StadiaDirectory.com News

DERBY COUNTY MATCH OFF DUE TO SNOW

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Derby County Football Club’s npower Championship home fixture with Nottingham Forest has been postponed on safety grounds.

The local derby match - which was scheduled to take place at 12:15pm at Pride Park - has fallen victim of the poor weather which has affected Football League matches up and down the country this weekend. Heavy snow on Saturday evening has left roads and walkways in no fit state for spectators to travel to the 33,597-seater venue.

Derby County chief executive Tom Glick said: "Every effort has been made to get this game on and we've had staff working around the clock giving their all for the cause, but unfortunately the decision has been made to call the game off. The pitch is fine and the inside of the stadium is safe and dry.

"However, the roads throughout the city and county are unsafe. This is the biggest match of the year for our supporters and we wouldn't want anyone to miss it because they had difficulty getting to Pride Park Stadium."

The match will be rearranged for later in the season, but no official date has been stated.

NFL MATCH AT WEMBLEY IN DOUBT

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Hopes for another NFL game in London have been dashed following a legal dispute involving one of the teams, the St Louis Rams.

The Rams were booked in to play the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium on 28 October 2012 but ticket sales have now been suspended as the Rams’ stadium lease requires all of the team's home games to be played in St Louis. NFL officials state that the delay will allow the Rams and their stadium authority time to finalise technical amendments to the lease.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said: "We’re going to play the London games. We hope it will be with the Rams and the New England Patriots next year.

"That’s what we planned…but there are issues that obviously are going to have to get resolved,” he added. "We know there are discussions going on. We hope they will get resolved shortly."

The Rams have expressed optimism that a resolution is near, and announced it will provide updates as information becomes available.

SARACENS GET GREEN LIGHT TO REDEVELOP COPTHALL STADIUM

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Saracens Rugby Club has been given unanimous Council approval to plans to revive their stadium increasing capacity to 10,000.

It means Saracens, who currently play at Vicarage Road the home of Watford Football Club, will use the venue for a maximum of 16 days of Premiership rugby each season from September until May.

Saracens chairman Nigel Wray said on the club website: "After 18 months of engaging extensively with local residents, we are delighted that Barnet Councillors have approved our proposals to revive Barnet Copthall Stadium and create a vibrant sports hub for the local community.

"The new stadium will provide both a real home for Saracens and a hugely improved venue for athletics in the south east. It will secure the future of the highly successful Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers and offer great facilities free of charge to local schools."

However the Mayor of London will need to approve the plan as it is classed as a "strategic development" and it will also be referred to the secretary of state as it relates to an area of greenbelt land.

"Copthall will, we promise, be a genuine community stadium," Wray added. "We will continue to work closely with the local community and make Copthall an asset that we can all be proud of."

SPURS TO BUILD NEW STADIUM IN TOTTENHAM

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club appears to have shelved plans to move away after making a joint pledge with Haringey Council for a major regeneration of North Tottenham.

Spurs has reconfirmed its intention to stay in the area which has been at the heart of its history for more than 130 years and the club and council will work together to rejuvenate the area – seeking to deliver an iconic, new 56,000-seater stadium and a host of local improvements next door to its current White Hart Lane home.

Subject to Cabinet approval, Haringey Council will invest £9 million towards new and improved public spaces, heritage work and environmental improvements in North Tottenham. In addition, the Mayor of London has committed £18 million to the regeneration of North Tottenham, £6 million of which will be invested via the council in highways and parking improvements and a district-wide heating and power scheme. The rest of the Mayor’s investment will focus on public transport and infrastructure improvements.

Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, said: "We have long said we could only invest in the area if we could see our commitment supported by others and that there was a real need to maximise the regeneration benefits and lift the wider area. We therefore see this as a commitment from the public sector to the Tottenham area and one which strengthens our ability to deliver a new stadium scheme with the potential to kick-start the long-term regeneration of North Tottenham."

The Northumberland Development Project (NDP) will bring a state-of-the-art football stadium, new homes, shops and leisure facilities to Tottenham and represent an investment of hundreds of millions of pounds whilst also leveraging in further private sector monies.

Haringey Council Leader Claire Kober said: "We have said all along that we are eager to support Spurs in their efforts to stay in Tottenham. They’re a great club, with a great history in a great area which really wants them to stay."

The plans are subject to consultation with local residents and businesses but also must be approved by Government.

FINAL UEFA EURO 2012 STADIUM UNVEILED

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The eighth and final venue for the UEFA European Championships 2012 has been officially opened in style as thousands of people attended a free music festival.

More than 40,000 people turned up at the National Stadium Warsaw in Poland for the special event. The new 50,000-seater venue lies on the site of the old Tenth Anniversary Stadium, which had had stood there since 1955.

The old stadium was primarily used for football, but it also hosted athletics and cycling, and, in 1983, Pope John Paul II gave mass to a congregation of 100,000. It held its last international that year but then fell into disrepair, and since 1989 it had been home to a bazaar.

"I am very happy that the National Stadium has been finally unveiled," Poland's tournament director, Adam Olkowicz told UEFA.com. "It's the biggest Polish venue for this year's final tournament. On 8 June, we will witness the opening ceremony here followed by the first match between Poland and Greece.

"I hope that Poland's players play to their best, with the backing of thousands of local supporters. As of now, all of the EURO venues in Poland and Ukraine are ready and we are working hard to prepare them for this big festival of football."

The ceremony ended with a spectacular fireworks display and will have to wait until 11 February until it hosts its first football match. And will certainly be an exciting one – a Polish Super Cup encounter between Legia Warszawa and Wisła Krakow.

The National Stadium Warsaw is one of five venues constructed especially for this summer's final tournament, along with the Arena Gdansk, Municipal Stadium Wroclaw, Arena Lviv and Kyiv's Olympic Stadium. The Municipal Stadium Poznan and Metalist Stadium have been revamped while the Donbass Arena, home of FC Shakhtar Donetsk, opened in August 2009.

DATES AGREED FOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS 2013 AT WEMBLEY

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The Football League and Football Association have reached agreement regarding the scheduling of the 2012/13 npower Football League Play-Off Finals at Wembley Stadium.

The two bodies had been in discussions regarding the re-dating of the matches following confirmation in June that Wembley would stage the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final (on Saturday, 25 May).

It means, the npower League 1 and League 2 Play-Off Finals will move forward seven days to the weekend of May 18/19 with the ‘regular’ season finishing a week earlier in both divisions. The npower Championship Play-Off Final will remain on its original date of Monday, May 27.

Football League chairman, Greg Clarke, said: “I would like to thank FA chairman, David Bernstein, for the professional and efficient manner in which these discussions have been handled. While The Football League’s preferred option is always to stage the Play-Offs across the Bank Holiday weekend, we recognise that hosting the Champions League Final is a great opportunity for English football.

"However, it does have ramifications for clubs in npower League 1 and League 2 and it is only right, therefore, that they share in the financial success of that event. This agreement ensures that they will."

FA chairman David Bernstein said: "We are very pleased to have found a solution which allows the UEFA Champions League Final and all three Football League Play-Off Finals to be played at Wembley in 2013. The Football League is an extremely important partner of ours and it is thanks to their cooperation and the support of both Leagues 1 and 2 that we have been able to resolve this matter. These will be fantastic and very important fixtures in The FA’s 150th anniversary year."

ASHTON GATE TO HOST WOMEN'S CUP FINAL

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol will host the Women’s FA Cup Final for the first time in May.

The Football Association hope that the crowds will pack into the 21,497-seater Ashton Gate, the home of Bristol City Football Club, on Saturday 26 May.

City chief executive Guy Price told bcfc.co.uk: "We are delighted to be hosting the Women's FA Cup Final at Ashton Gate. We know 2012 will be the nation's year of sport and we want to make sure Bristol is a shining light in the national sports calendar.

"The match will be the pinnacle of a week of sports in Bristol, which also sees the Olympic Torch Relay and Bristol 10k take place. Hosting the Women's FA Cup Final gives the city a great chance to showcase what sport in Bristol has to offer.

"We want to bring as many people together as possible for this event, ensuring local people and communities play a part in what will be a great week of sport for Bristol,” he added. "We are very proud to be hosting the match and look forward to putting on a fantastic event at Ashton Gate for the final."

Last year, Arsenal Ladies beat Bristol Academy 2-0 to lift the trophy for a record eleventh time at the Ricoh Arena in front of nearly 14,000 fans.

NEWCASTLE COUNCIL SNUB ST JAMES’ PARK NAME CHANGE

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Newcastle City Council has called on Newcastle United Football Club not to change the name of St James’ Park.

It follows a motion to council in which it decided to write to the media asking them to continue to use the name of St James’ Park in reporting and refuse to use the name of Sports Direct Arena. The council believed that the club’s decision to change the name of the stadium was wrong and called on it to reconsider its decision.

The council said it had no plans to change any existing wayfinding signs which bear the name of St James’ Park.

The notice of motion at the meeting on Wednesday, January 11, which was carried unanimously, following an amendment, states: “Council notes the decision of Newcastle United Football Club to change the name of St James’ Park to the Sports Direct Arena. The Council agrees with the overwhelming majority of supporters who believe this is the wrong decision.”

REEBOK STADIUM TO BUILD STATUE OF NAT LOFTHOUSE

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Bolton Wanderer’s Football Club will build a statue outside its stadium in memory of former player Nat Lofthouse.

Lofthouse OBE, who died a year ago at the age of 85, is regarded as the club's greatest ever player and is fondly remembered by fans as "The Lion of Vienna." He earned the nickname after scoring a winning goal against Austria in 1952.

Nat's son, Jeff Lofthouse, told the club website: "Dad would be very humbled and honoured by the idea of a statue and really overwhelmed at the response of Wanderers supporters and the people of Bolton. On behalf of Viv and myself, I would like to thank the club for their support and assistance and, of course, the fans who have been such a source of strength to us following dad's passing."

The statue at the 28,723-seater Reebok Stadium will be publicly funded and supported by the football club. Club chaplain Phil Mason will represent the football club throughout the project, which will actively involve the people of Bolton.

He explained: "Nat's life was all about everything that is good about Bolton, both the club and the wider community. This is why it is important that Bolton as a community have a big part to play in developing this lasting memorial to Nat and help to keep his legacy alive.

"People can get involved in a whole variety of ways to contribute towards the Nat Lofthouse Memorial Fund. We want people, community groups, schools, clubs and other organisations to make their contribution. Let's get some creative ideas going of how to raise money for this fund, from sponsored silences to sponsored walks."

FULHAM SUBMIT PLANS TO DEVELOP CRAVEN COTTAGE

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Fulham Football Club have submitted plans to redevelop their home at Craven Cottage into a 30,000-seater stadium.

It means that the Cottagers will stay at the ground that has been their home since 1896 – making it one of the longer affiliations in the Premier League. The club will be redeveloping the Riverside Stand to increase capacity and have now applied to the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for planning permission.

The Riverside Stand was originally named the Eric Miller Stand and was opened with a match against a Benfica side featuring World Cup 1966 hero Eusebio. But the current capacity at Craven Cottage is 25,700 – something that will need to increase if the club can build on recent success.

Fulham claim they have been full for the past three seasons – a fact that could prove important come decision day for planning permission that also includes a larger shop, new bar facilities and a restaurant.

A statement on the club's website read: “The application will take the Club’s current capacity to 30,000 seats and, further significant funds will be invested to open up the Thames River walk from Hammersmith to Putney for the first time in recent history."

The club will hold exhibitions on January 25 and 28 to display the design and provide a second consultation.

STADIUM PLANS APPROVED FOR WORCESTER

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Plans to build a new stadium for Worcester City Football Club have been approved by the city council.

The 3,000-seater venue at Nunnery Way site, near junction 7 of the M5, is thought to create up to 1,000 jobs on the site. The project includes 700 parking spaces, office buildings, a hotel, restaurant and car and motorcycle showroom, along with room to expand the capacity of the stadium.

Worcester sold its current St George's Lane ground for housing development as part of an enabling development and needs to move by July 2013.
Director of the club Anthony Hampson told BBC News: "I'm delighted, it's a major step forward for the survival of the club. We were near bankruptcy at one stage but we've managed to swing the situation round and make the club break even and invest in the playing squad as well.

"We've got a lot of support in the city for the club that we didn't have before." Councillors voted six in favour and five against the application, which was first submitted in 2008.

SEAGULLS REVEAL STADIUM AND FACILITY EXPANSION

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club has announced plans to expand its stadium and build new training facilities.

The npower Championship club wants to develop a new training ground at New Monks Farm and add an extra 8,000 seats at the Amex Stadium. The venue only opened in July last year and currently has a capacity of 22,500.

Club chief executive Martin Perry told BBC News: "If we are going to make a challenge on the Premier League we definitely need a 30,000 capacity stadium but more importantly we need first class training facilities and an academy to develop young talent."

The planned training facility includes four full-sized and one three-quarter-sized pitch plus changing and treatment rooms. Brighton also want to build a new car park on the on the site of the old Falmer High School.

The club said it hopes the applications for both projects will be complete by May 2012.

BANGOR CITY BID FAREWELL TO FARRAR ROAD

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Bangor City Football Club has played the last game at Farrar Road stadium, its home for over 80 years.

The Citizens are leaving their historic 1,500 capacity venue and relocating to a brand new stadium just a few miles away at Nantporth on the Menai Strait. The ground is set to be redeveloped and turned into a supermarket.

Farrar Road has hosted some memorable nights and has seen European footballing giants beaten and numerous trophies lifted. And City gave a fitting finale for the venue as they signed off in style, beating Welsh Premier rivals Prestatyn 5-3 in a special atmosphere.

Bangor City's honorary president, Gwyn Pierce Owen told BBC: “There have been happy memories for the last 65 years I've been involved with this club. My father used to take me here at the age of 12.

"He used to carry me over the turnstile and that was the last time I'd see him for the next 90 minutes. There was no room for us to stand, we used to sit between the touchline and the perimeter fence."

The new stadium is expected to be ready for early 2012.

FIR PARK DAMAGED BY HIGH WINDS

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Motherwell Football Club has called off its home Scottish Premier League match against Dunfermline for safety reasons.

High winds in the North Lanarkshire area have caused structural damage to Fir Park stadium. Gales of up to 90mph have battered central Scotland causing damage to buildings and disrupting transport.

Motherwell chief executive Leeann Dempster said: "We were obviously desperate to get the game on but there has been significant structural damage to the ground. That could have posed a risk to supporters so with that in mind, we have agreed with Dunfermline to postpone the fixture and replay it at the earliest opportunity."

The match has been rescheduled for Tuesday 24 January with a 1945 GMT kick-off.

MAN CITY GET COUNCIL BACKING FOR PLANS

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Manchester City Football Club plans for a brand new academy and training complex have been backed by the council's planning committee.

The proposed youth development and first team academy in Openshaw will be built on an 80-acre Brownfield site adjacent to the Etihad Stadium. It will include 17 pitches and a 7,000 capacity stadium for youth matches.

A club statement said: "We're delighted with today's announcement and remain committed to support the completion of the process which obviously includes the upcoming review period."

The complex will be built on land that the club has purchased in the area over the last two years. It will form big part of what the club is calling the Etihad Campus, which will cater for up to 400 young players. The complex will also have facilities for 40 youth players to be accommodated and schooled on site.

Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese told the BBC: "The Etihad Stadium and Campus are at the heart of the regeneration of the wider East Manchester area and the fact that these plans have been approved is excellent news for the community. This will not just create another world class sporting facility in the city, it will also create jobs and other opportunities for local residents."

He added: "It's one of the earliest manifestations of how the partnership between Manchester City Football Club, the council and New East Manchester will deliver significant community and economic benefits in the years ahead. As we go into an Olympic year, this will also help cement the city's reputation as a place where sporting talent is nurtured."

MILLERS ANNOUNCE NEW STADIUM NAME

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Rotherham United Football Club have announced their new stadium will be called The New York Stadium.

The Millers, who have been playing at Don Valley in Sheffield for the last four years, will move into their new 12,000-capacity home in time for the 2012/13 season. Work has been ongoing on the project, less than a mile from their old Millmoor home, since the summer.

Chairman Tony Stewart has opted for the name as the site is in the area of town that used to be known as New York while also the site of a former steelworks that exported metal across the Atlantic. Stewart said: "The new stadium name is strongly rooted in more than 150 years of Rotherham`s proud history of industry and enterprise. After careful consultation and detailed research into the local history of the site, we felt that New York was the perfect name for our new stadium."

Club ambassador and Premier League referee Howard Webb added: "The Millers are responsible for my interest in the game. To become involved with the club was a huge honour and to be here whilst the club stands on the verge of this momentous new era gives me a sense of great pride."

ARSENAL 125 STATUES

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Arsenal Football Club celebrated 125 years since they played their first game this weekend and with it, the unveiling of three new permanent fixtures outside the Emirates Stadium.

