plans were put on hold. The club are looking to expand the current Fratton Park stadium by going back to its original plan of turning it around and increasing capacity to 30,000.
Reading
ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
announced plans for the expansion of the Madejski Stadium
Madejski Stadium
The Madejski Stadium is a stadium in Reading, Berkshire, England. The stadium is the home of Reading Football Club and to the rugby union club London Irish as tenants. It also provides the finish for the Reading Half Marathon...
. The proposal involves increasing the stadium to 38,000 seats by expanding all stands except the West Stand, and rebuilding the roof. These plans were dependent on Reading staying in the Premiership.; following relegation in 2008, the plans are uncertain. A new railway station Reading GreenPark is opening near to the ground.
The Madejski Stadium was opened in 1998, having first been proposed in 1994 as Reading climbed up the league and construction of an all-seater stadium was necessary. Elm Park
Elm Park (stadium)
Elm Park was a football stadium in the West Reading district of the English town of Reading. It was the home of Reading Football Club from 1896 until 1998, when they moved to the new Madejski Stadium....
was deemed unsuitable for renovation due to its confined location and the ambitions of chairman John Madejski
John Madejski
Sir John Robert Madejski OBE DL is an English businessman, with commercial interests, spanning property, broadcast media, hotels, restaurants, publishing and football...
to establish Reading in the top flight, so the decision to build a new stadium was made.
Watford
WatfordWatford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
play their home games at the 20,000 seater Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
Stadium. In 2007, the club announced renovation work to the stadium, including a new stand, the filling in of two corners with media centres, and a new dugout/changing room area. The £32.5 million development will also include key worker housing to the rear of the Rookery Stand, primarily for workers at adjacent Watford General Hospital.
West Ham United
West Ham UnitedWest Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
shelved plans for a new stadium
New West Ham Stadium
The New West Ham Stadium was the working name of a proposed football stadium to be built in East London. It would replace the Boleyn Ground as the home of West Ham United F.C., but plans to develop a new stadium have been shelved in the wake of the 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis...
in east London at a Parcelforce depot adjacent to West Ham tube station following their chairman's bankruptcy in the Icelandic financial crisis. In October 2010 the club formally registered an interest in conjunction with Newham Borough Council in taking over the nearby 2012 Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (London)
The London Olympic Stadium will be the centrepiece of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The stadium is located at Marshgate Lane in Stratford in the Lower Lea Valley and has capacity for the Games of approximately 80,000 making it temporarily the third largest stadium in Britain behind...
. The plan involved a 60,000 capacity stadium and the retention of the running track. A converted Olympic stadium would be part of the 2018 World Cup bid. On 12 November 2010 the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) announced that West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur were the two preferred bidders to take over the Olympic stadium after the 2012 Olympics. The OPLC announced on 11 February 2011 that West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
had been selected as the preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium, subject to the decision being ratified by Government departments and the Mayor of London.
A.F.C. Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth's Dean Court ground was completely rebuilt in 2001, with the pitch rotated ninety degrees from its original position. The stadium was also moved away from adjacent housing. Although it was rebuilt as a three sided stadium, seats were placed on the undeveloped South End in the autumn of 2005. These seats were removed when the club was relegated to the bottom tier in 2008 but installed once more following promotion back to League One in 2010. The design allows for the construction of a permanent fourth stand which would raise the capacity to 12,000.Brentford
The clubBrentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
are hoping to move to a new 20,000 capacity stadium
Lionel Road Stadium
Brentford Community Stadium is a proposed stadium in Kew Bridge, west London with a projected capacity of 20,000. It is planned to be the home of Brentford F.C..-Background:...
in nearby Kew Bridge
Kew Bridge
Kew Bridge is a bridge in London over the River Thames. The present bridge was designed by John Wolfe-Barry and opened in 1903 by King Edward VII. The bridge was givenGrade II listed structure protection in 1983.- Location :...
. After several years of effort, the club announced in December 2007 that they had been given an option on the site at Lionel Road, and announcing two months later a link-up with property developer Barratt Homes to develop the site. The proposed move is strongly backed by fans, particularly as it will keep them in the London Borough of Hounslow
London Borough of Hounslow
-Political composition:Since the borough was formed it has been controlled by the Labour Party on all but two occasions. In 1968 the Conservatives formed a majority for the first and last time to date until they lost control to Labour in 1971. Labour subsequently lost control of the council in the...
. The new stadium may be shared with a professional rugby club.
At one point it was reported that the club would increase the capacity of their existing Griffin Park
Griffin Park
Griffin Park is a football ground situated in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It has been the home ground of League One side Brentford since it was built in 1904. It is known for being the only English league football ground to have a pub on each corner, and is situated in a...
ground from 12,500 to 17,000 but these plans now appear to be hold in relation to the new stadium.
Charlton Athletic
CharltonCharlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
have planning permission from Greenwich Council
Greenwich London Borough Council
Greenwich London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Greenwich in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. Greenwich is divided into 17 wards, each electing three councillors...
to rebuild the East Stand at The Valley, increasing capacity to 31,000. Potential future improvements could see this raised to 40,000 but this is unlikely to happen unless the club is promoted back to the Premier League or comes under new ownership.
Colchester United
Colchester UnitedColchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
took possession of a new stadium, funded by the local council, in July 2008. The Colchester Community Stadium cost £16 million to build and has a capacity of 10,000 seats. There is potential for future expansion to 18,000.
