Leeds United plans major stadium expansion
Elland Road. Credit: David Locke
Leeds United Football Club has announced plans to expand its Elland Road stadium.
The 1919-built ground is set to become the seventh largest in England after the work, with the proposed expansion planned to increase capacity from 37,645 to 53,000.
The club announced this week that construction management consultancy Rise, architects KSS and structural engineers Buro Happold will be working on the project. A main contractor has not yet been announced.
A statement from the Whites said it had sold out every match for six years and had 26,000 people on its waiting list to buy a season ticket.
It added that its core architectural design objective will be “to maintain and enhance the unique atmosphere” and that the construction would be delivered on a phased basis in order to retain as much seating as possible while the work is carried out.
Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe said: “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.”
The Championship division club regained ownership of the stadium earlier this year, 20 years after it was sold to an investment company owned by a former parent company.
Leeds United FC was bought last year by 49ers Enterprises, owners of National Football League team the San Francisco 49ers.
The owners said they will use expertise from the US – where they oversaw delivery of the Levi’s Stadium, which opened in 2014 – on the Elland Road revamp.
Their statement added that they will employ specialist acoustic consultants to “ensure Elland Road’s unique atmosphere is retained”.
Leeds City Council leader James Lewis said: “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.”
Meanwhile, the club’s rivals Manchester United are looking at building a new 100,000-seater stadium to replace their current Old Trafford ground on the site of an existing freight terminal.
It announced last week that Foster + Partners had been selected to develop a masterplan for the Old Trafford Stadium District, covering the club-owned land surrounding the existing stadium.
Man Utd chief operating officer Collette Roche said: “We want this area to become a true destination, that not only provides an unbeatable matchday experience for our fans, but also supports other forms of entertainment, leisure, business and residential facilities surrounding a world-class stadium.”
The architects’ work will not include designing the new ground, however.
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