Three of Arsenal's most iconic figures were immortalised as statues outside the North London stadium on Saturday before their 1-0 victory over Everton.

Joining Herbert Chapman and Tony Adams was Theirry Henry, voted 'Greatest-ever Arsenal Player' in 2008 by fans. The Frenchman is still the club's highest goal-scorer with 226 goals in 369 appearances and his emotions were visible as he joined a wealth of Arsenal greats for the statues' unveiling.

Speaking to arsenal.com, Henry said: “It's part of the past now, but when I did leave Arsenal, I cried. The guys might be thinking that I'm saying this because I'm here right now but I love Arsenal, I've said it so many times.

“I support the club now and I always come back. There's something about Arsenal Football Club, it's a family club. Every time players want to come back to train, to feel it, the vibe of the dressing room, to see the boss again and all the people at the training ground. There are great people all over the stadium.”

CHINESE GUINEA STADIUM

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Construction of a 50,000-seater stadium in the Guinean capital Conakry, will be completed by Chinese architects this week.

The Chinese government had offered to build the stadium as a gift of friendship to the West African country. The Stade de Nongo cost $50 million (€38 million) and should hopefully be opened before the start of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

An inaugural football match between the Syli National team and a team to be named will be held at the facility prior to the Guineans’ departure for the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

This offering of good-will from the Chinese is the second stadium they have built in Africa. The 40,000-seater Stade d'amitié sino-gabonaise, in Libreville, where the final of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations will be played, was their gift to Gabon.

Previously, the 35,000-capacity multipurpose Stade du 28 Septembre has been Guinea’s biggest and most modern sports facility.

ATHLETICO MADRID LOOK TO NEW STADIUM

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Athletico Madrid have revealed plans to move away from their current Vicente Calderon home as soon as 2015.

The Spanish La Liga side are looking to create a 70,000-capacity venue which could possibly host major national and continental sporting events as well as entertainment events. The new stadium would become the ground with the third highest capacity, behind Barcalona's Camp Nou (99,354) and Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu (80,000).

Atletico president Enrique Cerezo told the club's website: “Today is an important day, I would say that it is one of the most important days in the history of this club. There are not many times one has the opportunity to live a historical moment as relevant, in the life of a sports club, as this.”

MOLINEUX EXPANSION DELAY

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club have today announced an unavoidable, weather-related delay with completion of the roof on their Stan Cullis Stand at the Molineux.

The club had written to season ticket holders in September 2011 indicating that the roof was 'on schedule for late December.' However, high winds have hampered progress with lifting the steel into place and the anticipated roof completion date is now February 2012.

This will mean an additional four home games without any completed roof in place. The main part of the next phase involves concreting and finishing the upper floors.

Kevin Underwood, Buckingham Group director, said, "We sincerely regret the unavoidable delay and assure supporters that we're doing everything possible to overcome the difficulties that we've suffered.

“Very strong winds, which aren't always noticeable at ground level, have slowed progress significantly. However, we're doing everything possible to pull time back and we don't anticipate any delay with the summer 2012 handover of the stand."

Jez Moxey, Wolves chief executive, said, "Buckingham Group have been, and continue to be, a fantastic partner in the redevelopment of the Stan Cullis Stand. The wind related delays are unfortunate but outside anyone's control. Unfortunately, these kind of issues can occur in such extensive construction projects which take place through the winter period. I'd like to apologise to supporters for any inconvenience this may cause and thank them for their understanding."

FOREST GREEN INSTALL SOLAR PANELS ON STADIUM ROOF

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Non League football club Forest Green Rovers are certainly living up to their name after installing solar panels on their stadium roof.

The eco-friendly upgrade at the New Lawn is the first in a series of green energy projects to raise funds for Sustainability in Sport. Former-Manchester United player Gary Neville and Ecotricity founder Dale Vince launched the not for profit organisation during the summer – with the mission of greening-up the world of sport.

The foundation is also planning a series of small wind projects to similarly fund its mission. This very first project will see Sustainability in Sport’s receive annual income from the solar power’s feed-in-tariff. SiS founder Gary Neville said: "SIS was created to inspire change within the sports community and to urgently address the significant environmental impact of sport.

"For many, sports stars are heroes especially for the young, so if we can use sport to raise awareness then that is a significant step forward to achieving SIS's goal. Sport crosses all social and cultural divides and has fans stretching around the world, the potential is massive for sport to make a real difference in the way we live in the future by shaping the way we live today."

It is the latest development at the ground which has seen the club strive to create the world’s first organic pitch. An honour that is expected to be confirmed in two years time by the Soil Association after all chemicals have naturally dissipated from the ground.

SiS founder Dale Vince said: "This is the founding project of Sustainability in Sport and Forest Green Rovers are chuffed to be a part of it. This first project will put space age technology in plain sight of football fans - it's not just about making green electricity and saving pollution (important as they are) - it's about stimulating thought and debate. Showcasing new technology and new ways of doing things."

MILLENNIUM STADIUM WINS TOP AWARD

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Millennium Stadium has been declared the best rugby venue of the year over competition from around the world.

The honour was presented by the Expo Awards 2011 organisation which recognises excellence from both the professional and grassroots game. The stadium was announced as the Rugby Venue of the Year at an award ceremony held at the Spirit of Rugby in Twickenham stadium in front of guests from around the world.

As the best rugby venue the Millennium Stadium had to prove it offered exceptional entertainment, comfort and customer service in rugby and fended off the challenge of other finalists Eden Park, which staged this year's Rugby World Cup final, and Wembley.

The prize was presented to the WRU group financial director, Steve Phillips who said: "This is a great honour for Welsh rugby and the Millennium Stadium. We're very proud of our stadium especially as nowadays we attract around a million paying visitors a year to see the games and events we stage.

"We stay ahead of the game by investing in the future and a great example of that is the £3m we invested in a stadium vision system to transform the way we engage with fans. The Welsh government supported that initiative because they clearly recognise the benefits the stadium brings to Wales now and will do in the future.

"Of course the stadium boasts a closing roof, a removable pitch and a great city centre location but we also have a tremendously hard working and efficient team of people who make it work for rugby and for Wales. This is a prestigious award and will give us even greater incentive to continue to achieve excellence in the way the stadium is operated and developed."

The Millennium Stadium is the home of Welsh international rugby but also staged other major games including the Heineken Cup final last year. International football regularly features along with speedway, world title boxing, motorsport and an array of community events each year.

It has also played host recently to the Michael Forever tribute concert and last year held the Ryder Cup Concert to celebrate the opening of the major golf tournament in Wales. The Rolling Stones, Madonna and Paul McCartney have all held concerts at the stadium which is now a major international music venue. Take That held two concerts on consecutive nights last year before a record breaking 120,000 fans of the group.

The next major event at the stadium will be the Wales v Australia rugby international on December 3 between the two teams which last met in the third place play of at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

CHELSEA HOPE TO POWER STADIUM MOVE

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Chelsea Football Club is now exploring the possibility of building a new 60,000-seater stadium at Battersea Power Station.

The Blues have appointed a London architecture firm to draw up plans for the 3.3 mile relocation. However the club has not officially announced a move away from Stamford Bridge as they still need to buy back the freehold of their home ground before they can relocate – something the club failed to do last month.

A Chelsea spokesman said: "In the past, we've talked to various people with interests in Battersea Power Station, but we haven't had any substantive discussions with anyone regarding that site for several months. However, in light of current developments, we now think it prudent to look again at the feasibility and potential for the BPS site to be developed for a football stadium.

"We have made no decision to leave Stamford Bridge, and we continue to discuss with the local council any economically viable options to expand the Bridge, but we will continue to investigate various options close to Stamford Bridge."

The West London club is still trying to persuade the owners of Earls Court to give them permission to build there but have not met much success. It may also not be plain sailing at the Battersea Power Station site whose owners have been looking to find an equity investor to fund a proposed £5.5bn redevelopment.

Battersea Power Station ceased generating power in 1983, but the site is still used for hosting events - one of the latest being the ATP World Tour Finals Gala.

BANGOR CITY SEEK STADIUM NAMING RIGHTS DEAL

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Bangor City Football Club is looking for sponsors for their brand new stadium which is currently being built of the outskirts of the city.

The Welsh Premier League champions hope to find a naming rights sponsorship deal for the stand and even the coaches' dug-outs, and believe they offer a good deal. A club spokesman told BBC News: "There are bargains, and I would encourage businesses to seriously consider sponsoring the club in some way.

"It is not just the stadium that is looking for sponsorship - there are all sorts of other ways. As champions the club's profile is high at the moment in Wales and in Europe. The stadium will be seen in every home game on TV."

The new stadium is expected to be ready for early 2012.

CARLISLE TO LEAVE BRUNTON PARK

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Carlisle United Football Club has announced plans to build a brand new 12,000-seater stadium.

The proposed move will see the club leave Brunton Park - their home for the last 102 years. The plans were unveiled at a shareholders meeting and come as a result of a feasibility study commissioned to look into the options available for the club's future development and location.

The new stadium will also include an office and training facilities. It will also mean the club can meet Football League criteria as their current home only fulfils regulations for the bottom two tiers of English football.

Managing director John Nixon told www.carlisleunited.co.uk: "We have long had aspirations of playing Championship football and we believe it is within our reach. However, the basic ground requirement at that level is to have an all-seater stadium within three years of promotion.

"We would also need additional press and media facilities and costly improvements to our floodlighting. The Football League regulations, released in 2009, stipulated minimum ground standards which we are currently struggling to meet within Brunton Park. The Board would be doing a disservice to the fans if we didn't look into the future options for the club and report back to them for their input."

Carlisle will exhibit the results for supporter input on 24 November 2011 at Brunton Park.

ST HELENS REVEAL NEW STADIUM NAME

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

St Helens' new rugby league stadium will be named Langtree Park, it was revealed today.

The stadium, which was completed in October this year, will be named after Langtree, the developers behind the brand new 18,000-seater stadium. The company delivered the 14-month project to Saints on time handing over the stadium for the club to undertake fit-out works providing kiosk areas, function rooms and turnstiles, all in the club's famous red and white colours.

Saints first game at Langtree Park takes place on 20 January 2012 when they take on Widnes in the Karalius Cup - and tickets are now on sale. Eamonn McManus, St Helens chairman, said: "Securing a naming rights deal was a big part of the new stadium plan and we're delighted to extend our relationship with Langtree.

"Langtree has done a fantastic job on the stadium and we know that once the stadium fit-out is complete that it's going to be the best arena in the country to watch rugby league. Everyone at the club can't wait to move in to the stadium and for our first game in January when Langtree Park will finally be filled with fans."

The stadium forms part of a long-term development scheme including a new 145,000 sq ft Tesco Extra store, the construction of residential properties on the former Knowsley Road site, and improved public realm areas. Prior to the first game against Widnes in late January a series of structured events will allow supporters, local residents, councillors and business leaders to sample the venue.

St Helens council invested almost £8m in the project which included the building of a new footbridge that links the stadium to the town centre.

SWEDBANK ARENA TO OPEN AGAINST ENGLAND

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

England will face Sweden in a friendly in Stockholm next year in the inaugural opening their new national stadium.

The match will be the perfect opener for the Swedbank Arena which is currently still under construction. The 60,000-seater stadium will eventually cost €300m and is also set to host the final of 2013 UEFA Women's Championships.

Sweden will leave their current home, the Rasunda Stadium, to play against England in the new venue on 14 November 2012. The match will be the 22nd meeting between the two teams, with Sweden boasting the remarkable record of not having lost to England since 1968.

CHELSEA SEEK STADIUM NAMING RIGHTS DEAL

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Chelsea Football Club has announced it hopes to secure a naming rights deal before the start of next season.

The news comes following the club’s setback in their bid to move grounds after shareholders in the Chelsea Pitch Owners [CPO] company rejected proposals to purchase the land that Stamford Bridge sits on. Chief executive Ron Gourlay believes the club must press on looking for ways to increase stadium revenue ahead of the introduction of Financial Fair Play within European competitions.

Gourlay told the International Football Arena in Zurich: "We have one of smallest stadiums in Europe. We have corporate hospitality that is second to none and 30,000 season ticket holders. But we have a stadium slightly larger than 40,000 which drops to 38,000 on Champions League nights. We have to find a solution.

"We have outgrown our stadium and tried every way possible to extend capacity. We need a 60-65,000 stadium. We have the eighth biggest stadium in England and the 61st biggest in Europe. But when you look at the activity of stadiums planned for next few years, we will fall out of top 75 which can only be restrictive to the football club.

"In the meantime we continue on our conversations to see if there is any way at all to extend Stamford Bridge. We hope to make an announcement on naming rights for Stamford Bridge within the next six to eight months. It would make a big step because we have to drive up the revenues."

With the club already losing one vote to the CPO, Gourlay refused to rule out the possibility of another ballot.

He added: "This is a time for reflection, to sit down with the owner and discuss the situation. We thought we made a very good proposal to the CPO shareholders.

"They decided on a 'no' vote. We got 62% but it's time to discuss it with Roman and the board. We have been very transparent in terms of venues."

THE SIR ALEX FERGUSON STAND UNVEILED

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Manchester United Football Club has renamed the North Stand at Old Trafford to commemorate 25 years of service by their manager.

The Sir Alex Ferguson Stand was officially unveiled on Saturday before United’s clash with Sunderland, in order to commemorate the Scot’s achievements during an impressive career at the club which started in 1986. Despite the massive ceremony at Old Trafford, Ferguson said that the honour took him completely by surprise.

"I was really emotional," he told reporters. "I couldn’t believe it and I didn’t expect that. I have to thank the club for that because it’s fantastic of them to do it. I’m really proud of this moment.

"I never knew a thing about it. Mike Phelan knew about it and he never told me – so he’s sacked! But I had absolutely no idea and neither did my family – I don’t think they did anyway."

With the milestone now passed, the United manager is relishing the opportunity of cutting down the lead of rivals Manchester City at the top of the table.

INTERNATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE RETURNS TO WEMBLEY

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

International Rugby League will return to Wembley Stadium for the first time since 1997 when the second round of fixtures in the 2011 Gillette Four Nations series take place at the national stadium this autumn.

On Saturday 5 November the RFL will stage a double-header of International Rugby League, which will see hosts England taking on Australia, kick off 3.30pm and Wales, who will be making their Four Nations debut, facing current Four Nations and World Champions New Zealand in the first of the two games, kick off 1.00pm.

The last international at Wembley was between Great Britain and Australia 14 years ago and England have not played at the national stadium since the 1995 World Cup final when Australia were the victors in front of a 66,540 crowd. "Wembley Stadium is known around the world for staging some of the biggest and most important events in sport and we are delighted to be taking International Rugby League back to one of the world’s most iconic stadiums in the autumn,” said RFL chief executive Nigel Wood.

"With some of the world’s best Rugby players on show at Wembley we will undoubtedly raise the profile of the sport on the national and international stage. We hope that this fantastic event will help to bring the drama of the sport to a much wider audience especially with the 2013 Rugby League World Cup only a few years away."

The 2011 Gillette Four Nations tournament commences on Friday 28 October at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, when holders New Zealand take on Australia in a repeat of last year’s Four Nations Final. The match will kick off at 8.00pm. The following day tournament hosts England take on Wales at the Leigh Sports Village with the match kicking off at 2.30pm.

After the Wembley showcase round, the final week of group fixtures sees New Zealand travel to Hull to play England at the KC Stadium on Saturday 12 November, kick off 6.00pm, with Australia making the trip to the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham to face Wales on Sunday 13 November, kick off 5.45pm.

The final of the tournament will be played at Elland Road, Leeds, the venue of the 2009 Gillette Fusion Four Nations Final, on Saturday 19 November, kick off 6.00pm. Jared Regan, Gillette brand manager, said: “We are delighted to once again be title sponsors of the Gillette Four Nations. This exciting tournament has grown over the years to become one of the sporting calendar’s premier events.

"We are especially looking forward to welcoming Wales into the tournament, and eagerly await the arrival of Australia and New Zealand to these shores. And, as England sponsor, we of course hope to see the host nation do particularly well!”

"This year’s tournament will have the added profile of a double header at Wembley, and we applaud the decision to take two of the fixtures to arguably the best sporting arena in the world. Gillette have committed considerable resource to this year’s tournament, and we’re sure Rugby League fans old and new will join us in looking forward to an autumn of thrilling games played out before packed stadia.”

For ticketing information please see www.therfl.co.uk.

CHERRIES REJECTED IN STADIUM BUY BACK DEAL

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

AFC Bournemouth has revealed it has failed with two attempts to buy back its stadium.

The south coast club has seen a real financial revival in recent years and chairman Eddie Mitchell has stated his desire to repurchase Seward Stadium. The club sold the 10,700-seater venue in December 2005 in a sale-and-leaseback deal with London property company Structadene.