Milton Keynes Dons
MK DonsMilton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
opened their Stadium:mk home in 2007. Capacity is currently 22,000 and plans are to expand to 32,000 as MK Dons build a larger fan base in the town. Plans are now in place to increase the capacity between 46,000 - 55,000 seats but with 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...
's failure to win the bidding for the 2018 World Cup any improvements to increase the stadium's attendance would be dependent on promotion to the Barclays Premier League at least. In November 2011, MK Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
announced that they will expand Stadium mk to 32,000 for the 2012–13 season.
Oldham Athletic
Oldham AthleticOldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
are currently planning a move to a new 12,000 capacity stadium
The Failsworth Project
The Failsworth Project was the unofficial name for the proposed 12,000 capacity football stadium for Oldham Athletic A.F.C in the town of Failsworth away from Boundary Park, on the site of the Lancaster Club, costing £20 million...
in Failsworth
Failsworth
At Failsworth lies north-northwest of London. It shares common boundaries with Manchester and Oldham, on its west and northeast respectively. Failsworth is traversed by the A62 road, from Manchester to Oldham, the heavy rail line of the Oldham Loop and the Rochdale Canal, which crosses the...
, on the site of the Lancaster Club. The site is currently designated as having charitable trust status, but in June 2010 the Charity Commission for England and Wales agreed to Oldham council's
Metropolitan Borough of Oldham
The Metropolitan Borough of Oldham is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It has a population of 219,600, and spans . The borough is named after its largest town, Oldham, but also includes the outlying towns of Chadderton, Failsworth, Royton and Shaw and Crompton, the village of...
request for the designation to be swapped with other land in the borough, in order that the site could be developed for a stadium. The next step is for a public consultation on the alternative replacement community sites.
Plans to redevelop Boundary Park
Boundary Park
Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park....
, starting with the Broadway Stand, were scrapped in on 5 September 2008, after Simon Blitz
Simon Blitz
Simon Blitz is an English businessman who is the former chairman of Oldham Athletic of Football League One. He is one of three businessmen who purchased Oldham in 2003, along with Simon Corney and Danny Gazal. On 7 July 2010, he stepped down as chairman of Oldham, along with Gazal, citing personal...
told podcast World Soccer Daily
World Soccer Daily
World Football Daily is a sports radio talk show hosted by Martin Rogers and Sophie Nicolaou. The show broadcasts live on the show's official website, WorldFootballDaily.com, Monday through Friday 9–11 a.m, PST, and is later made available as a podcast...
that although Oldham still plan to continue the development of Boundary Park and surrounding areas, the plans are on hold for now because of the financial crisis of 2007–2010 and the subsequent downturn in the UK property market. This was despite the Broadway Stand already being demolished.
Boundary Park
Boundary Park
Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park....
has been all-seater since the mid 1990s, though the improvements were very much a task of refurbishment rather than reconstruction.
Preston North End
Preston NEPreston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
completed its Invincibles Stand in 2008. Deepdale's
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
capacity is 24,000.
Sheffield United
Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
are keen to build up their non-football related income. In light of this, the club have built a new four-star hotel at the complex. In addition the Kop Stand is to be redeveloped and expanded by 3,000, and should the club ever be promoted back to the Premier League, the South Stand would be increased by 4,000, to take total capacity to just over 40,000. Plans to then further the capacity of Bramall Lane to 45,000 were granted permission in October 2009.
Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
became all-seater in the mid 1990s after the completion of two new stands and the refurbishment of two existing stands.
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday announced in the summer of 2009 plans for a £22m upgrade of the stadium and an increase in capacity to 44,825 with no viewing restrictions. These plans will be completed by 2013 and will bring the stadium up to FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
standards for hosting World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
matches.
To remove any viewing restrictions the current pillars that support the roof of the Kop and West Stand will be removed. An 'iconic' roof structure will support the Kop's roof while the West Stand will have a completely new roof. The North West Terrace will get a roof and a corner of seating will be added between the Kop and North Stand with a roof. The current layout of tiers on the West Stand will be radically changed and a new tier of seats will be added as well as a 'new specific learning zone' between the new upper tier and present upper tier. The mega-store and gymnasium behind the North Stand will be demolished and the North Stand will be expanded to create the 'biggest classroom in Europe' as well as 'enterprise zones' and 17 boxes. The South Stand floor plan and stadium surroundings will be improved to comply with FIFA requirements. Stadium parking and access will be improved as will the exterior appearance of all stands.
Planning permission was granted for the entire scheme in 20 October 2009 but work hasn't started yet as of 16 July 2010.
Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers originally had plans to expand Prenton ParkPrenton Park
Prenton Park is an association football stadium in Birkenhead, England. It is the home ground of Tranmere Rovers F.C. The club moved to the current Prenton Park in 1912. The ground has had several rebuilds, with the most recent occurring in 1995 in response to the requirement of the Taylor Report...
's capacity to 30,000 should the club have reached the Premier League. With this now looking unlikely, the club are looking to replace their ageing Main Stand for a more modern structure.
Tranmere have been linked with a new stadium as part of the £4.5 Billion "Wirral Waters" Scheme, That has recently been given the go ahead. The capacity may be lowered from the current Prenton Park due to dwindling attendances.
