Leeds United Football Club has revealed the next steps in the plan to enhance and expand its Elland Road Stadium, which has been home of the Whites since 1919.
Leeds said that earlier this year, the ownership of the stadium was transferred back to Leeds United, giving the club full control of the ground for the first time since 2004, with plans now in the works for its long-term future.
Elland Road is a football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England (UK) which has been the home of the EFL Championship club Leeds United F.C. since the club’s formation in 1919. The stadium is the 13th largest football stadium in England.
The existing stadium has a capacity of 37,645 seats, with regeneration set to increase that to circa 53,000, with greatly improved general admission and hospitality facilities.
Leeds United is a one-club city, a rarity in European football and demand for tickets consistently outpaces the currently available supply.
Elland Road in its current form has sold out for every match over the last six years and there are 26,000 supporters on the waiting list for season tickets.
The revitalisation will focus on increasing capacity to the North and West Stands and will be delivered in phases to maintain as much seating as possible during construction.
The club, along with owners 49ers Enterprises, have brought in specialist acoustic consultants to ensure Elland Road’s unique atmosphere is retained.
A local transport consultant has been commissioned to help plan access routes and manage traffic flows during construction.
Critically, the club and the professional team will also be looking closely at matchday travel plans to ensure an improvement in the experience for both residents and supporters arriving at the ground.
Paraag Marathe, Chairman of Leeds United Football Club and President of 49ers Enterprises, said: “We recognise how important Elland Road is to the Leeds United fans and the wider community. The opportunity to refresh a century-old stadium, coupled with the legacy of Leeds United, is unprecedented.
“Our plans reinforce our commitment to the long-term success of the club and I am excited that we are going to be able to welcome thousands more supporters to every game, in a stadium that retains the unique atmosphere of Elland Road. We look forward to sharing our plans with supporters and the local community for their input.”
Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “As council leader and a lifelong Leeds United fan I very much welcome this news for what it could mean for the club, its supporters, the local community and the city. Leeds United inspires real passion in fans and Elland Road itself allows them to demonstrate that fervent support to great effect.
“Expanding and enhancing the existing ground will allow many more fans access to games while protecting the unique Elland Road atmosphere. This investment can also be a catalyst for wider regeneration plans of South Leeds, which represents an opportunity of national significance.
“Getting there will be easier with work to improve Leeds Station and the introduction of a White Rose rail station, along with the potential of a proposed mass transit route from the city centre close to the ground.
“We’ve had some very positive initial meetings with their team and look forward to working with them on this important vision, to ensure this project moves forward and unlocks significant benefits to the city and its communities.”
Leeds United’s owners, 49ers Enterprises, have a wealth of experience having built the famous Levi’s Stadium, one of the premier sports and entertainment venues in the world, whilst members of the club’s board are renowned for overseeing successful major real estate projects across the globe.
The revitalisation of Elland Road Stadium will see 49ers Enterprises bring their expertise from the US, in overseeing a UK-based project team which includes stadium-specialist architects KSS, structural engineers Buro Happold and management team at RISE, whose leadership team managed the delivery of some of the most successful mixed-use projects in the UK.
The key ambitions Leeds United want to achieve from the scheme are to:
- Modernise and improve stadium capacity from 37,645 to c.53,000 seats
- Significant increase to general admission seating, which at present would make Elland Road the seventh largest club stadium in the country
- A core architectural design objective is to maintain and enhance the unique atmosphere
- Phased approach to construction to minimise loss of seating capacity during the project
- Bring Elland Road in line with UEFA Category 4 status, to be amongst the elite in European stadia
- Expert team, combining global stadium experience with local specialist
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