But after new investment from an unnamed businessman buying a 50% stake in the club - sharing joint ownership with Mitchell – the Cherries look to build off the field as well. "I would like to confirm we have failed in two bids and the highest was £4.5m," Mitchell told BBC Radio Solent.

Bournemouth has also recently submitted plans for two full-sized and two five-a-side pitches costing about £400,000 on unused land next to the stadium in Kings Park. The new facilities are part of the club’s ambitious plans, which include a £6m stand, new 5,000-seater enclosure at the South End, hotel, spa complex and offices.

Mitchell warned his club will consider other options if the stadium purchase did not materialise. "I don't think it makes commercial sense to increase that bid above that ceiling of £4.5m," said Mitchell.

"At this moment in time that bid has been rejected so we've got to look at what options we've got, where we invest and when we invest and how much we invest. There are always other avenues. There are other venues for example, not that we would want to go to other venues. Football has been played at Dean Court for over 100 years and we would not want to change that.

"We've no intention of moving but if it is not financially sensible to buy the stadium back then perhaps the money that is available would be best pointed in different directions,” he added. “We have got an ongoing lease at the club which does secure our future playing there providing the rent is paid.”

CHELSEA FAIL IN STADIUM BID

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Chelsea Football Club has failed in its attempt to buy back the freehold of Stamford Bridge following an unsuccessful general meeting of Chelsea Pitch Owners shareholders.

The West London club will now have to rethink their proposal to CPO, which was seen as the first step to a move to a new 60,000-seater venue, after plans were rejected after a dramatic three and half hour general meeting. It ended with 61.6% of votes cast supporting the club's proposal but it needed 75% for the proposal to be accepted by CPO.

Chairman Bruce Buck told www.chelseafc.com: "If we look at the result of the meeting, obviously we're disappointed but there are several significant positives. In our discussions over the last three weeks we are firmly convinced the large body of shareholders of CPO and fans recognise that it may be necessary to move from Stamford Bridge, and it's not their desire to stay at Stamford Bridge at any cost no matter what happens to the club.

"Another major threshold we're over is that within that body of fans that accepts we may need to move, we're comfortable that Earl's Court is not the only place that would be satisfactory to them as a new site. That's also very important information for us."

Chelsea have played at Stamford Bridge since the club was founded in 1905. The ground currently holds 42,055 which falls short of Premier League rivals Arsenal – 60,000-seater at the Emirates and 78,000-seater at Manchester United’s Old Trafford.

"Where I think Chelsea Pitch Owners had two concerns which prevented us from getting the 75 per cent was what happens after 2020, and what happens if something happens to Mr Abramovich,” added Buck. “I think those are the areas which Chelsea Football Club was not able to convince them about.

"There's a bit of a setback now, but it's not like we were planning to move tomorrow. We don't know if this will affect our negotiations for sites. We'll know that when we start talking to someone again."

STEELWORK STARTS AT NEW ROTHERHAM STADIUM

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Rotherham United Football Club chairman Tony Stewart fielded questions from the gathering press at the Guest and Chrimes foundry site, following the first piece of framework being put in place, declaring it “a big day for Rotherham.”

The new stadium site gathered a plethora of interest as Stewart was on hand to speak to the media, alongside club director Richard Stewart and GMI Construction director Andy Kemp.

"I think it’s a big day for Rotherham," said Stewart. "This is a big day for the town and a big day for the club. A lot of time and effort has been put into this, including three years of planning, and to see the first stage of structure today, it’s brilliant."

With a scheduled move-in day in time for the 2012/13 season, the chairman remained confident that things were going to plan at the town centre site. “The planners are saying that July 11th is the date we will be ready to go in, and kick-off,” he added.

Andy Kemp, who is overseeing the project for GMI and working closely with Tony Stewart, was also speaking to the press, and is encouraged by the progress so far. "The steel erection has begun, and will continue until January when the next phase will take over, but by the end of the year the stadium will be very much visible. Next week a second team will come on the site and the south stand will start. Hopefully we’ll be able to get the roof on in early January or February."

LONDON 2012 VELODROME WINS TOP AWARD

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The London 2012 Velodrome has been awarded a prestigious accolade that recognises the best of British design and service.

The 6,000-seat venue picked up the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award and will host the Olympic and Paralympic track cycling events in 2012. After the Games, the legacy Velodrome will be used by elite athletes, local and wider communities and will include a café, bike-hire and cycle workshop facilities.

The award, which has run for the past decade, recognises new buildings, places and spaces that improve the delivery of public services, give a sense of identity and community, are a source of local pride, and help build a sustainable future. It forms part of the British Construction Industry Awards and is sponsored jointly by the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Olympic Delivery Authority chairman John Armitt said: "This is a tremendous achievement for a venue that combines innovative architecture, engineering and construction into a stunning and sustainable building. Along with its striking design, the Velodrome also places sport at its heart, creating a world-class facility for the Games and for a new generation of cyclists to train and compete on in future.

"This is a proud moment for everyone involved in the Olympic Park and welcome recognition that the project is transforming the skyline of east London with landmark new buildings for people to enjoy for decades to come," he added.

Judges picked the Velodrome out of a list of 27 projects from across the UK, including the Olympic Stadium and the colourful Central Park Bridge that spans over the River Lea between the Stadium and Aquatics Centre. It was the first Olympic Park venue completed by the ODA in February 2011.

AMEX STADIUM TO HOST FIRST INTERNATIONAL

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The American Express Community Stadium will get its first taste of international football by hosting England Under-19s against Denmark in a friendly on 10 November.

AMEX Stadium has only been open a few months but has already seen Premier League outfit Liverpool amongst many top Championship sides on its turf. The game will be England's first on home soil since February and comes on the back of next month's mini tournament in France which sees manager Noel Blake's young side test their mettle against some of Europe's finest youth development teams.

"I haven't been to the new stadium myself but The FA's Club England setup thought it was very impressive when they visited recently," said Blake. "It looks superb from the games I've seen on TV, so our youngsters will relish playing there I'm sure."

Ticket details will be announced in due course.

FULHAM SEEK TO EXPAND CRAVEN COTTAGE

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Premier League outfit Fulham Football Club has announced plans to redevelop Craven Cottage.

The West London club hopes to expand its stadium capacity to 30,000 and is currently looking at how the Riverside Stand can be developed to achieve it. Fulham is now in the early stages of the planning process and will display ideas in an open exhibition at Craven Cottage.

Chief executive Alistair Mackintosh said: “We’re confident that a redevelopment will improve the fans’ matchday experience by enhancing the facilities, whilst remaining sympathetic to the design of this historic ground. Naturally our core family values, and the tradition of the football club, continue to be at the forefront of everything we do.

"We are still in the very early stages of the planning process and we would very much welcome your thoughts on our initial ideas," he added. Craven Cottage currently holds 25,700 but the club is keen to build on recent success in the Premier League and Europe.

ABERDEEN STADIUM UP FOR SALE

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Aberdeen Football Club's relocation to a new stadium at Loirston Loch is making progress after the club put Pittodrie Stadium up for sale.

The 13.7 acres development site has been home to Aberdeen since 1903 is located one mile to the north east of Aberdeen city centre. It consists of Pittodrie Stadium, plus two car parks accessed off Pittodrie Street and Golf Road.

Aberdeen City Council granted planning in principle to a masterplan for the residential redevelopment site in April 2011.The development will comprise of a total of 350 residential units, consisting of 260 town houses and 90 apartments.

Dons chief executive Duncan Fraser said: "While the sale of Pittodrie is the key element of our funding model for the new stadium at Loirston Loch, progress has also been made regarding the securing of naming rights. The other elements are the raising of fresh equity and, on the back of that, securing a mortgage.

"To that end, the major shareholders remain totally committed to contributing additional equity and while we will require further equity, we would hope that the sale value of Pittodrie together with the naming rights and a secured mortgage will mean that we will be more than 80% there in terms of raising the £38m required for our new home.

"I am confident the sale of Pittodrie will attract interest from both national and local developers. Naturally any new owner would not be moving on site until the new stadium is ready for the Club to relocate to."

Aberdeen plan be operating from its new home in time for the start of the 2013/14 season.

UKRAINE MAKES STADIUM PROGRESS FOR EURO 2012

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

UEFA President Michel Platini has given encouraging words to Ukraine as the nation is set to co-host Europe’s finest football talents next summer at Euro 2012.

Platini and UEFA officials visited all four of the country's host cities during a two-day whistle-stop tour to check on the overall progress. UEFA first visited Lviv, the westernmost Ukrainian host city, and also took in the new terminal at Lviv Airport before checking out the city's new stadium.

"I am excited to be in Lviv again," said the UEFA President. "I can see significant improvements. The local authorities have done a great job here."

Next up was Donetsk, to observe construction work at the airport, which includes a new air traffic control tower. The party then toured the Donbass Arena and met local dignitaries. "I might visit Donetsk as a tourist after the European Championship, as Ukraine and Poland are making every effort to update their infrastructure, and for sure I will be here for the semi-final," said Platini.

The delegation visited Kharkiv to open Kharkiv Airport's new VIP facilities before inspecting the soon-to-be-opened temporary terminals that will operate for the 2012 tournament. "Kharkiv is the third city I have visited today," said Mr Platini.

"I do not see any big problems in Kharkiv relating to EURO preparations. There are minor ones that will be solved. The city's airport is fine, the stadium is great. Transport is a point on the list that needs a little bit more focus."

Officials then inspected the Kyiv Olympic Stadium, which will stage the EURO 2012 final, and Platini was pleased with what he saw: "I have just walked onto the pitch and scored a goal. I am very happy as this means the arena is almost complete. We see great progress with the infrastructure, stadiums.

"There are still some minor problems [in each host city] but together we will cope with them. At the next meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee I will tell the members that Ukraine is doing fine with the preparations," he added.

With less than 10 months to Euro 2012 it appears Ukraine are in a strong position to deliver on their original bid process.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TO INCREASE CAPACITY AT FRANKLINS GARDENS

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Northampton Saints Rugby Club has announced plans to increase the capacity of their stadium to 15,000.

The Saints hope the extra 2,000 will help bring in additional revenue to the club to help compete with other Aviva Premiership sides. It will also mean that the Saints will be able to host quarter final ties in the ERC Heineken Cup meeting the strict guidelines currently in place.

Franklin's Gardens has been expanded in recent years to its present capacity of 13,591, and the side has had no problem filling it with an average attendance of 98% for every Aviva Premiership Rugby match for the last few seasons. Northampton-born-and-bred winger, Paul Diggin, welcomed the news and said: "I think it's fantastic. It's brilliant for the town as well, if you think we've got 10 percent of the population of Northampton coming here every weekend.

"The fact that we're regular Heineken Cup participants now can only mean good things, especially if we can make the knockout stages and play them here. Milton Keynes is a fantastic venue - everything was done to make it a home venue for us - but it's not quite Franklin's Gardens. To have more bums on seats in the future and more atmosphere here will be brilliant."

The club is hoping the new redevelopment will help bring the stadium up to date and help the Saints remain competitive on and off the pitch.

A Saints statement read: “The Saints is an ambitious club, but in order to keep up with clubs such as Leicester and Gloucester - both who are either in the middle of expanding their stadium or have done so recently. Saracens and London Irish - play in significantly larger football stadiums - in potential earning power we must do the same.”

PRIDE PARK CHARITY SIT IN

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Sitting on a chair may not sound like an impressive charity fundraiser but when you plan to sit on 33,597 at a football stadium in Derby it becomes a little more cheeky.

By the time Derby County Football Club play Millwall at home on Saturday 24 September, lifelong supporter Gareth Griffiths and four of his friends will have sat on every seat at Pride Park Stadium in just one day - all in the aid of charity. Gareth, who is 36, came up with the idea to help him raise £5,000 for Action for Children and Sight Support Derbyshire.

He will be joined on the challenge by fellow Rams fans Tim Jones, Phil Evans, JJ Smith, and Matt Wix. Starting in the West Stand, Gareth's group - entitled Bums On Seats - will make their way around the stadium, sitting on about 6,720 seats each.

Gareth said: "I got the idea from a friend of a friend, who did the same thing at the Ethihad Stadium for charity. It will probably be a case of the first guy sitting on the top row, the second guy on the row below and so on, just moving from one seat to the next until we've done them all.

"I suspect for the first 15 to 20 minutes it will be a novelty and then, after that, it will get quite tedious. But, if we are near each other, we can keep each other's spirits up," he added.

Bums On Seats will make the attempt on Friday 23rd September, the day before the Millwall match. To sponsor them, visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/prideparkchallenge.

SPURS TO BUILD NEW STADIUM NEXT TO WHITE HART LANE

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has signed a planning agreement to build a brand new stadium next to White Hart Lane.

Spurs will continue discussions with local authorities and the London mayor in an attempt to secure funding for the move. The club wants to redevelop its 36,310-capacity home at White Hart Lane in a 20-acre industrial side adjacent to the ground in a plan known as the Northumberland Development Project.

A Tottenham statement read: "The club can confirm that the S106 agreement in respect of the Northumberland Development Project has now been completed and planning permissions have been issued. This enables discussions with the London borough of Haringey, the Mayor of London and central government to continue as we seek to make the development viable and deliverable. As always, we shall keep all our supporters updated as these progress."

The Section 106 agreement means Spurs have agreed to pay money towards local facilities in the area around the stadium if they decide to go ahead with plans to stay in the area. However, this does not signal the end of the long-running saga surrounding the future of the Olympic Stadium after London 2012, as the Premier League club is still pursuing a legal challenge against West Ham's winning bid to adopt the 80,000-seater venue.

MOLINEUX INSTALLS NEW SEATING

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club has installed 8,000 new seats at their home stadium.

Arena Seating installed its permanent stadium BOX Seat system into the North Stand of the Premier League club’s Molineux Stadium. The BOX Seat system allows rapid installation, which meant that the first phase of the project was completed on schedule, in time for Wolves’ game against Tottenham Hotspur on 10 September.

The second phase will see new padded seating in the venue to offer more comfort to corporate members. The slim and compact seats have rapid sleeve interchange-ability for maintenance and sponsorship branding.

"The BOX Seat’s modular installation system gives the club greater flexibility, as well as making it extremely easy and quick to fix, maintain and operate," said Dave Withey, Arena Group sales director. "With a range of high tech seating models to suit differing client needs, we have worked closely with Wolves to design a bespoke solution to fit the precise requirements of this famous sporting stadium."

The final colour scheme of the North Stand project works in combination with the famous gold and black colours.

STADIUM BOOST FOR YORK CITY

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

York City Football Club’s hopes for a new community stadium were boosted after the Football Stadia Improvement Fund agreed to extend the terms of their £2 million loan to the club.

The Minstermen used the finance to buy back Bootham Crescent in 2004, but under the FSIF terms it the money had to be settled by September 2012. However, FSIF has now extended the deal by a further year after being impressed by stadium redevelopment plans which could be ready for the 2013/2014 season.

The FSIF stated they reconsidered the deadlines associated with the outstanding £2 million loan to York City Football Club: "In light of the commitment and significant progress being made on the community stadium. The Directors, in reaffirming the FSIF’s support to York City Football Club and the community stadium project, would be prepared to alter the current Deed of Variation, to extend the date by a further year, to 30 September 2013."

The consultation process regarding the new community stadium project has shown that 78% of people who responded are in favour of the plans. In response to the good news, York City chairman, Jason McGill said: "We are so grateful to the FSIF for their extended support."

"Without them, York City Football Club would not be here today," he added. "This further boost is justification for the extensive work which has been going on behind the scenes to deliver a community stadium for York."

NEW STADIUM CLOSE FOR CAMBRIDGE UNITED

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The landlords of Cambridge United Football Club have identified two preferred locations for a new community stadium.

Grosvenor Estates is keen to build a new stadium for the Blue Square Bet Premier side in order to press on with redevelopment of their current Abbey home. Grosvenor has trimmed their 10-site shortlist to two specific sites following consultation.

Projects director Ed Skeates told the BBC: "We're pleased with the progress that's being made. We've been speaking to landowners, assessing who would like to be involved, and now we've got to the stage where we've got two realistic options.”

One choice is the development on the former NIAB site in the north-west of the city. The other option is Trumpington Meadows which is close to the M11, providing important transport links.

However, both locations are on greenbelt ground which means any development will need reclassification of the land. Despite this potential stumbling block Skeates believes the stadium development will be complete within the next five to seven years.

"In terms of the surveys we've done, the fans' number one request is that the club is placed on a solid financial footing with the new stadium," Skeates said. "This project is more than just a football stadium. It's a community stadium which will provide for related educational, health and housing needs."

Design work is now underway to create a stadium concept, with a maintenance and governance plan set to be put in place. It is anticipated that the venue will cost around £12m to build and will have a capacity of around 8,000.