Walsall
Walsall F.C.Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
have announced they have gained planning permission to rebuild the William Sharp End, adding an extra 2,300 seats and raising overall capacity at the Bescot Stadium
Bescot Stadium
Bescot Stadium, also known as the Banks's Stadium for sponsorship purposes, is the home ground of Walsall Football Club. It was built in 1989-90 by GMI Construction with a reported build cost of £4.5m...
to 13,500.
Bescot Stadium was opened in 1990 to replace nearby Fellows Park
Fellows Park
Fellows Park was a football stadium in Walsall, England. It was the home ground of Walsall F.C. from 1896 till 1990, when the team moved to the Bescot Stadium....
, and originally had a capacity of just under 10,000, of which approximately two thirds was seated. The construction of a new all-seater stand on the site of the terraced section took place in 2002.
Wycombe Wanderers
In 2007 it was announced that Wycombe WanderersWycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
in partnership with London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
were looking to build a new 20,000 capacity ground in High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
to replace the current Adams Park
Adams Park
Adams Park is a football stadium in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. It is the home ground of Wycombe Wanderers F.C. and the Aviva Premiership Rugby Union club London Wasps...
(only built in 1990 to replace Loakes Park
Loakes Park
Loakes Park was the home of Wycombe Wanderers Football Club from 1895 to 1990. It was located next to Wycombe General Hospital in the centre of High Wycombe, UK...
) where the capacity is capped, and further expansion is not possible.
The current Adams Park
Adams Park
Adams Park is a football stadium in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. It is the home ground of Wycombe Wanderers F.C. and the Aviva Premiership Rugby Union club London Wasps...
stadium was taken out of the Green Belt
Green belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
in April 2008, allowing expansion of the ground if additional access routes are provided to cover emergency access.
Two sites are currently being considered, the site of the current Sports Centre at Handy Cross is ideal as it has motorway links with the M25 and M40. Another possible site is at the nearby Booker Airfield, which is roughly a mile away from the Handy Cross Site and motorway links. It is under 3 miles away from the current ground Adams Park.
The Wycombe Board are contemplating a new stadium so that their partnership with Wasps can continue. As the minimum capacity of a Premiership Rugby ground will be 15,000 in the near future and Adams Park cannot be expanded beyond 12,500, which itself can only be a temporary increase, a new stadium is required to keep the partnership intact.
AFC Wimbledon
On their foundation in 2002, AFC WimbledonAFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon is a professional English football club that traces its origins to Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton. Based at Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, the club are members of Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football....
moved in with Kingstonian at Kingsmeadow, purchasing the ground. They do have long term plans to relocate the club to the London Borough of Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
, the traditional home of Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
, whom they claim descent from. There was speculation that the club might try to purchase Wimbledon Stadium
Wimbledon Stadium
Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium is a greyhound racing track located in Wimbledon in southwest London, England. It also hosts speedway, stock car and other racing events....
, currently used for greyhound racing, which was put up for sale in September 2007.
Bristol Rovers
In 2007 Bristol RoversBristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
were given permission to redevelop the Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Bristol)
The Memorial Stadium, also commonly known by its previous name of The Memorial Ground, is a sports ground in Bristol, England, dedicated to the memory of the rugby union players of the city killed during World War I...
into a 18,500 seat complex, with a hotel and restaurant. Construction was due to begin in 2008 and finish in 2010, but the redevelopment stalled after a major contributor pulled out shortly before development was due to begin. The work was then due to begin in summer 2009 with the redevelopment expected to be finished around 2011, during which time the club will continue to play at the ground with the capacity never dropping below 8,500 during the redevelopment. Originally, it was planned that Rovers would play at Whaddon Road
Whaddon Road
Whaddon Road is a football stadium in Cheltenham, England. It is the home ground of Cheltenham Town F.C. and shared with Gloucester City A.F.C.. It has a total capacity of 7,066, with a mixture of seating and terracing...
in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
. Since this, Bristol Rovers haven't been able to find the financial backing to be able to finish the project.
The club now plans to move to the UWE Stadium
UWE Stadium
UWE Stadium is the provisional name for a 20,000 all-seater stadium proposed to be built in the outskirts of Bristol as a new home for League Two side Bristol Rovers and possibly Bristol Rugby. The stadium will replace the current home of both clubs Memorial Stadium which will be sold to...
on the outskirts of Bristol, near Frenchay
Frenchay
Frenchay is a suburb of Bristol, England, to the north east of the city, but located mainly in South Gloucestershire and the Civil Parish of Winterbourne....
. The sale of the Memorial Ground to supermarket chain Sainsbury's will partially fund the project. Therefore any move to the stadium would be dependent on planning permission for both the supermarket and the new stadium.
Cheltenham Town
The club are in negotiations with Cheltenham RacecourseCheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
about building a new 10,000 seater stadium. The ground would be built on what is a tented area during the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
and would include a double sided stand one side being for the football club the other for the racecourse. Until any move happens the club will continue to upgrade the current ground, Whaddon Road
Whaddon Road
Whaddon Road is a football stadium in Cheltenham, England. It is the home ground of Cheltenham Town F.C. and shared with Gloucester City A.F.C.. It has a total capacity of 7,066, with a mixture of seating and terracing...
in accordance with the football regulations.
