Ground improvements at English football Stadia

Introduction

A large number of English football clubs have ongoing schemes to redevelop existing grounds, or to move to newly constructed stadiums. In recent years there has been a general trend towards all-seater stadiums. Initially a condition only of Premier League admission, it has now become an effectively requirement in the upper tiers of The Football League. New stadiums rarely include any standing areas. Now even in the non-leagues, new all-seater grounds are becoming more commonplace.

History
When Scunthorpe United moved to Glanford Park in 1988, it was the first time a Football League club had moved to a new purpose-built home since 1945. 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. 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 stadia 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 redevelopments have been in the lower division. 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.

Premiership
Aston Villa
Aston Villa are planning 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. Because Villa Park is staging football games during the 2012 Olympic Games, Olympic chief Sebastian Coe has suggested they may receive funding to assist any ground improvements.

Birmingham City
Birmingham City have planning permission to redevelop the Main Stand at St Andrews, which would see capacity rise to around 36,500. The club are currently holding off from completing this, while they are pursuing the more ambitious plan to move to a City of Birmingham Stadium.

Blackburn Rovers
There are long-term plans to redevelop the Riverside Stand which would raise capacity around 9,000 to 40,000. Any development in the immediate future is unlikely, as Rovers currently struggle to fill Ewood Park on a regular basis despite their participation in the Premier League. Blackburn Rovers average attendance in 2007 was just 21,275, well below capacity.

Chelsea
Following Roman Abramovich's takeover, Chelsea have examined expanding their current home at Stamford Bridge. Numerous problems over healthy and safety issues have stalled this, leading to the club being linked with moves to a number of potential sites in West London. In particular, reports in 2006 suggested the Blues were planning a move to a new 65,000 seat stadium in Earl's Court, but the club denied this. Any move away from Stamford Bridge, would inolve the club being forced to change its name, as the Chelsea F.C name is tied to the pitch.

Derby County
In April 2007, Derby County released details of a proposed £20m development around the stadium which would create about 250 jobs. The Pride Plaza project would include a 165-bed hotel, bars, restaurants and office space. On 9 of November Derby City Council agreed to let the plans go ahead.

Additionally the club has announced plans to expand the capacity up from 32,000 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, which stands at 41,826 for a match against Tottenham Hotspur during the 1969-70 season set at The Baseball Ground. The proposed expansion might still go ahead in spite of Derby's relegation from the Premier League, owing to a recent takeover and healthy season ticket sales.

Everton
Everton are planning to relocate to the New Goodison in Kirkby. This has generated a large amount of controversy, as it is beyond the city limits of Liverpool.

New Goodison is planned to have 50,000 seats initially, with potential to increase to 60,000 at a later date.

Fulham
Since Fulhams promotion to the Premiership, 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. This is set to continue in 2008 with a 4000 seat increase at the Hammersmith End, taking capacity to over 30,000. 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.

Liverpool
Liverpool are planning to move to a new Stanley Park Stadium.

Middlesbrough
Currently Middlesbrough F.C appear happy with the size of their 35,000 seat Riverside Stadium, althrough they do have planning permission to expand by another 7000 seats. If England is sucsesfull in bidding to host the 2018 World Cup, the expansion would be likely to occur to ensure consideration as a World Cup venue.

Newcastle United
Newcastle United have plans to increase the capacity of St James' Park by 8000 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 status of these plans have been thrown into doubt by the takeover of the club by Mike Ashley.

Portsmouth
Portsmouth 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 will hold 36,000 when it is opened, currently expected to be around 2011.

Reading
Having established themselves in the Premier League, Reading announced plans for the expansion of the Madjeski Stadium. The proposal involves increasing the stadium to 38,000 seats by expanding all stands expect the West Stand, and rebuilding the roof. These plans are dependent on Reading staying in the Premiership. A new railway station Reading GreenPark is opening near to the ground.

Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham are currently seeking a larger stadium. This may involve expanding White Hart Lane or moving to a new site. The club stated in 2007 that it will announce its preferred option in the first half of 2008. Tony Winterbottom, formerly of the London Development Agency, who worked on development of Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, is reportedly leading the development of the plans for the new stadium.

Sunderland
The stadium 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. In 2007 chairman Niall Quinn said the club had no current plans to increase capacity.

West Ham United
Plans are afoot to move to a new 60,000 stadium in East London, with the most likely site being the Post Office Depot adjacent to West Ham tube station. The club are currently expected to move there by 2011.

This was after West Ham's bid to take over the Olympic Stadium was rejected on the grounds that the venue was to be reduced to 25,000 and used primarily as an athletics venue, providing the 2012 Games with its 'legacy'.

Championship
Blackpool
Developments are underway to increase the capacity of Bloomfield Road to 16,000. This will be done by work on the East and South stands. In March 2008, the Blackpool F.C chairman claimed that plans to build a new ground on the edge of Blackpool 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 appears set on redeveloping Bloomfield Road

Bristol City
On 29 November 2007 it was announced that after over 100 years at Ashton Gate, Bristol City would be moving to a new stadium in South Bristol. This brand new state of the art stadium will have a capacity of 30,000 seats and possibly extend to 40,000 if England are suscessful in their bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

Burnley
There is an ongoing £20m development of Turf Moor. This will involve refurbishing some of the more ramshackle stands, and will see capacity at 22,000. Further development after that is probable.

Cardiff City
A new all-seater stadium is being built for the club, to be shared with the Cardiff Blues rugby union franchise. The New Cardiff City Stadium will initially hold 25,000, with short term possibility to increase to 30,000 and long-term plans to have 60,000 seats. It will be the second largest stadium in Wales, after the Millenium Stadium.

Charlton Athletic
The club have planning permission from Greenwich Council to rebuild the East Stand, 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 United are planning to move from their current Layer Road to a new 10,000 seat stadium just off the A12. This has been given the project name of Cuckoo Farm, and may be further expanded if later required. It is expected to be completed in 2009

Hull City
The KC Stadium is designted to provide for future expansion to a capacity of approximately 30,000 by the addition of a second tier on the Ideal Standard East Stand.

Norwich City
Norwich City could feesibly expand Carrow Road by around 9000 to 35,000 by adding another tier to several stands. This is unlikely to happen unless Norwich are promoted back to the Premier League, or the next round of TV deals generates more income.

Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle 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, through this is not part of present plans.

Preston
Work is underway during 2008 on rebuilding the Pavilion Stand, taking the capacity of Deepdale to 24,000.

QPR
Queens Park Rangers have long harboured ambitions of playing in a larger stadium. This will either be done by expanding their existing Loftus Road ground from it's current 19,000 capacity or by locating to a new stadium elsewhere in West London, with a groundshare 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, but it seems that the new owners are currently more interested in securing promotion and raising attendences.

Sheffield United
Sheffield United are keen to build up their non-football related income. In light of this, the club are currently building a new hotel at the complex. In addition the Kop Stand is to be redeveloped and expanded by 3000, and should the club ever be promoted back to the Premier League, the South Stand would be increased by 4000, to take total capacity to just over 40,000.

Stoke City
There is potential to expand the Britannia Stadium to just over 30,000, through this is unlikely to happen unless Stoke are promoted to the Premiership and crowds rise sufficiently.

Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers may expand Molinuex to 45,000 by adding exta tiers to two ends, and by filling in the corners of the ground. This is unlikely to happen unless they return to the Premier League, as their existing 28,500 capacity is satisfactory to their present needs.

League One
Brighton
In 2007 Brighton were finally given permission to construct a new 22,500 stadium in Falmer, more than a decade after they left their traditional home at the Goldstone Ground. The new Falmer Stadium is hoped to be open in 2010.