EDEN PARK KICKS OFF RUGBY WORLD CUP

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The opening ceremony and the first match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand kicks off in Auckland tonight in the redeveloped Eden Park stadium.

The 45,472-seater stadium is one of three tournament venues designed by sport architects, Populous. The other two stadia are the newly completed Otago Stadium (Forsyth Barr Stadium) in Dunedin, the world’s only stadium with a natural pitch growing under a fully fixed roof which will host four pool matches, and Wellington Regional Stadium (Westpac Stadium) in Wellington, which will host eight matches including two quarter finals.

Eden Park was the venue for the very first Rugby World Cup final in 1987 and it will stage the final this time round too, as well as five pool matches, both semi-finals, and the bronze match. Populous senior principal Richard Breslin who directed the completion of both Eden Park and Otago Stadium said all three stadia are unique to their specific communities.

"Otago Stadium, completed only a month ago, is innovative particularly because of its revolutionary roof made of a specially engineered plastic called ETFE. Sunlight can still reach the pitch, allowing natural grass to grow, while ensuring the fans and players are protected.

"Wellington Stadium has stood the test of time, and become a much loved, well used community icon over the past 11 years. And the new Eden Park, New Zealand’s premier stadium has undergone the biggest transformation in its 100 year history," he added. "It still retains its historical and cultural significance as the country’s premier stadium, but it is now distinctly 21st century and unmistakably Kiwi in appearance.

"All three stadia are innovative, multifunctional and flexible, so they can operate as truly regional sporting and entertainment hubs providing a real legacy for their communities."

NFL LAUNCHES WEMBLEY TICKET SALES

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The final countdown to the NFL’s return to the UK begins on Sunday with the first full day of the new season and the launch of public ticket sales for the International Series game on October 23.

While NFL teams are taking their first steps on the road to Super Bowl XLVI, general admission tickets to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ game against the Chicago Bears at Wembley Stadium will go on sale at 7.30pm UK time on Sunday via www.ticketmaster.co.uk. After four sold-out games since 2007, the PepsiMax International Series has become one of the hottest sporting tickets on the calendar.

Demand is expected to be great for a contest between the home-team Buccaneers, one of the most exciting young teams in the NFL, and the Bears, who came within one game of reaching last season’s Super Bowl. Following a period of closed sales to fans who pre-registered for tickets, the launch of public sales will take place at halftime during the first game of Sky Sports’ opening double-header of the season between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.

"It is going to be an exciting first Sunday of the season," said NFL UK Managing Director Alistair Kirkwood. "Because of the lateness in confirming this year’s Wembley game due to the ongoing labour negotiations in the US we are working to a very different timescale for ticket sales this year. But it gives us the opportunity to tie in the sale of tickets to the general public with the launch of the season and all the thrills and drama of opening weekend."

The Buccaneers and Bears, both former Super Bowl winners, will clash on Sunday, October 23 at 6pm. "Our past four games in London have demonstrated the tremendous passion for NFL football that exists in the UK," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "We hope by staging another extraordinary game at Wembley that we can continue to grow our existing fan base and attract even more new fans."

For the Bears it will be a nostalgic return to Wembley on the 25th anniversary of playing in the first official NFL game staged in the UK, a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys in 1986. The Buccaneers also feature prominently in the NFL’s history at the stadium, having played a home regular-season game there against the New England Patriots in 2009.

"We are honoured to be selected to participate in the NFL International Series for a second time," said Buccaneers co-chairman Bryan Glazer. "We are looking forward to promoting Tampa Bay’s emerging young team on the world stage."

Chicago Bears chairman Michael McCaskey said: "To return to London to play an NFL game – this is going to be fun. I remember how enthusiastic the fans were in 1986 when we played in Wembley Stadium. We are looking forward to facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and playing in person before our terrific fans in the UK and Europe."

Further details of the International Series, including other events during the week of game, will be available at www.nfluk.com.

RUN IN THE OLYMPIC STADIUM

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Thousands of runners will have the opportunity to be the first person to cross the Olympic Stadium finish line following the announcement of the National Lottery Olympic Park Run.

The first ever public event in the Olympic Stadium will take place on 31 March 2012 and see 5,000 runners compete on a special five-mile course around the Olympic Park. The ballot for entry will open later this month, with people from across the UK selected at random to take part.

A National Lottery spokesperson said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to run on the track that the world’s elite athletes will compete on, against a stunning backdrop of venues which Lottery players have funded. Watch out for more information on the ballot launch date to make sure you’re in with a chance to grab your place in this historic event.”

The National Lottery is contributing up to £2.2 billion towards the funding of the infrastructure of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

CROCODILE STADIUM GIVES SMILE TO BURSASPOR FANS

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Turkish professional football side Bursaspor has begun construction on a brand new 45,000-seater stadium that has a real architectural bite.

Bursaspor is nicknamed the 'Green Crocodiles' and local design firm Sozuneri Architects has taken that theme to the next level on a grand scale. Timsah Stadium will feature a crocodile roof wrapped around the outside of the venue providing a rather different way to intimidate opponents.

The crocodile’s two eyeholes will each feature a beam of lights firing into the skies.

All building work is scheduled for the end of 2012 when Bursaspor will move from its current home ground, the 25,000-seat Bursa Ataturk Stadium. The 150,000m2 arena will boast state-of-the-art facilities and totally transform the central suburb of Osmangazi, in the club's home city of Bursa.

Images courtesy of www.sozuneri.com

BANGOR BEGINS WORK ON NEW STADIUM

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Bangor City Football Club has started construction of their new 3,000-capacity stadium.

The Citizens will leave their historic home at Farrar Road once work has been completed on a brand new venue in Nantport. Bangor hope to move into their new home in January 2012.

"We will be moving into the new ground as soon as this work is finished, so this means changing stadiums in the middle of the season," said chairman Dilwyn Jones. "Obviously this is not ideal, but we really have little option given the ongoing deterioration in the fabric of Farrar Road, and the ongoing cost of maintaining the old stadium."

The new Nantporth stadium will meet Welsh Premier League standards – a capacity of 3,000 with 600 of these places being covered seating and 200 uncovered. The design also allows for enhancement of the ground and facilities if required in the future.

"Once again I wish to assure supporters that our plans are to deliver a stadium in Bangor that meets criteria for UEFA competition, and to do this as soon as we possibly can," added Jones. "This is a challenge for ourselves as a club, but I am confident that by working together with our supporters, the local community, public bodies and the Football Association of Wales we will rise to the challenge and pull together – as Bangor City always does."

GREEN BAY PLAN LAMBEAU FIELD EXPANSION

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

NFL Superbowl champions the Green Bay Packers has announced $130m expansion plans for their stadium.

Green Bay wants to increase capacity at Lambeau Field, by adding an extra 6,600 new seats in the south end zone. The club also plans to build a new gate and rooftop viewing platform in the north end of the 80,000-seater venue.

"We’re excited to begin work on the expansion of Lambeau Field,” said Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy. The project, with a projected cost of approximately $130 million, will get underway on 1 September with an official groundbreaking, and be ready for the 2013 season.

In the south end zone, the new seats, all with seatbacks, will be added in four levels. General seating will be featured, in addition to themed areas with some indoor concession environments. A new south gate will include four elevators and escalators to efficiently move fans in and out of the stadium.

"This project will benefit the Packers and our fans through two new gates for better stadium entry and exit, additional seats and updated amenities, as well as more gameday crowd noise focused on our opponents,” added Murphy. “It also will benefit our community, initially through construction jobs, but also in the long term through the increased economic impact of additional fans coming to Packers games each year.”

Miron Construction has been selected as the general contractor for the expansion project. It continues a longstanding working relationship between the two as the company served as the major subcontractor on the Lambeau Field redevelopment project.

The Packers are still going ahead with $12m plans to install new Mitsubishi Diamond Vision video boards, which will be ready for the 2012 season. The total investment will represent more than $143 million which club states will not be funded without public tax money.

OLYMPIC STADIUM DECISION GRANTED JUDICIAL REVIEW

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient Football Clubs have been granted a judicial review into the decision over the future of the Olympic Stadium.

Both clubs were unhappy over how officials opted for West Ham United as the preferred tenant of the £486million venue in East London after the 2012 Games. Spurs are challenging the decision by West Ham's local authority to provide a £40million loan to fund the move.

The Premier League side was granted permission to mount a legal challenge by Mr Justice Collins, whose only task at this stage was to decide whether Tottenham have an "arguable" case. It means that a further hearing with full arguments from all sides will now have to be held later this year.

A spurs statement read: “A full hearing will be heard. The club continues to hold discussions and negotiations with both local and national government bodies in order to determine an optimum and feasible stadium solution.”

The future of the 80,000-seater stadium again appears to be in doubt but West Ham are confident the decision to grant them the venue will be upheld. A West Ham United statement said: "We acknowledge that the final hurdle of a Judicial Review against London of Borough of Newham and the OPLC in relation to West Ham United being the preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium has been granted on a very narrow basis.

"A full hearing will take place on 18 October and we remain confident that Newham and the OPLC will be successful in defending limited points regarding the £40m loan that would be made to the Legacy Stadium Partnership.”
West Ham is also unhappy about how the details of the £40m loan were obtained and confirmed a police investigation is underway into a private investigator acting unlawfully, reportedly under instruction by Tottenham Hotspur.

"This is in relation to reported breaches of the Data Protection Act and Computer Misuse Act as a result of the unlawful acquisition of bank and telephone records belonging to senior executives at the club and the OPLC. We are advised that if found guilty of these crimes, those responsible can expect to receive custodial sentences. We have full faith in the police investigation into this matter and shall continue to provide the fullest of assistance to them,” the statement read.

"In response to media inquiries, we can confirm that West Ham today received a document from Tottenham asking us to give up our claims against them in relation to the above, in return for Tottenham withdrawing their judicial review proceedings. West Ham naturally refused.

“We look forward to the 18 October and a successful conclusion whereby we can deliver the multi-sport legacy that Lord Coe envisaged for east London and the rest of the nation."

EARTHQUAKE HITS OHIO BASEBALL GAME

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Cleveland Indians felt the ground move during their defeat against the Seattle Mariners after a magnitude-5.8 earthquake has shook the east coast of the United States.

The Major League Baseball matchup still continued despite the significant tremors which the players reportedly did not feel. However fans within Progressive Field certainly noticed the earthquake as the press box and upper deck of the venue shook for about 30 seconds.

Indians manager Manny Acta didn't even know an earthquake had occurred, when asked after a 7-5 win Tuesday afternoon if he felt the shaking. "We just thought that it was our fans jumping up and down," he joked.

The Washington Nationals delayed opening the gates prior to their game on Tuesday night against the D-backs, as team officials checked the stadium for damage.

WAKEFIELD WILDCATS EXTEND STADIUM DEAL

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats' has extended the naming rights deal of their stadium for the next two seasons.

It means their 12,000 capacity home will continue to be named the Rapid Solicitors Stadium for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The solicitor firm started their original sponsorship at Belle Vue earlier this year and is happy to be involved with their local rugby club.

Rapid Solicitors spokesman Martin Ward said: “As a Wakefield person, myself, I’m delighted to have extended our agreement with the Wildcats for a further two years. We have faith in the new owner, the club and their future plans. Our commitment to the Wildcats is also a commitment to our involvement in communities.”

The Wildcats were planning a move away from the stadium which has been their home since 1895 planning a brand new venue, but this was rejected by the council. The club has since decided to redevelop the Rapid Solicitors Stadium.

Wildcats commercial manager Martin Hopkins said: “We have shown how we can help market a company’s brand across the media, Rapid have shown great understanding of what we are about as a club and our importance in the community and the city of Wakefield.”

ABERDEEN NAME PREFFERED CONTRACTOR

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Construction on Aberdeen Football Club's new £38m home looks set to begin early 2012 after the preferred contractor was announced.

Barr Construction, which has recently completed the basketball arena for London 2012, has been chosen as the preferred contractor. The 21,000-seater stadium has already received council approval and could be ready as early as the 2013/14 season.

The new venue at Loirston Loch in the south of Aberdeen, will replace the club’s current home at Pittodrie which is being sold for housing. However, the project has not been completely plain sailing as it was subject to 140 objections from local communities and groups concerned about the environmental impact of the stadium.

Image courtesy of www.afc.co.uk.

NOTTS COUNTY TO OPEN NEW JUVENTUS STADIUM

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Notts County Football Club will play Juventus in a friendly to mark the opening of the Serie A club's new stadium in Turin.

The Magpies have been invited to open the 41,000-seat stadium by playing an exhibition match on Thursday 8 September. It follows an historic link between the clubs dating back to 1903, when a Juve player, Englishman John Savage, arranged for the Italian club to wear the black and white kit that County, the Football League's oldest club, traditionally play in.

Juventus has worn the same colours ever since, and the Magpies chairman, Ray Trew, said: "I have to admit that when the offer first came in I was slightly taken aback. When we sat down to look at the fixture list, we've obviously got a home game against Walsall two days later and then a trip to Exeter the following Tuesday.

"However, given the historical relationship between our clubs and the sheer prestige of the occasion, we were prepared to move heaven and earth to make this happen,” he added. “ It will be a fantastic night for everyone associated with this great football club, the players, the staff and of course the fans."

Juventus will end their short term stay at the Stadio Olimpico and move into their new €105 million home, which has 3,600 premium seats and 120 executive boxes. In addition, the stadium houses a 34,000-m2 shopping complex open every day and parking space for 4,000 vehicles.

Image courtesy of www.studiogau.it

LONDON BIDS FOR 2017 WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

UK Athletics has confirmed it will bid to host the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium in London.

The bid will be led by Lord Sebastian Coe and supported by a coalition from UKA, DCMS, UK Sport and London & Partners , the Mayor of London's official promotional agency. Coe will personally submit the bid at this year’s IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu and a decision is expected in November later this year.

Lord Coe said: "The IAAF and the athletics family have been unwavering in their support for an Olympic legacy and played a crucial role in securing it. A successful bid will be our opportunity to say thank you for that constant support by delivering a fantastic IAAF World Championships in London that will help drive more young people in to the sport."

The announcement will be great news for British fans as demand for London 2012 tickets showed a high level of public support exists for world class track and field. Olympic organisers believe hosting the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships would be an ideal legacy from London 2012 and help fulfil a commitment made during the bid.

Liz Nicholl, UK Sport’s chief executive, said: "UK Sport is committed to using the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a catalyst for bringing even more world class events to towns and cities right across the UK. We have already started to secure events for 2013-2018 and the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships would make a fantastic addition to this ambitious programme, so we are delighted to be supporting UKA’s bid and have no doubt that we could deliver a spectacular event."

VANDALS BURN KASSAM STADIUM PITCH

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Oxford United Football Club has been on the receiving end of vandalism ahead of their match against Bradford.

Vandals broke into the Kassam Stadium in the early hours of Saturday morning and burnt 'STFC' - the initials of local rivals Swindon Town Football Club - into the pitch. The men were captured on CCTV footage which is being investigated by Police.

A club spokesman said: "Thames Valley Police are studying CCTV footage and are working with the club to catch those responsible. The club can confirm that at 5.36am an incident of vandalism occurred at the Kassam stadium, damaging the pitch."

The letters STFC had seemingly been burnt into the grass in two places in front of the North Stand at the ground's open end.

PC Paul Phillips of Thames Valley Police said: "We are studying CCTV and have images of persons on the pitch at 5.36am. We are working closely with the club and Ozone security with a view to identifying these people.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 08458 505505."

EMIRATES STADIUM ANNOUNCE OFFICIAL BEER PARTNER

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Arsenal Football Club has signed Carlsberg for the next three years as its first ever official beer partner.

The deal means that Carlsberg will replace Heineken, to supply beer for the 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium. It also gives exclusive marketing rights on a global basis, enabling the Danish brewer to promote their association to millions of Arsenal fans across the world.

"We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Carlsberg, a truly global brand with real history and heritage within football,” said Vinai Venkatesham, Arsenal’s head of global partnerships. "We look forward to working closely with Carlsberg in the years ahead on joint initiatives, and warmly welcome them to our growing family of official partners."

On matchdays, Carlsberg will also create a bespoke ‘Carlsberg Lounge’, offering a special experience for its invited guests and competition winners before and after each home game.

Keld Strudahl, Carlsberg's international marketing director, added: "Arsenal and Carlsberg have much in common. Both are well known, established brands, recognized around the globe. In the run-up to next year's European Championships, at which Carlsberg has been an official sponsor since 1988, it is great that we have partnered with another international football club which has a strong following, not only in Europe, but also in Asia - Carlsberg's target markets."

The brand already has partnerships with the Football Association and Liverpool Football Club.

MATCH POSTPONED DUE TO LONDON RIOTS

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Premier League has called off Saturday’s opening match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton Football Club due to the recent riots in London.