Crawley Town
Crawley TownCrawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
plan to expand Broadfield Stadium
Broadfield Stadium
Broadfield Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Crawley, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Crawley Town F.C.. The stadium has a capacity of 4,996 people, and is owned by Crawley Borough Council.-West Stand:...
by rebuilding the East Stand, which would increase capacity at the stadium by 2,151 seats. The plans include new turnstile blocks, toilets and concession areas as well as improved floodlighting. If planning permission is granted work should be finished by February 2012.
Gillingham
Priestfield StadiumPriestfield Stadium
Priestfield Stadium is a football stadium in Gillingham, Kent...
has been entirely rebuilt since 1997, but Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
chairman Paul Scally
Paul Scally
Paul Damien Phillip Scally is a London-born businessman who has been the chairman of association football club Gillingham since 1995.-Career:...
has made clear his intention of moving to a new stadium, despite Gillingham dropping from the Championship to League Two since 2005. Although the club have since bounced back to League One, the chairman has announced plans for a new stadium are on hold due to the current financial climate.
Hereford United
The terraced Blackfriars Street End at Edgar Street was closed in 2009 after failing a safety inspection. The club now plan to build a 1,600 seater stand in its place, bringing capacity up to 7,650.Morecambe
MorecambeMorecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
moved from its previous ground at Christie Park to The Globe Arena
Globe Arena (football stadium)
The Globe Arena is a football stadium in Morecambe, Lancashire, England, which is used by Morecambe F.C. It is named after Globe Construction, the company that built the stadium. The stadium holds up to 6,476 supporters, with 2,173 seats available in the Main Stand, which runs the length of one...
at the start of the 2010/11 season. The ground has a capacity of 6000, comprising 2000 seats and 4000 standing spaces.
Oxford United
Oxford UnitedOxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
have plans to purchase the Kassam Stadium
Kassam Stadium
The Kassam Stadium is the home of Oxford United Football Club, and is named after the ground's owner, and former chairman of the club, Firoz Kassam....
and to build a fourth side to it. Now that they have regained Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
status and attendances rise to sufficiently justify it, this is increasingly likely.
The stadium was first planned in 1995 and construction began in 1997, but financial difficulties saw construction suspended shortly after it begin, and the relocation from the dilapidated Manor Ground was not completed until 2001. By then, two relegations in three seasons had dragged the club from Division One to Division Three, coinciding with a fall in attendances, and this was the reason for the stadium initially only having three sides incorporating 12,500 seats. The planned fourth stand would take the capacity to around 16,000.
Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth ArgylePlymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
are undertaking a long-term transition of Home Park
Home Park
Home Park is an all-seater football stadium in the Central Park area of Plymouth, England, and is the home of Football League Two club Plymouth Argyle. The ground, given the nickname the Theatre of Greens by the club's supporters, has been Argyle's permanent residence since 1901...
. The next stage will involve converting the remaining standing areas of the ground, turning it into a 18,500 all-seater (a slight capacity reduction from the current 19,500). Further expansion would be possible from there, by adding additional tiers, though this is not part of present plans. The most recent development at the ground took place in 2001, with the replacement of three stands with a new all-seater horseshoe-shaped stand. Before that, there had been plans to move to a new 25,000-seat stadium elsewhere, but these were scrapped in favour of regenerating Home Park.
A bid by Plymouth to become a candidate city for the English bid for the World Cup in 2018 or 2022
English 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bid
England 2018 was the Football Association's unsuccessful bid for the right to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup. FIFA invited bidding countries to bid for either the 2018 or the 2022 finals, or both...
was announced on August 21, 2009. This included plans for a new, 40,000-seater stadium to be built in Central Park
Central Park, Plymouth
Plymouth's Central Park is a large centralised park situated to the north of Plymouth city centre in south west Devon, England, stretching north from the train station to Pounds House, Peverell and west from Ford Park Cemetery to the A386 .Central Park is trust land, which explains why it has not...
, close to the site of the current stadium Home Park. Following the financial crisis at the club in 2010 in 2011, all stadium projects have been cancelled.
Port Vale
Port ValePort Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
's Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
saw the Lorne Street stand demolished in 1998, and work began on a £3 million all-seater replacement. However as funds ran out, and with the overall capacity of 19,052 already more than adequate, as of March 2011 the stand remains half completed. Plans to install under-soil heating have also not advanced past the planning stage.
Rotherham United
In 2008 Rotherham UnitedRotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
expressed dissatisfaction with their current Millmoor
Millmoor
Millmoor is a stadium in Rotherham, England. It was built and was used for football matches, and until the end of the 2007–08 season was the home ground of Rotherham United F.C., until a dispute over ownership forced them to move to the Don Valley Stadium in nearby Sheffield.The stadium was...
home. Because of this the club are looking in to the construction of a new stadium in the town. Any move is unlikely in the near future because of the current financial difficulties at the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
club. Since the 2008-09 season Rotherham have been playing their home games at the Don Valley Stadium
Don Valley Stadium
The Don Valley Stadium is a stadium in Sheffield, England and is the home of Rotherham United F.C.. The stadium is an athletics stadium which has hosted major UK Athletic events and the 1991 World Student Games. Sheffield Eagles RLFC and Parramore Sports FC also use the stadium. It was designed by...
in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
due to ownership disputes over Millmoor. The Football League has said that the club must return to Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
by 2012.