Bristol Rovers
In 2007 Bristol Rovers were given permission to redevelop the Memorial Stadium into a 18,500 seat complex, with a hotel and restruant. Construction is due to begin in 2008 and last until 2010, during which time the club will play at Whaddon Road in Cheltenham.

Leeds United
At one point, while flying high in Europe, Leeds were examining a potential move to a new 67,000 stadium in nearby Skelton. Following the club's collapse into administration and dropping down two flights, the sum of Leeds stadium abitions at the present is simply to regain ownership of Elland Road, which had to be sold to offset debts.

Leyton Orient
The club hope to move from their existing Brisbane Road stadium to the new Olympic Stadium in 2012. Following the Olympics, the stadium is to be reduced from 80,000 to a more manageable 25,000 and given over to athletics.

Nottingham Forest
The club has plans to move into a 50,000 seat new stadium in the Clifton area of the city.

Walsall
Walsall F.C. 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.

League Two
Brentford
The club 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 a 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.

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.

Grimsby
The club is hoping to relocate to a new ground on the western outskirts of Grimsby at Great Coates, 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. 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.

Hereford United
Edgar Street is to be redeveloped in line with a wider transformation of the northern outskirts of Hereford.

Milton Keynes Dons
MK Dons opened their Stadium:mk home in 2007. Capacity is current 22,000, but is planned to expand to 32,000 as MK Dons build a larger fanbase in the town.

Morecambe
On 17 July2007, Morecambe announced plans to move to a new stadium in time for the start of the 2009-2010 season.

Rotherham United
Rotherham United have 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.

Wycombe Wanderers
In 2007 it was announced that Wycombe Wanderers in partnership with London Wasps were looking to build a new 20,000 capacity ground in High Wycombe to replace the current Adams Park where the capacity is capped, and further expansion is not possible.

Conference National
Cambridge United
Cambridge United had been investigating the possibility of improving their Abbey Stadium home, but now appear to have abandoned revedloping the stadium, and are instead proposing a move to a new stadium in Milton.

Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic 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 groundshare with another club while the new arena is built.

Halifax Town
Halifax had at one point been planning further ground improvements to 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.

Histon
The club 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.

Oxford United
Oxford United have plans to build a fourth side to the Kassam Stadium, but this is unlikely to happen until they regain Football League status, and attendances rise to sufficiently justify it.

York City
At one point they were investigating improving Bootham Crescent, but have now switched their plans to the construction of a new stadium to be shared with the York Knights rugby club.

Conference North
Barrow
Barrow AFC are investigating building a new stadium in the Docklands section of the town, which would be shared with the Barrow Raiders rugby league side.

Solihull Moors
Solihull Moors are currently groundsharing their Damson Park home with the Pertemps Bees rugby union side. It is probable that the two clubs will seek to build a new stadium together in the future, in line with plans to bring first-class rugby to Birmingham. Sollihull Moors were founded in 2007 by a merger of local sides Moor Park and Solihull Borough.

Worcester City
Worcester City 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 Reds
Following their recent rise in status, Workington Reds are redeveloping their Borough Park home, to comply with FA regulations. The ground formerly played host to league football until the clubs relegation in 1977.

Conference South
Cambridge City
The club face a potential eviction from their City Ground 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.

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 Park, , but the rebuilding of Surrey Docks Stadium remains a possibility.

St Albans City
In 2006 the chairman of the club threatened to move them out of St Albans 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.

Other Non-League
St Helens Town
St Helens Town FC currently share Knowsley Road with St Helens RLFC, and plan to move with them into their new 18,000 seat stadium.

Truro City
As part of their strategy to become the first Cornish side to gain league status, Truro City F.C. have plans to build new facilities 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.

AFC Wimbledon
On their foundation in 2002 AFC Wimbledon 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 has been recent speculation that the club might try and purchase Wimbledon Stadium, currently used for greyhound racing, which was recently put up for sale.

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