The game due to be played at White Hart Lane has been postponed until later in the season, as the local area saw widespread chaos following looting and vandalism. The area is not considered safe due to the extensive damage caused by the riots.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore confirmed the news on Thursday morning. "In fairness to the police, they have done a fantastic job but they are unable to hand the Tottenham High Road, which as people will have seen has been pretty much a crime scene for much of this week, they are unable to hand that back to the council until Friday night,” he said.

"That doesn't give the council enough time to do what they need to do to clean it up and get a safety certificate issued. That is a regret but the other nine fixtures are looking positive."

Several football fixtures have already been affected by the riots. England's international friendly against the Netherlands on Wednesday was called off, as was Ghana's friendly with Nigeria at Watford's Vicarage Road, which was due to take place on Tuesday.

Wednesday's Carling Cup tie between Bristol Rovers and Watford was postponed at the request of the police, following the cancellation of Tuesday's ties at West Ham, Crystal Palace, Charlton and Bristol City.

WORLD FIRST ENCLOSED TURF STADIUM COMPLETE

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Construction is complete at New Zealand’s Forsyth Barr stadium in Dunedin.

The world’s only permanently enclosed, natural turf stadium with its space age transparent roof will hold its inaugural game of rugby on August 7, about a month ahead of the start of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The international architecture firm, Populous designed the innovative stadium in association with local firm Jasmax to replace the legendary Carisbrook House of Pain. Construction of the stadium with 20,000 permanent and 11,000 temporary seats has been completed on time and on budget, ahead of the World Cup tournament, when the stadium will host four games.

The unique roof is the result of extensive research by the design team. While ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) is not a new product and was originally developed for the space industry, it is the first time its UV translucent properties have been put to use in a stadium, creating the largest ETFE covered structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

Populous senior principal and project Director of Forsyth Barr stadium, Richard Breslin, said an essential ingredient in stadium design is legacy. The revolutionary design of Forsyth Barr provides the multifunctionality and flexibility so it is perfectly positioned to be used by its community all year round.

"New Zealanders are well known for their tenacity and innovation and that’s exactly what Forsyth Barr stadium is all about. Research by many people has created this final concept of a natural grass pitch growing under a permanent roof structure.

"The unique permanent roof is clad in EFTE, a transparent polymer or plastic, which is light, enclosed and translucent, allowing maximum sunlight onto the pitch, so that the grass keeps growing but the fans are protected from the elements and the action goes on whatever the weather,” he added. “The permanent roof means Forsyth Barr is a true hybrid between a highly efficient, well functioning football/rugby stadium and an entertainment venue.”

Forsyth Barr stadium will be New Zealand’s largest indoor event venue, capable of hosting events such as major concerts, performances and festivals. Sir Elton John will stage the first concert at the stadium in November this year.

The rectangular design will also change the way fans view the live game in New Zealand according to Richard Breslin. “The angled seating pitch and enclosed roof will mean spectators are closer to the action than ever before and the atmosphere will be fantastic.

"I was there recently, and even though there was no game on, the sense of enclosure made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. I could almost hear the noise, and the smell and feel of the atmosphere of the rival teams during that first big rugby match," he said.

The stadium is located at the southern end of the South Island, and at latitude 42° south, it is the most southerly professional stadium in the world. Dunedin’s extreme cold and wet climate makes the roof an essential feature to encourage crowds to attend live events.

A team of turf experts, engineers and the stadium architects undertook rigorous studies over two years to understand the effects of grass growth under ETFE all year round, and an ETFE test rig was built on site to monitor grass growth both under the rig and outside it.

Populous associate principal, Ron Van Sluijs, project architect of Forsyth Barr stadium during its design phase, said the grass under the rig was healthier and stronger than the grass around it and the team is confident the grass will grow better at Forsyth Barr than it would at a similar unroofed stadium in Dunedin."The new roof means we can maintain a constant temperature and grow a stronger grass which will not become boggy because it will never rain, snow, or hail inside the stadium during a game at Forsyth Barr,” he said.

“This roof material allows for 90% of sunlight to still reach the pitch, along with UV light and fresh air.” Project architect during the construction phase at Forsyth Barr, Populous associate Jochem Veerman said the sectional profile of the stadium was carefully designed to maximise solar penetration onto the field as well as the natural ventilation.

"The ETFE covers the roof and parts of the facades, the stands on the Northern end are lower to allow maximum sun light onto the pitch and the end facades are raised five metres so the stadium is open at these points, allowing natural ventilation of the grass, and to ensure spectators do not feel enclosed. There are also ventilation slots at a high level to ensure air circulates properly,” he said.

Forsyth Barr is one of three stadia Populous has designed for the Rugby World Cup; the others are New Zealand’s main stadium Eden Park in Auckland, which will host the semi finals and final of the competition and Westpac Stadium in Wellington which will host quarter finals.

Images courtesy of www.forsythbarrstadium.co.nz.

OLYMPIC STADIUM WRAP GETS FUNDING

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Olympic organisers have announced chemical company Dow has agreed to fund and make the fabric wrap around the Olympic Stadium.

The wrap was conceived by architects as the final touch to the 80,000-seater venue but was dropped to help save £7m from the construction costs. The deal means Dow, the world's second largest chemical manufacturer, will be allowed to advertise on the 336 panels until a month before the Games open next year.

Each panel is 25m high and 2.5m wide and made of lightweight polyester fabric with a low-density polyethylene coating – requiring fewer raw materials to manufacture. It will also be up to 35 percent lighter and have a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional materials.

LOCOG chair Sebastian Coe said: “The stadium will look spectacular at Games time and having the wrap is the icing on the cake. I’m delighted that Dow, as one of the newer worldwide partners of the Olympic Movement, will be providing it and importantly doing it in a sustainable way.

"It reflects our vision and is a real statement of intent from Dow about their commitment to the Games,” he added. The stadium will host athletics as well as the opening and closing ceremonies which is due to kick off in less than a year.

George Hamilton, vice president of Dow Olympic Operations, said: “We’re providing this wrap as a sustainable solution for the Games and we look forward to celebrating its completion with Olympic fans around the world.”

Image courtesy of www.london2012.com.

GLYNDWR UNIVERSITY TO BUY RACECOURSE GROUND

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Glyndwr University has agreed to purchase Wrexham Football Club’s Racecourse Ground and Colliers Park training ground.

The deal will not include any takeover of the football club or the Crusaders rugby league team who both play there. It means that both sides will continue to use the facilities.

Professor Michael Scott, vice chancellor and chief executive of Glyndwr University said: "This purchase has been made to secure the future of the stadium and the training ground for Wrexham and north east Wales as a sports venue. In addition the university’s intention is that the two acquisitions will be used by the university’s students, for sports provision, and by the people of Wrexham and north east Wales.

"The purchase is made in the context of the university’s continued development of higher education programmes related to sport, for the benefit of students and the wider community," he added.

In 2008, the Racecourse Ground was officially recognised as the oldest football stadium in the world still hosting international games. The venue has a 200-year history as a sporting venue but is in need of modernisation.

Glyndwr University hope to apply for Lottery funding to build two new stands at either end of the Racecourse, including one to replace the closed Kop.

SURVEY REVEALS MATCHDAY COSTS AT FOOTBALL STADIUMS

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Football stadiums across England and Scotland have revealed all in a price survey designed to find out the best value venue.

The BBC Sport survey reviewed every club in the four English divisions and Scottish Premier League. The results show that supporters in the North West have some of the cheapest deals available for matchday tickets and catering.

Clubs submitted their cheapest and most expensive matchday adult tickets, as well as the prices for a cup of tea, a programme, and a pie in order to work out the overall price of a football day experience.

John Nagle, head of communications at the Football League, told BBC: "Football League clubs are working extremely hard to attract the next generation of fans through a variety of innovative marketing initiatives. As a result, crowds in recent seasons have been at their highest levels for 50 years.

"Much of the focus is on improving the matchday experience for supporters, particularly families. This has seen the League introduce a programme of 'mystery shopper' visits to matches in order to assess the experience and the introduction of the Family Excellence Award, to reward those clubs that are offering a particularly outstanding day out."

The most expensive ticket in England and Wales is to see Arsenal in action at the Emirates costing £100. However eight clubs including Blackburn, Watford, Rochdale, Preston, MK Dons, Rotherham, Torquay and Plymouth are offering tickets at £10.

Once again Arsenal are quite literally demanding the biggest slice of the pie by charging a whopping £4 for a pastry, the most at any stadium compared to £1.50 at Scottish side St Johnstone. If you’re looking for a bargain cuppa then get yourself down to Broadfield Stadium, as tea costs only 50p – a great way to warm up to Crawley’s first season in the Football League.

Interestingly, Newcastle United was the only club out of the 104 surveyed who did not reveal the prices at Sportsdirect.com @ St James' Park Stadium.

HILLSBOROUGH APPOINT CATERING CONTRACT

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Sheffield Wednesday Football Club has agreed an £8.2m deal with Lindley Venue Catering to provide stadium catering.

The five-year contract, which has a further two-year extension option, will see the firm manage match day hospitality, conference and banqueting, and non-match day events business at the Hillsborough Stadium from the start of the 2011/12 season. As part of the deal Lindley will develop a new hospitality-focused website to boost revenue from non-match day business.

"The season ahead marks the start of a new era in Sheffield Wednesday's 144-year history and we have great ambitions for the club – both on and off the pitch," said the club’s vice chairman Paul Aldridge. "We have first class facilities at Hillsborough and we want to ensure that we offer superb catering to provide a great all-round experience for everyone who visits the stadium."

The club also aims to increase public match day spending through the launch of new concepts, retail branding and meal deals. The 39,812 capacity ground has a choice of spaces for events – The Charlton and Springett Suites accommodating 250 guests each.

CHELSEA MOVE CLOSER TO NEW STADIUM

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Chelsea Football Club have moved closer towards building a new stadium after announcing plans to buy back parts of Stamford Bridge from supporters.

Areas of the stadium are owned by Chelsea Pitch Owners - formed in 1993 - to prevent the ground being bought by property developers. Since then the club has been taken over by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich allaying fears of future financial crisis.

But it means the club is unable to move unless it regains ownership of the stadium's pitch and stands. Chairman Bruce Buck and chief executive Ron Gourlay are asking the 12,000 shareholders, who are mostly fans, to sell their 15,000 shares to the club for the price they paid in return for various incentives at any new stadium.

Each share originally cost £100 and Chelsea are hopeful they would not be held to ransom, insisting there was no room for negotiation. Buck stated that shareholders were getting back far more than the land was worth when the 199-year lease on Stamford Bridge was taken into account.

Buck told BBC Sport: "Bear in mind that no-one bought these shares as a financial investment. Everyone bought these shares as a way of helping the club and they also bought them as mementoes and souvenirs. We think we're paying well over the odds."

The incentives for selling include a guarantee that Chelsea would only relocate within a three-mile radius of Stamford Bridge if the club did decide to move before 2020. A decision on the bid is expected at a Chelsea Pitch Owners' general meeting on 27 October.

FINAL COUNTDOWN FOR LONDON 2012

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

With less one year to go until the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, preparations are on track with London’s vision to host a Games is set to become reality.

The Games next year will mark the end of a decade-long project, after London won the bid in 2005 based on a vision to stage Games that would have athletes at its heart, inspire young people and be a catalyst for lasting change.

London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) chair Seb Coe said: “With a year to go we are inviting the athletes, spectators and visitors from around the world to come to the UK next summer – it’s London Calling. Waiting for them will be a spectacular festival of sport and culture in the world’s greatest city, which will be more magical and vibrant than ever.

“There is much to do in the next 12 months, but we can take huge comfort in the progress that has been made so far. We are absolutely on track and determined to stage Olympic and Paralympic Games which will deliver on the promises we made in Singapore, inspire the athletes and make the nation proud.”

A total of 15,000 athletes from over 200 countries will compete in the Olympic and Parlaympic Games next summer. Check out all vital facts about the Olympic Stadium.

BRIGHTON TARGET CAPACITY INCREASE AT NEW STADIUM

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club plan to increase the capacity of their brand new 22,500-seater home.

The Seagulls hope to expand capacity by a further 8,000 seats at the end of the season. Club chief executive Martin Perry announced the plan while speaking at a fans forum on BBC Sussex.

"We're hoping we will be in a position to put in a planning application at the end of this year," he said. "All being well, if we get permission we would hopefully commence work on that in the close season at the end of this campaign."

"There is space in the East Stand to put in another tier and we can fill in the corners," he added. "Because of the demand we want to move as fast as we possibly can because we want to increase the capacity. But it does depend on making sure all the travel arrangements we have put in place do work.”

The American Express Community Stadium, which has taken two and a half years to build, will be officially opened on Saturday when the Brighton take on Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly.

CORBY UNVEIL NEW STADIUM NAME

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Corby Town Football Club has revealed its new stadium will be known as Steel Park.

The new name was voted by visitors to Corby Borough Council's website last week after fans were encouraged to come up with the best names for the 3,893 capacity venue. A club spokesman said: “We'll update you with details of the winners shortly.

“Please accept our apologies for the short and sharp nature of stories going on to the website tonight but there is a lot to do in the stadium before we kick-off,” he added. Corby take on League 1 side Notts County later today in the ground’s opening match.

Steel Park includes a mainstand which was erected with room for 577 spectators. Supporters are also able to stand on the terrace behind the goal and around the perimeter of the pitch.

The site also has training pitches, tennis courts, an athletics track, boardroom, sponsors lounge and changing rooms.

AMEX STADIUM PICKS UP DESIGN AWARD

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The American Express Community Stadium for Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club was among the winners at the Structural Steel Design Awards 2011.

The award recognised the high standard of design achieved in the new 22,500-seater stadium. The judging panel said: “The building provides a long awaited home for Brighton with community facilities. A large structure, with a curving roof and main trusses, it sits comfortably in to the rolling South Downs, while the blue translucent roof shows off the well-executed roof steelwork.”

Martin Perry, club chief executive and representatives from the KSS, SKM, Europe, Watson Steel Structures and Buckingham Group collected the award at the ceremony held in London. Perry said: “The design of the stadium is all about the roof so to receive one of the country’s top awards for roof design is a huge accolade and I congratulate the designers – KSS and SKM - on their innovative design.

“Already our new home is being recognised nationally as a superb example of stadium architecture, one of the best in the country and we should all be very proud of it.”

Brighton will play their first match in the new venue on Saturday against Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

RANGERS TO INVEST £3M AT IBROX

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Glasgow Rangers Football Club is investing £3million into their stadium to help improve the matchday fan experience.

The club plans to upgrade the food kiosks, TV screens and sound system at the venue and has hinted at further redevelopment in the future. It says many of the new upgrades are in response fans' feedback, including permanent tributes to the club's founders and victims of the 1971 Ibrox disaster.

Ali Russell, chief operating officer said: "Ibrox is a traditional, elite football stadium and we have worked throughout the summer to upgrade a number of key areas with the sole intention of enhancing the matchday experience for our supporters. Rangers supporters deserve a winning team on the park and a top class environment to enjoy their football and we aim to deliver both in Season 2011/12 and beyond."

Rangers, won the SPL Family Champions Award last season, has also invested in the family section of the Broomloan Stand and young supporters can now enjoy improved pre-match entertainment - which includes a matchday DJ, free face painting, prizes for children, special themed days and visits from club mascot Broxi Bear. The Family Section will also house a new family friendly toilet facility and the club is the only side in Scotland to offer this service.

MAN CITY ANNOUNCE EXPANSION PLANS

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Manchester City Football Club has begun a public consultation on a proposed youth development and training facility adjacent to their stadium.

The club is asking local residents, its fans and other interested parties for their views on plans to develop up to 80 acres of brown field land diagonally opposite the Etihad Stadium. The facility will include an academy for 400 players, 16 football pitches, state-of-the-art first-team training and injury rehabilitation facilities, a 7,000-capacity stadium and staff offices.

"Manchester City’s ambition is to be a successful and sustainable football club and youth recruitment and development through a top class facility is a key component of that ambition," said Garry Cook, City CEO. "Our research has been painstaking and our planning comprehensive and whilst our plans would inevitably have a positive impact on both our young and established playing talent, the regenerative and economic impact for our community should not be underestimated."

Members of the public interested in taking part in the consultation can visit an exhibition at the Etihad Stadium from Tuesday July 19th to learn more about the proposed development. Exhibition opening times are 11am - 7pm, Monday to Friday and 11am - 4pm on weekends (closed matchdays). Or check out www.manchestercityfootballacademy.co.uk.

Images courtesy of www.mcfc.co.uk.

AL WASL FC ANNOUNCE STADIUM REVAMP

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Al Wasl Football Club has announced a total revamp of its stadium and pitch in preparation for new coach Diego Maradona's first season in charge.