The club now plan to move to the New Rotherham United Stadium
New Rotherham United Stadium
Rotherham United are due to relocate to a new all-seater stadium in Rotherham town centre, after the chairman Tony Stewart bought the former Guest and Chrimes foundry site...
which is scheduled to open in August 2012.
Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
moved to the New Meadow
New Meadow
The New Meadow, also known as the Greenhous Meadow for sponsorship purposes, is the home ground of Shrewsbury Town Football Club and is a UEFA Category Four stadium. The stadium is situated on the southern outskirts of Shrewsbury, England, between the districts of Meole Brace and Sutton Farm...
in Summer 2007. In November 2007 the club announced that the New Meadow
New Meadow
The New Meadow, also known as the Greenhous Meadow for sponsorship purposes, is the home ground of Shrewsbury Town Football Club and is a UEFA Category Four stadium. The stadium is situated on the southern outskirts of Shrewsbury, England, between the districts of Meole Brace and Sutton Farm...
would be expanded by filling in the corners between the Roland Wycherley Stand, South Stand and West Stand, bringing the overall capacity up to 12,500. Work was hoped to commence summer 2008, however, plans were put on hold to concentrate on events on field.
Southend United
Because Roots HallRoots Hall
Roots Hall is a multi-use sports stadium in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, primarily used for football games and is the home of the Football League Two club Southend United. With a capacity of 12,392 Roots Hall is the largest football stadium in Essex, and is the current venue for the final of...
is difficult to expand, Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
have committed to moving to a new home at Fossetts Farm
Fossetts Farm Stadium
Fossetts Farm Stadium is the provisional name for a stadium proposed to be built in Southend-on-Sea as a new home for Southend United F.C. to replace Roots Hall Stadium. The name may change if sponsorship for the stadium is secured...
which will have 22,000 seats. The development proposal was finally given full approval by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, is a Cabinet position heading the UK's Department for Communities and Local Government....
in July 2008. Following delays associated with obtaining the necessary funds, minor changes to the scheme were submitted to and approved by the council. However, by summer 2010, work has yet to commence on the new site as the club continued to suffer from huge financial difficulties. Although supermarket chain Sainsbury's, who intend to build a new hypermarket complex on the Roots Hall site, reached a deal with the club's owners to loan suitable capital to continue its operation, including supplying the cash that allowed the club to avoid several winding-up applications during 2010, there is still no firm date set for the beginning of construction.
A.F.C. Telford
A.F.C. Telford UnitedA.F.C. Telford United
A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...
play at the New Bucks Head
New Bucks Head
New Bucks Head is a stadium in Telford, England and the home of Conference National football club A.F.C. Telford United. It was originally built for Telford United to play at before they went bankrupt. The stadium is on the same site as the original Bucks Head, which had been home to Telford...
It was originally built for Telford United to play at before they went bankrupt. The stadium is on the same site as the original Bucks Head, which had been home to Telford United and Wellington Town for over a century. The stadium was completed in 2003, and has a capacity of 6,300. It is covered on three out of four sides. The stadium lease and assets are currently held by Telford and Wrekin
Telford and Wrekin
Telford and Wrekin is a unitary district with borough status in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. The district was created in 1974 as The...
Council, completed in 2003 and was the 111th largest football stadium in 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...
.
Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
are investigating building a new stadium in the Docklands section of the town, which would be shared with the Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
rugby league side.
Bath City
Bath City F.C.Bath City F.C.
Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
had plans to move from Twerton Park
Twerton Park
Twerton Park is a multi-purpose stadium in the Twerton suburb of Bath, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Bath City. From 1986 to 1996 Bristol Rovers played there due to financial problems...
to join with Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
at The Rec
Recreation Ground (Bath)
The Recreation Ground is a large open space in the centre of Bath, England, next to the River Avon, used for recreational purposes by Bath residents and the public generally....
which has a capacity of 10,600. There are long term plans at the club to find a new home.
Cambridge United
Cambridge UnitedCambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
had been investigating the possibility of improving their Abbey Stadium
Abbey Stadium
The Abbey Stadium, known as R Costings Abbey Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium in Cambridge, England. It has been the home ground of Cambridge United F.C. since 1932, and currently has a maximum capacity of 9,617 spectators...
home, but now appear to have abandoned redeveloping the stadium, and are instead proposing a move to a new stadium in Milton
Milton, Cambridgeshire
Milton is a village just north of Cambridge, England. It has a population of approximately 4,300 with 3,200 being on the electoral register. It expanded considerably in the late 1980s when two large housing estates were built between the bypass and the village resulting in a doubling of the...
.
Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood TownFleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-History:...
have invested a lot in Highbury Stadium
Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood
Highbury Stadium is a football stadium in Fleetwood, Lancashire, England with Wyre Borough Council as the landlords. It is the home ground of Fleetwood Town and is also used for home matches by Blackpool F.C. reserves. As of the opening of the new Parkside Stand on 16 April 2011, the ground has a...
recently following many promotions and increased attendances in recent years. In February 2007 the new Percy Ronson Stand was opened. A £500,000-plus development the stand is all terracing, and holds 1,243. making the ground suitable 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...
if they should get promoted in future. In July 2007, further plans for the stadium development were announced which included three new stands. The plans were finalized in December 2007 and in March 2008, planning permission was given for the first phase, construction of the north and west terraces. Construction began in May 2008, and will be complete by the opening game of the 2008-09 season. The new west stand will initially be seated while the final phase of redevelopment, all-seater west stand is built which will include facilities such as function rooms, new changing rooms and club office. Once completed, the west stand will have its seats removed. In May 2010, a couple of days before Fleetwood's playoff final at the stadium work began on the new stand. The stadium was completed in Spring 2011 and opened on 16 April for Fleetwood's game against Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
, which they won 3-1. The stadium's capacity is now 5,500; it is the 118th largest stadium by capacity in England and the sixteenth largest in their league
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...