The Dubai club signed the Argentinian legend on a two-year deal in May and is keen to redevelop the venue to meet FIFA standards. Changes will be made to the seating areas of the fans and VIPs, with padded seating and revamped facilities added to accommodate an anticipated increase in fans.

It also plans to install a large plasma display screen at the Zabeel Stadium to give supporters a closer look at the pitch action. “Al Wasl has announced a complete overhaul of its facilities in order to anticipate increased attention from the media, sporting enthusiasts and fans alike," a club spokesman said.

The youth academy will also see some renovations to accommodate the increasing number of young players joining the club. The existing media room is also being expanded as the club expects more press to attend games to hear the thoughts of Maradona.

Abdulla Al Bishr, director of corporate support at Al Wasl Club, said: "Ushering in a new era for the club, Al Wasl is continuously witnessing many changes, and we hope that the new feel will be appreciated by fans and players alike. Setting the stage for an exciting new season, the club is witnessing significant changes to make sure nothing is overlooked in our journey to be a rising star for football in the region."

All maintenance and renovation work is scheduled for completion before training starts in August.

SAINTS LOST £1M WITH HEINEKEN CUP GROUND SWITCH

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Northampton Saints may have lost £1m in revenue during the Heineken Cup rugby match against Ulster, a study has found.

The survey was conducted by The University of Northampton and presented to the club's management. Around 3,500 Ulster supporters travelled to the game, which was switched to stadium:mk, to fulfil capacity requirements of the tournament.

Any quarter final venue must hold at least 15,000 which the Saints failed to meet with their current home at Franklin’s Gardens. However the club is currently putting plans together for the expansion of the stadium to cash in on future events.

"The findings show that even in a time of financial uncertainty top class rugby can bring an immediate boost to the local economy,” said Allan Robson, Northampton Saints chief executive. "We have shown that the potential is there for local businesses to benefit from the Saints' successes, and this is something we can all build on in the future."

The study found that travelling supporters spent an average of £250 per person, with the most amount of money going on food and drink (38%), followed by hotels/accommodation (23%). It also found that the majority of fans spent one or two nights in Milton Keynes, and the vast majority of visitors praised the welcome they received and said that they would visit the area again.

Northampton Saints chief executive Allan Robson stated that the economic impact survey, the first to be commissioned by the club, demonstrates clearly the extrinsic value that rugby can bring to a local economy.

REDSKINS UNVEIL PLANS FOR SOLAR POWER

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Washington Redskins have unveiled plans for an eco friendly car park which will help generate electricity for their stadium.

It plans to install 8,000 solar panels on a covered parking lot at FedEx Field capable of generating two megawatts of electricity. This will help provide energy for the stadium on match days but will also cover all electrical needs on non-game days.

The project will be delivered by NRG Energy and will include 10 electric vehicle charge stations. "Our partnership with NRG will add to the fans’ game day experience at FedExField and offer a unique example of how solar energy installations can do more than generate power," said Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins. "NRG’s expertise and vision are a great match for us and we are excited to be part of this effort that will reduce our environmental impact and offer our fans another unique experience," he added.

The 91,704-seater stadium was opened in 1997 to replace the Redskins’ previous venue RFK Stadium.

"It will take 8,000 solar panels and a lot of expertise to deliver this win to the Redskins – we’re getting it done," said David Crane, NRG’s president and CEO. "The Redskins understand the importance of increasing our national energy security by making full use of our own inexhaustible natural energy resource. NRG is helping to make that change at FedExField and across the country."

The Redskins are among a handful of NFL teams that are reportedly looking into developing the technology. The San Francisco 49ers have proposed using solar panels to partially power their new stadium, and the Eagles, Jets and Patriots have solar panels at their practice facilities.

NO DECISION ON LIVERPOOL STADIUM

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Liverpool Football Club has announced it will not rush into any decision regarding a potential move away from their stadium.

There is a growing uncertainty about the future of Anfield following increased on field investment by the club’s new owners. The club is looking at ways to increase capacity from 45,000 to 60,000 in order to better compete with the matchday revenues of the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.

"What's important to us has been finding the right solution and that's always been the case, certainly in the last nine months,” said managing director Ian Ayre. “We've looked at both options. One is a refurbishment of Anfield, the other is a new stadium in Stanley Park."

Redevelopment of the stadium would probably sit easier with a large proportion of fans as the stadium as been home to the Reds for 119 years. But a brand new 60,000-seater could prove a more financially sound move depending on feasibility.

"No amount of pressure will force Liverpool Football Club to make a decision quickly for the wrong reasons,” Ayre added. “ We've all seen and felt and discovered how the wheels can come off if you make the wrong decisions at a football club, particularly this one.

“So we'll make the right decision at the right time, whatever that is and whenever that is. It has to be in the long-term interests of Liverpool Football Club. That's what everybody here is focused on.”

Liverpool City Council is keen for a decision to be reached soon as any stadium development will figure central to the regeneration of the local area.

CITY AGREE STADIUM NAMING RIGHTS DEAL

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Manchester City Football Club has renamed the City of Manchester Stadium in a 10-year deal with an airline company.

The 47,726-seater venue will now be known as the Etihad Stadium and further strengthens an ongoing commercial partnership which already includes shirt sponsorship. The extra funds are seen as an important way to help the club meet strict financial regulations set to come into effect in 2013.

Garry Cook, CEO of Manchester City Football Club, told mcfc.co.uk: "We are delighted to be expanding our relationship with Etihad Airways through this comprehensive partnership agreement. Most importantly, in addition to delivering significant revenue at a key stage in the Club's evolution, the agreement creates exciting opportunities for our two organisations to cooperate more deeply commercially and on media and community initiatives in the future."

The deal brings the total number of Premier League Clubs with stadium naming rights to seven with Arsenal, Bolton, Newcastle, Stoke City, Swansea City and Wigan all with money spinning deals.

FC TWENTE STADIUM ROOF COLLAPSE

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

One person has been killed and more than a dozen injured following the collapse of a stadium roof in the Dutch city of Enschede.

The accident occurred during building work at De Grolsch Veste the home of FC Twente. The victims are believed to be construction staff working on an expansion project to increase capacity to 32,000.

Firefighter crews and police helicopters attended the venue as rescue workers tried to free people from the rubble. A local government spokeswoman told the Guardian: "There are 14 people injured and unfortunately there is one fatal injury, in addition to the 14 injuries.

"Ten people were treated in hospital and two of those people were severely injured. The exact nature of the injuries I cannot tell you at the moment," she added.

"Everyone is out to our knowledge. People are still searching with dogs and specialist camera teams, but that is as an extra precaution, a double-check."

FC Twente posted a statement on their official website, www.fctwente.nl, which read: "During the renovation work at the Grolsch Veste the roof of the building collapsed. Our thoughts are with everyone involved."

In 2010 FC Twente won the Netherlands League One title and finished second last season. Twente will play in the qualifying round of next season's UEFA Champions League and were scheduled to host a match at the Grolsch Veste stadium in the next few weeks.

FOXES IN STADIUM NAMING RIGHTS DEAL

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Leicester City Football Club has agreed a new naming rights deal for their stadium.

The Foxes’ 32,500-seater stadium will now be known as the King Power Stadium. It is seen as further commitment by the Thai duty-free company that owns the club via Asia Football Investments and is already the Foxes' main shirt sponsor.

“The announcement of King Power's further support to Leicester City is tremendous news and once again underlines the commitment the owners have made to the club,” said club executive Susan Whelan. "King Power has been, and always will be, a progressive company, striving for success.

“That approach will be adopted both on and off the field here at Leicester City, as we continue to make improvements to shape the club's future," she added.

King Power has now taken over the stadium rights from Walkers who have been associated with the club since 1987. Leicester’s home ground has been called the Walkers Stadium since it opened in 2002 and the local company will continue to be the club's 'legacy partner'.

WSDL UNVEIL PLANS FOR NEW SPORTS COMPLEX

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Wycombe Sports Developments Ltd has unveiled plans of a new stadium and sports village complex in Buckinghamshire.

The bowl-shaped stadium will be built at the heart of the complex proposed at Wycombe Air Park in Booker. It will be sunk into the ground and hold a capacity of 17,500, with a standing area reserved behind each goal for about 2,000 fans.

"Alongside hosting Wycombe Wanderers Football Club and Wasps Rugby Club, it will also provide world class facilities for people of all ages and levels of ability to engage and participate in sport," a WSDL statement read. "On their doorstep, the community will have some of the best facilities in the county in which to take part in a wide variety of sports."

It will feature new changing rooms and training facilities plus also offices, club shops, a media centre, 18 hospitality boxes, a VIP lounge with a 4,000sq ft bar capable of catering up to 1,000 people.

WSDL is holding public meetings to discuss Wycombe Sporting Village over the next few days. The plans can be found on the WSDL website.

VASIL LEVSKI STADIUM TO HOST WALES

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Bulgarian Football Union has confirmed the venue for the match with Wales on Tuesday 11 October 2011.

Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia will host the Group G qualifying match for the 2012 UEFA European Championships which will held in Poland and Ukraine next summer. It will be the third time that the Wales National Team has played at this stadium.

Previous meetings in 1983 (lost 1-0) and 1995 (lost 3-1). The last time that Wales played in Bulgaria was a friendly match in 2007 in Burgas. The Vasil Levski Stadium originally opened in 1953 but now holds 43,600 spectators after renovations in 2002.

SPURS APPLY FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW OVER OLYMPIC STADIUM

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has applied for a judicial review to continue their battle for the future of the Olympic Stadium.

Only last week the court rejected legal moves from both Tottenham and Leyton Orient, but now Spurs will now have the chance to present their case at a hearing. Spurs confirmed their decision to take further action in an official statement.

"The Club has today applied to the High Court to renew its application for permission to bring a claim against the London Borough of Newham and the Olympic Park Legacy Company, the Mayor of London and Government Ministers for judicial review of their decisions underlying the bid process for the conversion of the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games. Under this process the club now has the opportunity to present its case at an oral hearing at the High Court.”

West Ham United was awarded the right in February to move to the new Olympic Stadium after next year's Games with plans to redevelop the venue into a 60,000-seater arena. But the club was relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season which could see a drop in fan attendances.

CARDIFF AND SWANSEA TO HOST WALES INTERNATIONALS

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Wales national football team will play two internationals at the homes of Cardiff and Swansea City Football Club.

Cardiff City Stadium will host a friendly international against Australia on Wednesday 10 August 2011, the first time the nations have met on the football pitch. The 26,828-seater stadium, which cost £48m to build, opened in 2009 and will be great venue to host such an exciting encounter.

Liberty Stadium will host the final home fixture in Wales’ Euro 2012 qualifying campaign against Switzerland on Friday 7 October. The 20,532-seater venue will by then already have hosted some of the world’s best players as Swansea tackle on their first season in the Premier League.

AMSTERDAM ARENA TO HOST 2013 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Amsterdam ArenA will host the 2013 UEFA Europa League final.

It will be the second major continental showpiece at the modern home of four-time European champions AFC Ajax. Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) president Michael van Praag was delighted to see the final coming to Amsterdam.

"We put the Amsterdam ArenA forward as a candidate because the stadium will be renovated on a large scale in the next couple of years," said van Praag. "It will be a state-of-the-art stadium again.

"The KNVB has built up a good name in organising international tournaments and matches. With this final we will have the opportunity to show we are able to continue that fine tradition."

Opened on 14 August 1996 with a spectacular ceremony and match between Ajax and AC Milan, the 51,800-seater Amsterdam ArenA came of age when it staged the 1998 UEFA Champions League final, where Real Madrid CF beat Juventus 1-0. It was also a venue for UEFA EURO 2000, playing host to a semi-final among five games.

It was not the first Amsterdam venue to stage major UEFA matches. The Olympisch Stadion, where Ajax played big games prior to the construction of their current home, hosted the 1962 European Champion Clubs' Cup final where SL Benfica beat Madrid 5-3.

The 1977 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final also took place there, bringing a 2-0 victory for Hamburger SV against RSC Anderlecht, as did the second leg of the 1992 UEFA Cup decider, Ajax holding Torino FC 0-0 to win on away goals. The most recent final in the Netherlands was the 2006 UEFA Cup decider, a 4-0 triumph for Sevilla FC against Middlesbrough FC in Eindhoven.

The 2012 UEFA Europa League final takes place on 9 May at the Stadional National, Bucharest.

FIFA CONCERNED OVER BRAZIL 2014

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

FIFA has expressed growing concerns over Brazil’s readiness to host the World Cup in 2014.

Speaking at the World Football Forum in Moscow, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke claimed that the host nation has fallen behind schedule with its preparations for the tournament. He believes Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium may not be ready until a few weeks before the kick off.

The outburst follows the news that a new stadium in Sao Paolo will not be ready for the 2013 Confederations Cup, which was seen as a World Cup dress rehearsal. Valcke told BBC News: "I won't say Brazil started too late but we are not advanced in Brazil.

"We don't have stadiums, airports, or a national transportation system," he added. "To deliver stadiums is the most important part... it's a lot of work. The Sao Paulo stadium is definitely not a World Cup stadium and that is why it is closed."

Brazil is the most successful World Cup nation winning the prestigious tournament five times. However the country has been heavily criticised for its planning since winning the rights to host its first tournament since 1950.

With just under three years to go until kick off the pressure will inevitably start to mount if notable progress is not made over the coming months.

NEW STADIUM PLANS UNVEILED BY FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

FC United of Manchester has placed plans for a new 5,000-seater stadium on display for local residents.

Representatives from FC United will be at the sessions, together with Moston Juniors Football Club, to explain the plans and answer questions. The club will also hold consultation events at the end of the month.

"These sessions are part of our on-going consultation with the Moston community about our plans, aimed at giving as many people as possible the opportunity to put their views directly to us and Moston Juniors Football Club," said club general manager Andy Walsh. We want as many people as possible to come along and tell us what they would like included in our plans for what would be a community facility.

"Equally this is not a done deal so we want to hear any concerns so we can take these into consideration as we develop our proposals,” he added. "We will be working closely with the council to keep the community informed as our consultation progresses."

FC United is a breakaway club formed by disgruntled fans following the controversial takeover of Manchester United. The club currently plays at Gigg Lane and wants to build the venue in Moston near Newton Heath - Manchester United's first home.

The proposals for the development include a community changing facilities and classroom, a function space open for public bookings, two additional community pitches and landscaped public areas. The development represents around £3.5 million of investment in Moston.

WORK BEGINS ON ROTHERHAM STADIUM

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Rotherham United Football Club has moved a step closer to their new home as construction begins on the site.

Preparation work is underway raising the ground level by two metres as part of the flood alleviation plans for the site. This involves transporting 54,000 cubic metres of material to the development area over a nine week period.

Millers’ chairman Tony Stewart and director Richard Stewart visited the site for the official ground breaking ceremony. Stewart told themillers.co.uk: "Supporters driving into Rotherham along Centenary Way will be able to see real progress on the site, and I think that is really exciting. GMI have worked very quickly and already they have made a huge difference to the site.

"I am told that within six weeks the ground will have been raised by two metres, and I am confident that we will meet that deadline. They are working on the new council building and that project is progressing well and I know the council are very impressed by them, so I am confident that they, along with Gleeds, will be able to deliver the new stadium on time."

The stadium is being built by GMI Construction who was present for the official ceremony. Project manager Paul Whitaker added: “We are delighted to kick off the construction work for what will become a renowned stadium in the region for years to come.

"This type of project epitomises the community spirit of a town like Rotherham and allows a wide range of stakeholders to get involved throughout the development process."

The new 12,000-seater stadium has been designed as part of a master plan for the area which will offer other features such as conference and banqueting facilities. The main phase of construction work is due to commence in summer 2011 with completion in time for the 2012/13 football season.

EXPANSION WORKS BEGIN AT LUBBERS STADIUM

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Grand Valley State University has commenced work on a $5 million renovation and expansion project of their home in Michigan.

The work at Lubbers Stadium is expected to take two years to complete and will add an extra 2,000 seats, increasing capacity to 10,700. A new artificial playing surface along with concession stands and toilets will also be installed.

"No question, Laker football is prime entertainment on a Saturday night in West Michigan," said Tim Selgo Grand Valley State athletic director. "I’m certain there are folks out there who have been reluctant to come out because they know what we’ve averaged in attendance and what we seat. Now, we’ll have more seating for them.

"The demand has been there for quite a while," he said. "We get great student support at games and we’ve never had enough seating for them."

Grand Valley State wants to add changing rooms for visiting teams and officials and rebuild a new press box structure. This stage of the project is estimated to cost around $12 million and will require a more public fund raising campaign.

"When you’re an athletic director, facilities improvements never end. Just when you think you’ve got something done, more needs come around and that will be the case with this," added Selgo. "We’ll just have to be persistent and stick with it. I’m confident we’ll get it done."

BRISTOL CITY TRUST SUBMIT 30,000-STRONG PETITION

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Bristol City Supporters Trust handed council officials a petition signed by more than 30,000 people to help push the club closer to a new home.

Fans hope it will play a vital part in rejecting the Town and Village Green status application at Ashton Vale and finally give the green light to the club's new stadium. Within its first three weeks of opening on the Bristol City Council website the petition became the biggest-ever online appeal.

It topped a target of a signature for each seat in the proposed new stadium in March with a final total of 30,160 when it closed. This included 13,281 online and 16,879 on paper.

Jon Darch of the Supporters Trust helped spearhead the petition to raise awareness of the issue and garner support across the region. He said: "It was great to see that the 30,000 target for the Supporters Trust new stadium petition had been achieved.

"This demonstrates a massive statement of support for the stadium plans and was a very significant milestone in our campaign. We are very grateful to everyone who has signed and in particular to the club's supporters, many thousands of whom belong to the local community in South Bristol."

"The petition shows that the people of Bristol, football supporters and non-football supporters alike, are all hoping for a reasonable and common sense decision to be made that brings things to a positive conclusion, providing a great facility for generations to come," he added.

On Thursday, the council's planning and rights of way committee will meet at the Council House from 4pm to decide on the matter.

Photo: Bristol Supporters' Trust outside council offices

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS CLOSER TO NEW HOME

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The NFL’s San Francisco 49ers has reached its one-year anniversary of the successful vote to build a new stadium in the heart of Silicon Valley.

The brand new 68,400-seater stadium is scheduled to open in time for the 2015 NFL season. It’s expected to cost in the region of $918 million to build with construction starting as soon as March 2012.

"This anniversary is an ideal opportunity for an assessment and a status check,” said Paraag Marathe, 49ers chief operating officer. "The City of Santa Clara and the 49ers have worked diligently over the last year to open this extraordinary venue in 2015. We are proud of the work that has been accomplished."

It is designed by HNTB and focuses on creating a multi-purpose stadium, with the fan experience and green technology as top priorities. The facility will feature photovoltaic panels, a living roof, public transit access, bicycle parking and a walking path access from the San Tomas Creek Trail.

Even the building's plumbing will help save water and will utilise rain harvesting technology. Construction teams will use recycled materials to help limit waste.

Check out the latest stadium images here.

CORBY TOWN STADIUM NAME COMPETITION

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A Northamptonshire football club is looking for help from stadia fans to name their new stadium.

Corby Town want to mark a new era at the club by naming their new home something different to the Rockingham Triangle, their current stadium. So can you come up with a name for the £1.5 million 3,500 capacity venue?

Email your name, contact telephone number and idea proposal for the stadium name to media@corbytownfc.co.uk. All ideas will be reviewed and a shortlist compiled for discussion by a judging panel.

Leader of Corby Borough Council, Cllr Pat Fawcett, said: “The new stadium is a facility built for our local football club, the fans and the community, therefore it feels only right that everyone should have input into naming it. Hopefully we will have lots of suggestions to look over and we look forward to officially revealing the name next month.”

The winning name will be revealed at the start of July when the Borough Council have met with the club to discuss the proposed suggestions. The person who comes up with the chosen name will be invited to attend the first ever match at the stadium, along with three guests, for a special VIP experience as the curtain comes up on a new era for the club.

Where more than one person has proposed the chosen name, all of those with the selected suggestion will go into a hat with the winner of the prize, drawn at random.

BRISTOL ROVERS PLAN NEW STADIUM

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol Rovers Football Club has announced proposals for a new stadium on the outskirts of the city.

The club plans to relocate to a brand new 20,000-seater venue on land at the University of the West of England. It means the Pirates will leave Memorial Stadium which has been their home since 1921.

Chairman Nick Higgs was delighted to finally make the news public. He told bristolrovers.co.uk: "It is a very exciting day, a significant day for the football club. We have got a fantastic working relationship with UWE, and started talking about this proposal two years ago.

"The topography of the site, suits a cut into the site, and we have managed to design this to make the proposal incredibly economical. If we built the same stadium out of the ground, it could double the cost.”

It will be funded by the sale of the Memorial Stadium land to a retailer in a similar situation to neighbouring club Bristol City. But before anything can progress planning permission for both sites would have to be granted which the club hopes will not be as problematic as City found.

“We have taken soundings from both local authorities and had favourable responses. There will be problems along the way, but we are confident that both sites are suitable for what we are proposing,” Higgs added.

"We will be asking for an extension of the current planning permission on the Memorial Stadium site which will give us a back up should there be a problem in the future."

The new stadium will be set at a far distance from housing and will be screened by trees. There will also be community facilities including a gym and commercial area.

Capacity could be increased up to 25,000 without any major structural alterations. The plans also include the possibility of removing the roof to further increase capacity to 35,000 if required very similar to Stadium:mk in Milton Keynes.

Rovers will start a consultation process in the next few weeks with local residents and businesses before submitting a planning application in autumn. If accepted, work on the site could begin in the New Year meaning the club could be playing in the new stadium during the 2013/14 season.

Image courtesy of www.Bristolrovers.co.uk

WILDCATS TO IMPROVE HOME FOR SUPER LEAGUE LICENCE

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats has announced ambitious plans to redevelop their home to safeguard their Super League status.

The club plans to increase the capacity of Belle Vue, which currently falls well below the minimum required, to 12,000 with 10,000 spectators covered. If the Wildcats club fail to meet the criteria they face the prospect of making way for elevated Widnes when the remaining 13 Super League licences for 2012-14 are announced on 26 July.

"We said at the beginning of the year that we would do everything we possibly could to keep the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in Super League and this is exactly what we are doing," said chairman Andrew Glover. "The biggest issue that we were faced with, within our control, was the stadium, so without wasting any time we have worked hard to ensure that we will have this new, fully developed stadium that will meet with all of the RFL’s criteria in 2012."

Plans also include revamping the corporate hospitality suite with refurbished bars and restaurants throughout, which will be able to hold 750. Further concessions will be introduced around the ground to further enhance the match day experience for supporters.

The club has launched a new membership scheme, Club 1873, which they hope will attract 5,000 fans and further underline their licence bid.

Chief executive James Elston added: "By launching our new membership scheme and announcing our exciting new stadium plans, we have immediately strengthened our application in two incredibly important areas. Keeping the Wildcats in Super League is at the forefront of everyone's priorities and this has given us a great boost towards that."

GATESHEAD TO HOST 2013 EURO ATHLETICS

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

UKA and Gateshead City Council have been awarded the 2013 European Team Championships by European Athletics.

It will be the first time Gateshead Stadium will host the European Athletics' flagship team event after hosting its predecessor, the SPAR European Cup, in 1989 and 2000. Gateshead beat off strong competition to host the event from Braunschweig (Germany), Bydgoszcz (Poland) and Ostrava (Czech Republic).

"This is a wonderful result for British athletics and I am very proud of the bid we submitted to European Athletics," said UKA chief executive Niels de Vos. "For the next three years there will be a major athletics championship on domestic soil annually showing a real appetite in the UK for athletics from supporters, commercial partners and broadcasters."

The European Team Championships has gone from strength to strength since it began in 2009, introducing a revamp of traditional track and field regulations, men and women competing as one team, promotion and relegation battles among the four leagues, and a European league table.

"With the European Team Championships we are leading the way in adapting and developing our sport so it maintains its appeal in the eyes of the spectators, TV viewers, media and athletes of today and tomorrow," said European Athletics director general Christian Milz. "We have been assured today that UKA and Gateshead will work with us to produce an excellent event."

Gateshead Stadium is currently undergoing a £7.6m redevelopment that will see a new roof for the Tyne and Wear Stand and East Stand.

BRIGHTON STADIUM CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club looks set to move into their new home after construction on the venue has officially finished.

But there is still a lot of work remaining at the American Express Community Stadium, with nearly £3m of furniture, fittings, TV screens, the big stadium screens within the bowl as well as the fit-out to the new club shop. Work is still underway on the 22,374-seater stadium's perimeter areas including the coach park and landscaping.

"We can’t wait for the first game," said club construction director Derek Chapman. "It’s a day many Albion fans have dreamed of for years and I am looking forward to seeing the looks on the faces of our fans as they come into the stadium for the first time this summer."

Supporter anticipation is at a real high as the club look to build on a league winning season that resulted in promotion to the Championship, the second tier of English football.

Andy Simons, director at architects KKS who designed the venue is delighted with the end product. He said: "It is fantastic to hit another key milestone in the history of this project. The feedback on the design has been fantastic to date and we haven't yet played a match."

The Grand Opening is scheduled for July 30 with the first friendly match against Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. After a long journey, the finish line is tantalisingly close and the club can look forward to the 2011/2012 season in their new home.

Image courtesy of KKS

DONS PLAN CHANGES TO KINGSMEADOW

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

After winning promotion to the Football League only a few weeks ago AFC Wimbledon have set their sights on redevelopment of their stadium.

The club hopes to improve Kingsmeadow and turn it into a Football League ground meeting all required criteria. With a capacity of just 4,722, the ground will be one of the smallest out of all 92 league clubs.

Chief executive Erik Samuelson told the Kingston Guardian: "There are things we have to do before we can play our first game in the league. To do them we need a grant and we have sent off the application for that now, which we couldn't do until we were members of the Football League and we are only members once promoted."

However any hopes of an increase in capacity are not on the agenda as the club must bring quickly update the stadium to Football League standards. This includes building a control room and CCTV system to monitor the crowd in and outside the stadium, installing larger dug-outs to handle the extended substitutes bench in the Football League and also a second shower in the match officials room.

The Dons must also install turnstile monitoring equipment to count how many people are in each part of the ground and improve the PA system so it can give different instructions to different parts of the ground in case of an emergency.

Kingsmeadow is 224 short of fellow-promoted side Crawley Town's Broadfield Stadium and 333 short of last season's smallest, Accrington Stanley's Crown Ground. But with time and money working against the newly promoted club it looks like they will continue to have one of the smallest homes in the Football League.

LESS THAN 100 DAYS UNTIL 2013 RUGBY WORLD CUP

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

New Zealand has celebrated a major landmark in preparations for the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup.

With less than 100 days to go all stadia redevelopments have been completed on time and additional projects are on schedule. To mark the occasion a grand ceremony included a symbolic rolling out of a giant welcome mat on Parliament’s front steps featuring greetings in the language of each of the 20 participating nations.

"Kiwis are renowned for their hospitality and the giant welcome mat summed up to me the warmth of the welcome New Zealanders up and down the land will be extending to teams and more than 85,000 fans in 100 days’ time,” said International Rugby Board Vice Chairman Bill Beaumont.

"Preparations are well on track. Tomorrow, I will visit the magnificent fully enclosed Otago Stadium which will be handed over to tournament organisers in August as planned. All other stadia redevelopments have been completed on time, match day preparations are well advanced and I know teams will be well looked after so I have no doubt the platform has been laid for an excellent tournament."

With broadcast, sponsorship and commercial ticketing revenues underpinning the IRB’s global programme of rugby development and growth, Beaumont is confident that they’re on track to boost rugby worldwide. This is certainly true as rugby participation has grown 18% since the 2007 World Cup in France.

"I have no doubt New Zealand will deliver a unique and ultimately a successful RWC,” Beaumont added. “It will be a tournament that New Zealanders and the global Rugby family will be proud of and an event that will strengthen the importance of RWC in delivering the financial platform to grow the reach and development of global Rugby."

The tournament kicks off on 9 September 2011. Check out all the venues for the tournament here.

SALE SHARKS CONSIDER FUTURE

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Sale Sharks are considering a move away from Edgeley Park to help boost income for future seasons in the Aviva Premiership.

The club could strike a deal with Super League side Salford Reds to share their brand new £26m Barton Stadium. The 12,000-seater venue is currently under construction and is due to open in February next year.

However Sharks owner Brian Kennedy has revealed that his side will play at Edgeley Park next season, but has made no firm decision for the long term. "We're weighing up all the possibilities and there are clearly possibilities in Salford as well as with Edgeley Park and elsewhere. There are a lot of things to consider."

Edgeley Park has a capacity of 10,852 and is also used by Conference side Stockport County Football Club which is something that must be considered according to Kennedy. "We're not yet ready to make a decision and we've also got to consider seriously what's right for Stockport County because that's important to us," he added.

"We are in the process of working on some initiatives that will help Stockport and hopefully given them the best chance of getting back up into League Two."

A potential ground share at Barton Stadium appears to work on paper as the Rugby League season runs from February to September, meaning there would be little cross-over with the Shark’s Union calendar. Its location at the hub of Greater Manchester's motorway network would make it an ideal for vast majority of the Sharks' fanbase.

"But clearly Salford is one option that we are considering very seriously and it's one that the powers that be are keen on. We're in the process of discussions and negotiations and we don't know where that is going to end,” Kennedy added.

GC SUNS MOVE INTO METRICON STADIUM

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Gold Coast SUNS opened the Metricon Stadium in style as thousands of fans watched the club’s first training session at their new home.

The $144 million project in Carrara, Australia will host the Gold Coast SUNS throughout the AFL season and is expected to sell out its capacity of 25,000-seats each game. The venue is built with families and community participation in mind which even includes open corporate barbecue terraces.

The numerous suites and lounges sport a contemporary edge with informal seating and coffee tables replacing the conventional banquet tables. Even the stadium’s colour and architecture matched the electric atmosphere of the training exhibition.

Captain Gary Ablett took the first kick on the ground, kicking a goal from 45m directly in front to delight the screaming fans. "It's good to finally get out on the ground," he said.

"We've been waiting for a while and it's exciting; first game this week and the boys are pretty pumped. We've had a fair few people turn out today so it's great to have that support along," he added.

The Metricon Stadium was built with the environment in mind boasting extensive solar energy and rain harvesting capabilities. There are 450m of clear solar photovoltaic panelling which will generate up to 20% of the venue’s energy making it one of the greenest arenas in the world.

STADIUM HOSPITALITY AWARD 2011 WINNERS

Sun, 29 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

From chefs to waiting staff and kitchen porters to catering directors, teams across the leagues gathered together to celebrate success at the 7th Annual Official Football Hospitality Awards.

The prestigious ceremony organised by Stadium Experience was held at Molineux Stadium, home to Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club and saw numerous celebrities and ex-football players present awards to the top stadiums in the UK. Check out the 18 award category winners:


Media Choice Award	Manchester City (gold)
	Arsenal (silver)
	Chesterfield (bronze)
Directors Choice in League 2	Bradford City
Directors Choice in League 1	Walsall
Directors Choice in Championship	Derby County
Directors Choice in Scottish Premier League	Dundee United
Directors Choice in Premier League	Sunderland AFC
Chef Team of the Year	Aston Villa (gold)
	Everton (silver)
	Morecambe (bronze)
Conference and Events	West Ham United (gold)
	Aston Villa (silver)
	Leicester City (bronze)
Special Achievement Award	Gareth Billington, Everton FC (gold)
	Neil Rawlings, Hampden Park (silver)
	The Villa Midlands Food Students at Aston Villa (bronze)
Star for the Future Award	Frances Cash, Aston Villa (gold)
	Amelia Reeves, Birmingham City (silver)
	Linda Hepburn, Hampden Park (bronze)
Chairman's Award for Innovation	Wolverhampton Wanderers (gold)
	Chesterfield (silver)
	Brighton & Hove Albion (bronze)
Sustainable Award Category	Aston Villa (gold)
	Chelsea (silver)
	Leicester City (bronze)
Matchday Hospitality Experience Award in League 2	Morecambe
Matchday Hospitality Experience Award in League 1	Walsall
Matchday Hospitality Experience Award in the Championship	Coventry City
Matchday Hospitality Experience Award in the Scottish Premier League	Celtic
Matchday Hospitality Experience Award in the Premier League	Newcastle United
OVERALL Matchday Hospitality Experience Award	Celtic (gold)
	Newcastle United (silver)
	Hampden Park (bronze)

Stadium Experience chairman, Lisette Maas, from Notts County Football Club, said: "Each club taking part in the Matchday Hospitality Experience Award was independently visited by a professional catering judge from Salon Culinaire over a period of six months. They were all marked on criteria including service efficiency, food quality, venue standards and even presentation of matchday marketing sales literature.

"The recognition given to those nominated and winning awards at the awards evening is vital to the morale and continued dedication of the catering and events departments at our football clubs," added Maas. "They work tirelessly behind the scenes on matchdays and non-matchdays, to ensure that in some instances up to 90,000 visitors are catered for."

Next year’s awards will be held on 24 May 2012. If you would like more information please contact us info@stadiadirectory.com.

SWANSEA TO HOST FIRST WALES MATCH

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Swansea's Liberty Stadium will host its first competitive Wales fixture when Switzerland visits for their Euro 2012 qualifier.