.
Grimsby Town
The club is hoping to relocate to a new ground on the western outskirts of Grimsby at Great CoatesGreat Coates
Great Coates is a village and civil parish in North East Lincolnshire, England. It is to the north-west of the Grimsby urban area, and is served by Great Coates railway station...
, adjacent to the A180 dual carriageway
A180 road
The A180 is a primary route in northern England, that runs from the M180 motorway to Cleethorpes. The road is a continuation of the M180, but built to lower specifications: it is mainly dual two-lane without hard shoulders. The road is dual carriageway for from the M180 to Grimsby, and is a...
. Planning permission has been granted for the provisionally-titled Conoco Stadium
Conoco Stadium
The Conoco Stadium was the project name for the proposed new football stadium for Grimsby Town Football Club, with no current dates scheduled for work beginning or being completed...
, and if all goes to plan this will be ready for the 2010-11 season, about a decade after relocation was first planned Blundell Park
Blundell Park
Blundell Park is a football ground in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England and home to Grimsby Town Football Club. The stadium was built in 1898, but only one of the original stands remain. The current capacity of the ground is 9546, though with the introduction of all seating in the late...
is the lowest football stadium in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, at a height of only 2 feet above sea-level. While not in immediate danger from rising tides, it is prudent for Grimsby Town to pursue a move to higher ground.
Kettering Town
Kettering have aspirations to move to a new stadium somewhere in the borough, with problems lying in securing funding and securing the lease on current ground, Rockingham RoadRockingham Road
Rockingham Road, known as the Elgoods Brewery Arena for sponsorship purposes, is a football stadium in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It was home to Kettering Town F.C. until 2011, who play in the Conference National....
. Chairman Imraan Ladak insists plans are on track, with a site identified and potential funding sourced. In 2011 Kettering Town moved to Nene Park
Nene Park
Nene Park is a football stadium situated by Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England, along the bank of the River Nene, and holds 6,441, with 4,641 seated and 1,800 standing. The car park can hold 800 vehicles. From 1992 until 2011 it was the home ground of Rushden & Diamonds football club...
, former home of rivals Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
.
Luton Town
The club were planning to move to a 20,000 seat stadium near the M1, outside of LutonLuton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
, but these plans have been delayed because of the club's financial difficulties. Relocation has been in the pipeline since the early 1990s, even though Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road Stadium is a football stadium in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. It has been home to Luton Town Football Club since 1905, when financial complications forced the club to leave its previous location at Dunstable Road...
was converted to all-seater capacity of around 10,000, and at one stage there were plans to move to an indoor stadium but these were scrapped in 1998 when club ownership switched.
Stockport County
Edgeley ParkEdgeley Park
Edgeley Park is an association football and rugby union stadium in Stockport, England. The stadium was initially built for the rugby league club Stockport in 1901, but by 1902, the rugby club was defunct and in the same year, Stockport County Football Club, who were looking for a bigger ground,...
has been under discussion for redevelopment of the away end, called the Railway End, as they planned to add an extra tier and roof to the stand. However due to land behind the stadium being owned by the council, who are currently not willing to sell the land, these plans have been put on hold. Another plan was to build the Popular side and add another tier with executive boxes, but all these plans have been put on hold.
The stadium achieved an 11,000-seat capacity in the late 1990s, when the club was playing in Division One. At one stage there were plans for County to relocate to Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
once Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
vacated it in 2003, but these plans were scrapped and Maine Road has since been demolished.
York City
At one point York CityYork City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
were investigating improving Bootham Crescent, but have now switched their plans to the construction of a new stadium to be shared with the York City Knights
York City Knights
York City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre...
rugby club.
Gloucester City
Gloucester CityGloucester City A.F.C.
Gloucester City Association Football Club is an English semi-professional association football club currently based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in South West England, via groundshare agreement....
are currently groundsharing with Cheltenham Town at the Abbey Business stadium (Whaddon Road) in Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
following the flooding of their Meadow Park stadium in 2007. Gloucester spent one season groundsharing with Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
at The New Lawn in Nailsworth
Nailsworth
Nailsworth is a town in Gloucestershire, England, lying in one of the Stroud Valleys in the Cotswolds. It has a population of around 6,600 people and lies on the A46 road....
and in Cirencester. They are now looking at a move back to the city of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
. However, there has not been a site found yet for a return.
Halifax Town
Halifax had at one point been planning further ground improvements to The ShayThe Shay
The Shay is a multi-use sports stadium in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England near Shaw Hill. FC Halifax Town and Halifax both play their home games at the Shay....
, increasing the Main Stand to take capacity to over 10,000. Financial difficulties meant that development had to put on hold for the foreseeable future, leaving the Main Stand half-finished.
With the club resurrected as FC Halifax Town in the Northern Premier League First Division (North), the Main Stand was completed in March 2010.
Histon
HistonHiston F.C.
Histon Football Club is an English football club based in the twin villages of Histon and Impington, approximately north of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. From the 2007–08 season they competed in the Conference National, the highest level that the club has ever reached in the English football league...
are rebuilding the Bridge Road End, bringing the seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of the stadium up to 1700 and the overall capacity of their Glassworld Stadium
Glassworld Stadium
Bridge Road, also known as the Glassworld Stadium for sponsorship purposes, is a football stadium in Impington, a small village connected to Histon in Cambridgeshire. The ground is owned by a trust called Histon Football Club Holdings, who guarantee the use of the facility for sports purposes....
to over 4000.
Solihull Moors
Solihull Moors have secured a ground share agreement at their Damson Park home with Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.
Birmingham and Solihull Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club representing Birmingham and Solihull. It was formed in 1989 by a merger of the original Birmingham and Solihull rugby clubs, which were both established over 60 years ago....
, home to professional rugby union side, the Bees. The clubs have submitted (Nov08) planning applications for facility and ground improvements which will see the Borough of Solihull offered a centre of excellence and a Community Foundation which will benefit its own populace and beyond. Solihull Moors were founded in 2007 by a merger of local sides Moor Green
Moor Green F.C.
Moor Green F.C. was a non-league association football team originally from the Hall Green area of south Birmingham but later based in the town of Solihull, West Midlands, England...
and Solihull Borough
Solihull Borough F.C.
Solihull Borough F.C. was an English football club from Solihull. In 2007 the club merged with Moor Green to form a new club, Solihull Moors.-History:...
.
Worcester City
Worcester CityWorcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
are planning to move to a new stadium, leaving St George's Lane after more than a century. They have entered into an agreement with developers St Mowden to construct a new 6000 seat stadium at Nunnery Way.
Workington
Following their recent rise in status, WorkingtonWorkington A.F.C.
Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds...
are redeveloping their Borough Park
Borough Park (Workington)
Borough Park is a stadium in Workington, England. It is home to Workington A.F.C., once members of the Football League, they now play in Conference North, Capacity is 2,500, with around 300 seats. The stadium opened in 1937.- References :...
home, to comply with FA regulations. The ground formerly played host to league football until the club's relegation in 1977.
Sutton United
Sutton UnitedSutton United F.C.
Sutton United Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Conference South. They are based in Sutton, London, and play their home games at the Borough Sports Ground in Gander Green Lane....
's ground, the Borough Sports Ground
Borough Sports Ground
The Borough Sports Ground is the home of Sutton United F.C.. It is also known as Gander Green Lane or simply GGL because of its location on that road...
, has a rather distant terrace at the east end, and the club hope to bring the terrace much closer to the goal, along with several other improvements to the clubhouse.
Truro City
As part of their strategy to become the first CornishCornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
side to gain League status, Truro City F.C.
Truro City F.C.
Truro City F.C. are an English professional football club based in Truro, Cornwall. They currently play in the Conference South following five promotions in six seasons. They were founding members of the South Western League in 1951 and won the title five times in their history...
have plans to build a new Stadium for Cornwall
Stadium for Cornwall
The Stadium for Cornwall is a proposed multi-purpose stadium in Threemilestone, Cornwall. There are presently no major sports stadia in Cornwall, with the largest capacity ground being the Recreation Ground in Camborne...
at a new site to the north of the city at Pencoose Farm, Kenwyn
Kenwyn
Kenwyn is a settlement and civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The settlement is a suburb of the city of Truro and is situated half-a-mile north of the city centre. It gives its name to one of three rivers that flow through the city....
which will include a 16,000 all seater stadium, sports bar, training facilities and a youth academy.
Aylesbury United
Aylesbury UnitedAylesbury United F.C.
Aylesbury United are a football club based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, currently playing in the Spartan South Midlands League, nicknamed the Ducks....
have been ground sharing with Chesham United
Chesham United F.C.
Chesham United is an English football club based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, currently playing in the Southern League. They are nicknamed "The Generals" because they were once the football team of the General Baptist Church in Chesham. Chesham Generals merged with Chesham Town to form United...
since their eviction from Buckingham Road in 2006. There are plans to move into a new 10,000 seat stadium if plans to build a sports village are approved.
Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park AvenueBradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
had been planning to leave their current Horsfall Stadium
Horsfall Stadium
Horsfall Stadium is a sports stadium located just off Halifax Road in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, approximately three miles south-east of the city centre. It is currently the home of Bradford Park Avenue Football Club and Bradford Airedale Athletics Club.It was originally built as a running...
for the redeveloped Grattan Stadium
Odsal Stadium
Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal, Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern since 1934...
, which would be shared with Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
. With this redevelopment being continually delayed, through, Avenue are now planning to build a new 20,000 capacity stadium in South Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
.
Cambridge City
The club face a potential eviction from their City GroundCity Ground, Cambridge
The City Ground is a football stadium in Cambridge, England. It is the home of Southern League Premier Division club Cambridge City F.C.-History:...
home in 2010. Their long term future regarding a new stadium is unclear, and it is possible they may be forced to share with their cross-city rivals, Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
at the Abbey Stadium
Abbey Stadium
The Abbey Stadium, known as R Costings Abbey Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium in Cambridge, England. It has been the home ground of Cambridge United F.C. since 1932, and currently has a maximum capacity of 9,617 spectators...
or relocate to another settlement on a temporary basis.
FC United of Manchester
Since the club's formation in 2005, F.C. UnitedF.C. United of Manchester
F.C. United of Manchester is an English semi-professional football club based in Bury, Greater Manchester that plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. It was formed in 2005 by Manchester United supporters opposed to American businessman Malcolm Glazer's controversial takeover of the...
have not had their own home ground. Instead, they share a ground with Bury F.C.
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
, using their Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Historically within Lancashire, it was built for Bury F.C. in 1885, and has been their home ever since.-History:...
ground.
In March 2010, the club announced plans to build their own 5,000-capacity football ground in Newton Heath
Newton Heath
Newton Heath is an urban area of the city of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It is east north east of Manchester city centre and has a population of 9,883....
, the original home of Manchester United. Manchester City Council initially approved, but within a year had backed out from funding the stadium. The council pledged to help FC United build a stadium in a new location with reduced costs, and the alternative site was announced in April 2011 in the Broadhurst Park area of Moston
Moston, Greater Manchester
Moston is a district of Manchester, in North West England, approximately 3 miles north east of the city centre. Historically a part of Lancashire, Moston is a predominantly residential area, with a population of about 12,500 and covering approximately .-History:The name Moston may derive...
, Manchester. The club hopes to be playing in the Moston Community Stadium for the start of the 2012-13 season.
Fisher Athletic
Fisher Athletic had plans to redevelop the Surrey Docks Stadium to bring it up to Football League standards by the start of the 2009/10 season. In November 2007 the club announced that it would prefer to move to a new 10,000 seat stadium on the site of the athletics track in Southwark ParkSouthwark Park
Southwark Park is located in Rotherhithe, in central South East London, and is managed by the London Borough of Southwark. It first opened in 1869 by the Metropolitan Board of Works as one of its first parks...
, but the rebuilding of Surrey Docks Stadium remains a possibility.
Grays Athletic
Grays AthleticGrays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
had plans to redevelop the New Recreation Ground
New Recreation Ground
The New Recreation Ground was a football stadium on Bridge Road, Grays, Essex, England, and was the home ground of Grays Athletic. Prior to it being closed, the capacity stood at 4,100, of which 1,000 is seated....
to facilitate entry into the football league. The club are now seeking to pursue the construction of a new stadium. It is proposed they will ground share with another club while the new arena is built. However it was announced on April 12, 2008 that Grays Athletic plan to move to a new stadium in Aveley
Aveley
Aveley is a place in the Thurrock unitary authority in Essex, England and one of the traditional parishes in Thurrock. It is a suburban development located 16.3 miles east of Charing Cross in London and within the eastern bounds of the M25 motorway.-Location:Aveley is roughly bounded to the north...
, Thurrock
Thurrock
Thurrock is a unitary authority with borough status in the English ceremonial county of Essex. It is part of the London commuter belt and an area of regeneration within the Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The local authority is Thurrock Council....
.
Maidstone United
The clubMaidstone United F.C.
Maidstone United Football Club is an English football team from Maidstone, Kent.The current club is a continuation of the old Maidstone United, which was a member of the Football League between 1989 and 1992. The club was forced out of the league by financial ruin but the youth squad formed the...
that re-formed following the dissolution of the original Maidstone United
Maidstone United F.C. (1897)
The original Maidstone United was an English football club that existed from 1897 to 1992. The club played in the Football League Fourth Division from 1989 until their demise in 1992. During their time in the Football League Maidstone played their games at Dartford's Watling Street Ground...
are currently playing their games at Sittingbourne, but are constructing a new stadium at James Whatman Way
James Whatman Way
James Whatman Way is the project name for the new stadium of Maidstone United, an English football team who currently play their home games at Bourne Park, Sittingbourne...
to open at the start of the 2012-13 season.
Matlock Town
Matlock are in process of rebuilding the North Stand, to bring the stadium capacity up to 2,757, from the previous 2,214 capacity.St Albans City
In 2006 the chairman of the club threatened to move them out of St AlbansSt Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
if the council wouldn't back plans to build a new 10,000 stadium on Green Belt land on the outskirts of St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
. Little has been of the proposition since, and the current Clarence Park has been given a superficial makeover.
St Helens Town
St Helens Town F.C.St Helens Town F.C.
St Helens Town A.F.C. are an English football club based in St Helens. The club are currently members of the Premier Division of the North West Counties League and play their home matches at Ashton Town's Edge Green Street.-History:...
currently share Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves...
with St Helens RLFC, and plan to move with them into their new 18,000 seat stadium
New St Helens Stadium
Langtree Park is a rugby league stadium in St Helens. It has a projected capacity of 18,000. It is the home ground of St Helens RLFC, and St Helens Town F.C.. The stadium was granted full planning permission on 20 May 2008. On 11 July 2008 the go-ahead was given without the need for a public...
.
Weymouth
On 27 August 2008, Weymouth F.C.Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
outlined plans to construct a new 6,000 all-seater stadium, hoped to be open by 2012 when the area hosts sailing events during the London Olympics. A large part of the cost would be offset by the sale and redevelopment of the existing Wessex Stadium.