It will be the first championship international match to be played at the venue, following-on from three friendly matches and an under 21 game held over the last six years. Liberty Stadium will host Wales' final home Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday 7 October.

Football Association of Wales chief executive, Jonathan Ford, said: "I am delighted that we are able to bring a championship game to Swansea and Switzerland will certainly be attractive opponents. I hope that everyone who supports Wales will look forward to the match and want to be there on the night to cheer the team-on."

The kick-off time for the match has yet to be confirmed. Wales have also confirmed they will play Australia for the first time in a friendly on 10 August, with the game to be held at either the Liberty or the Cardiff City Stadium.

YOUR CHANCE TO PLAY AT STAMFORD BRIDGE

Sat, 21 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Corporate Football is offering the opportunity to make dreams become reality with their forthcoming Experience Day at the home of Chelsea.

The curtain may have come down on Barclays Premier League action at Stamford Bridge for another season but supporters of all ages could fulfill a lifetime ambition and appear at the famous venue on Monday 30 May.

A company spokesman said: “Our football experience days provide the opportunity for those who are not quite blessed with the skills required to be paid to play at the top grounds in the world to still grace the same pitches for an unforgettable afternoon. So whether you’re 16 or 65 or anywhere in between; whether you're a man in charge of a hedge fund or a van from Monday to Friday this is a chance for you to make that dream a reality.”

Corporate Football is currently putting together two teams to play each other in a 60 minute match. The price is dependent on your position and whether you play one half or the whole game, ranges from £125 to £280.

The playing kits, equipment, match officials, coaches, qualified physiotherapists, photographer, tannoy announcer, ball boys and all the drinks you'll need throughout the game will all be provided. Once you've booked your place, the only thing you will need to remember is to turn up on the day with your boots and shin pads and enjoy the occasion.

“There might not be the best part of 42,000 there to share the experience,” he added. “But you can ring guests with you who can watch from the main stand and also act as a witness when you relive the moment with your mates.”

Whether you keep a clean sheet between the sticks, make a last ditch tackle to deny a goal scoring opportunity, cover every blade of grass from the centre of the park, burst down the flank to cross for the winner or put away a goal out of nothing, it'll be a day you will never forget. Make sure you don't miss out on this once in a lifetime experience and book your place now at www.corporatefootball.com.

BAGGIES TO INCREASE CAPACITY AT THE HAWTHORNS

Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

West Bromwich Albion Football Club has revealed plans to increase the capacity of their stadium over the next three years.

The clubs plans to increase the Hawthorns 26,484 capacity, which has been home to Albion for the last 111 years, by installing an additional 3,500 seats. Albion chairman Jeremy Peace has confirmed the works will go ahead regardless of whether the Baggies retain their Barclays Premier League status.

"As of today we are now overseeing major works at the stadium, which will see the levelling of the pitch and the introduction of a Desso surface. Our medium-to-long term plans include the extension of The Hawthorns to around a 30,000-seat capacity within the next three years - regardless of divisional status," he said.

"Despite the apparent financial insanity of such a move, we believe this is the right thing to do as we endeavour to move the club forward. We must proactively encourage the next generation of supporters to come to The Hawthorns."

Construction is expected to be completed before the start of the 2014/15 campaign.

HANDBALL ARENA COMPLETED FOR LONDON 2012

Sun, 15 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Construction work on the London 2012 Handball Arena has been completed – making it the third venue on the Olympic Park ready for the Games.

Work started on the 6,500 capacity arena in July 2009. The venue includes unique copper cladding, natural lighting shafts and multicoloured seating, of which the lower tier is retractable.

Prime Minister David Cameron was at the opening ceremony and said: "That this great venue has been completed on time and within budget is testament to the hard work, expertise and skills of the Olympic Park workforce. We are on track to stage a fantastic Olympic and Paralympic Games in London next summer."

The venue will host the men’s and women’s preliminary stages and the women’s quarter-finals for the Handball competition, the fencing discipline of the modern pentathlon, and goalball during the Paralympic Games.

Olympic Delivery Authority Chairman John Armitt said: "The Handball Arena milestone is another example of just how far we have come since construction started on the Olympic Park three years ago. The arena is compact, sustainably built and will provide an excellent sports and community venue for London long after the Games are over."

It has designed and built with sustainability as a priority; the copper cladding has a high recycled content, while the field of play can be naturally lit through 88 rooftop sun-pipes, achieving annual energy savings of up to 40 per cent and greater illumination than similar sized conventional lights. During television broadcasting or poor weather, the system can be switched off to allow for electrical lighting to be used.

There’s also a 40% water usage saving as it uses a rain harvesting system that feeds into toilets and other non-potable systems.

After the Olympics, the capacity will be increased to 7,500 as it becomes a multi-use venue for community use, athletic training and events. The retractable tier of lower seating will enable a variety of activities to take place inside, ranging from international competition to community sports.

Image: Courtesy of www.london2012.com

SARACENS BACK AT VICARAGE ROAD

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Saracens Rugby Club look set to return to Vicarage Road after following delays to their new stadium in Barnet.

The club was due to move into a redeveloped Copthall Stadium in time for the new season but delays in the planning stage have pushed back the completion date, with the most recent estimate being a January 2012 opening. Saracens has played at Vicarage Road for the last 14 years but the new deal is flexible to accommodate completion of their new home.

A Saracen statement said: "As you will be aware, the club has submitted a planning application to refurbish the Copthall stadium in Barnet. Until the new stadium is ready, it will be ‘business as usual’ and Saracens will continue to play home matches at Vicarage Road, Watford."

The new short-team contract means that Saracens will play at least 10 home fixtures at Vicarage Road during their 2011/12 campaign. "The club is happy to welcome Saracens back to our stadium next season,” said Hornets' owner Laurence Bassini.

"They approached us to see if we could take into account their current situation with regard to their ongoing Copthall Stadium negotiations," he added. "Given the long-standing relationship between Watford and Saracens, it is only right that we considered their request."

There is an option for additional matches - above the original 10 - to be played at Vicarage Road by Saracens, with pre-agreed per-match payment terms.

SPURS LAUNCH JUDICIAL REVIEW OVER OLYMPIC STADIUM

Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has launched a judicial review into the final decision of the future of the 2012 Olympic Stadium.

The legal dispute is the latest challenge for Olympic officials who decided to hand over the £537million Stratford stadium to Premier League strugglers West Ham United after next year's games. Both Spurs and Leyton Orient were overlooked by the decision makers.

A club statement explained that the court action is against the Olympic Park Legacy Company Limited, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson and Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. It said: "[We] continue to hold discussions with both local and national government bodies in order to seek to agree a feasible stadium solution."

Tottenham has already begun legal proceedings for another judicial review, regarding the deal made between Newham Council and West Ham to fund the winning bid, which is believed to include a loan of around £40m. Spurs is looking for a long-term new home to replace White Hart Lane, having gained planning permission for but publicly rejected building a new stadium in Haringey in Northumberland Park.

ROBERT J BOBB STADIUM RENOVATION PROJECT COMPLETED

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Western Michigan University and Bronco Athletics have completed $2 million renovation work on their stadium.

The Robert J Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field has undergone significant improvements increasing the capacity to around 1,500. This has included renovating the grandstand plus also adding better disabled facilities.

Other upgrades include the expansion of the dugouts with protective fencing and player toilets added. A new press box has been built along with creation of two new VIP suites. A new concourse featuring a ticket front, concessions, merchandizing front and toilets has been developed.

The stadium has been equipped with new signage and commemorative markings after the upgrades while new security lighting has been incorporated at top of the hill walkway.

It will be officially unveiled to fans later this week.

ADELAIDE OVAL IN $535M REDEVELOPMENT

Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Adelaide Oval is set to begin a $535 million redevelopment into a multi-purpose stadium to open in summer 2013.

The plans designed by Cox Architecture will see the famous ground boost its current seating capacity of around 32,000 to 50,000. Members of the South Australia Cricket Association (SACA) approved the plans and hope it will be finished in time for England's next Ashes tour.

SACA President Ian McLachlan said the board, which has unanimously supported the proposal, was delighted with the result. “This decision heralds a new era for cricket and football in South Australia with benefits over the coming decades for the State as a whole,” said McLachlan.

Work will include the construction of a new southern stand and will retain the heritage scoreboard, grassed northern mound, views of the St. Peters Cathedral and the famous Moreton Bay fig trees nearby.

McLachlan said the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval would put SACA in a much stronger financial position while delivering new world-class spectator facilities and protecting the unique heritage of Adelaide Oval. "SACA’s stronger finances and debt-free position will mean millions of extra dollars a year available to be invested in developing cricket all around the State from junior level to the Sheffield Shield," he said.

"Adelaide will have the most modern sporting venue in the country with world-class facilities in the best location in any capital city. The redeveloped Oval will draw large crowds to the city on a regular basis throughout the year, creating opportunities for hotels, restaurants, bars and shops in the CBD and encouraging increased visitation from interstate.

"It will enable Adelaide to complete more effectively with other interstate and international venues to attract major events, whether sporting or cultural such as concerts."

Construction should be completed in time for Test cricket to be played at the venue in the summer of 2013/14 with Australian Football League games starting in the 2014 season. More information can be found here.

HULL LOOK TO REDEVELOP KC STADIUM

Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Hull City Football Club has unveiled plans to transform the city’s KC football stadium into a £100 million sports village.

Tigers’ owner Assem Allam hopes to build a complex that includes a hotel, sports facilities and a multi-story car park around the club’s current KC Stadium. He is also considering the options of building a similar complex on the back of a new 40,000-capacity stadium at Melton.

Before any redevelopment could start the club would need to purchase the KC Stadium off Hull City Council. Allam told the Yorkshire Post: “I want to do this for the community. The idea behind the sports village is that it will become a day out for the whole family.

"People of all ages will be able to come and play here. I want to see our younger generation only go home to eat and sleep, rather than hanging around on street corners."

The Hull City owner completed a £40million takeover of the club last year and has an reported personal fortune of £150million. He has hired architects The Miller Partnership to draft two sets of proposals.

Allam would prefer to increase the capacity at the KC Stadium to 35,000 and build the sports village around it at a cost of £114million. The Melton proposal would cost around £161million and would involve building a new stadium on land east of Brickyard Lane.

The club is waiting to see the Council’s reaction to the proposals.

WEMBLEY STADIUM GREATEST EVENT

Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Wembley Stadium has launched the ultimate stadia fan competition to win exclusive access to a Club Wembley VIP box for 20 people to watch England take on World Cup finalists Holland this August.

All you need to do is pick your greatest Wembley event and register online to be in with a chance of winning. With 25 legendary events going head to head to be crowned the venue’s greatest ever it is the ultimate clash of the titans.

From Queen’s show-stealing performance at Live Aid; to Muse and the Foo Fighters headlining at the home of football; Henry Cooper knocking down a young Cassius Clay; Michael Jackson’s record breaking ‘Bad’ tour; Martin Offiah’s spectacular solo try in the Challenge Cup Final; and Evil Knievel’s dare devil attempt to jump the length of 13 buses.

The shortlist has been brought to life online where fans can see photos and footage from each event as well as accessing exclusive interviews from the people who took centre stage. The winning event will receive a dedicated installation within the ground ensuring that it has a permanent place in Wembley’s rich history and fans’ hearts.

Stuart Pearce, whose penalty for England against Spain in Euro 1996 and the resulting celebration is shortlisted, said of his goal: "The memories of Turin weren’t even in my mind that day at Wembley because when I was walking up to take the kick I knew that the whole stadium and country were behind me.

"Usually the stadium and the noise is a blur, but not on that day at Wembley. The celebration was spontaneous and that photograph of me in the aftermath of the penalty is still the one I’m asked to sign by fans," he added.

On the shortlist revealed today there are some outstanding contenders for the title which will be decided online at www.wembleystadium.com/greatestevent. Everyone who votes and signs up online for the Wembley newsletter will be rewarded with a kids go free offer on the Wembley Stadium Tour (terms and conditions apply) allowing them to see where their magical moment happened. One lucky winner will also receive a memorable day at Wembley Stadium when they enjoy exclusive access to a Club Wembley VIP box for 20 people to watch England take on World Cup finalists Holland this August.

The Wembley Greatest Event vote kicks off another massive summer of entertainment which includes the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup Final and the sold out Take That Progress Live tour.

GREEN BAY FLOAT LAMBEAU FIELD EXPANSION IDEAS

Sun, 01 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

NFL’s Green Bay Packers are floating a series of stadium expansion ideas including seatbacks, armrests, canopies, premium seating, standing-room-only and loge seating.

An online survey has been emailed to 30,000 season ticket holders and waiting-list members including 89 questions on seating and cost preferences. The Super Bowl winners are considering adding as many as 10,000 seats to the south end zone area to help boost income for future seasons.

The plans include a variety of outdoor seating ranging from traditional to higher-end premium seats. The team also is considering a new façade and entry gate on the south side of the stadium that would include elevators to all levels.

"These are concepts we’re testing and we want to get feedback," said Jason Wied, the Packers’ vice president of administration. "What’s appealing to people? What amenities are they interested in? The goal is to add additional modern amenities while preserving the historic look and feel of Lambeau Field."

The survey is a follow-up to a series of focus groups the Packers hosted last fall during which they solicited input from season-ticket holders on ideas that were worth exploring further. The entire process is similar to the Packers’ approach to the 2003 renovation of Lambeau.

"It takes some of what we learned from the focus groups, defines those areas better, and will help us deliver what our fans have come to expect from us," Wied said.

Lambeau Field’s new sound system is being installed in time for the 2011 season and a new north entrance gate will be constructed in conjunction with the stadium’s new video boards in 2012.

CALLING ALL SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Corby Town Football Club is offering football fans of other clubs the chance to take in their last ever match at the Rockingham Triangle on Saturday 30th April, against Hyde, for just £5.

Season ticket holders from any team (excluding Corby or Hyde) can get in for just £5 for the game, simply by presenting their 2010/11 season ticket at one of the designated turnstiles on the afternoon of the game. Concession season ticket holders and junior season ticket holders, when accompanied by a paying adult, can gain admission for £2.

Corby are 12th in the table having won their last home match against Droylsden and aiming for a top ten finish with matches against the bottom three sides to come in their remaining three fixtures. On Saturday they welcome 20th placed Stafford Rangers, they then visit bottom club Redditch United on Monday before Hyde arrive for the final game.

The Steelmen are moving to their new £1.5 million stadium next season and their Blue Square Bet North encounter with the Tigers, who are currently 19th in the table, will be the last match to take place at the ground that the Steelmen have called home since 1985. Acting Chairman David Mallinger explained: "We are all very excited about the move to the new stadium but we wanted to bid farewell to the Triangle in style.

"We're hoping to get a bumper crowd down for the occasion to give the old stadium a proper send off. We'd like to invite supporters from clubs all over the country to come to the game for £5. We hope that this will certainly appeal to fans of our neighbouring clubs in the county, who can pop down and see what we, as a club they perhaps don't get to watch too often, have to offer."

NEW ROTHERHAM STADIUM PLAN FLOOD DEFENCE

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Plans to protect the site of Rotherham United Football Club's 12,000-seater stadium from flood damage are set to receive council planning later this week.

The clubs plans to raise the land level at the site by two metres to allow the stadium development to begin. Approximately 54,000 cubic metres of material will be transported to the site from two sources and the work is expected to last for a period of nine weeks.

A spokesman for consultants, Signet Planning told the Rotherham Advertiser: "The proposal is for an engineering operation to raise the land levels on a site which comprises an important brownfield regeneration site close to the town centre. It will deliver both the next phase of the flood alleviation scheme to this part of the borough and facilitate the new Rotherham Community Stadium.

He added: "The development will result in principally beneficial impacts in respect of flood risk and drainage considerations. It will assure the safety of future users and visitors to the ensuing development on the site, as well as facilitating an important element of the wider flood scheme."

The new 12,000-seater venue designed by S&P was granted outline planning permission in early 2011. The bowl shaped stadium will feature additional seats and corporate and exhibition space, and will also seat 120 disabled supporters.

United have played home games at Don Valley since leaving Millmoor in 2008. The new stadium should be ready for the start of the 2012/13 season.

ASHTON VALE MEDIATION TALKS FAIL

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Mediation talks between Bristol City Football Club and local residents over the site of a proposed new stadium have failed.

City want to build a new 30,000-seater stadium at Ashton Vale but the site was recommended by an independent planner to be registered as a town green, preventing any new development. The mediation was supposed to find a solution to the enduring saga that has dragged on since before England’s failed bid for the FIFA 2018 World Cup.

A planning application for the stadium has already been approved by the council but it will now have to take the final decision on the town green application which, if approved, would prevent development at the site.

Bristol City Football Club confirmed the breakdown of talks and added: "We remain as determined as ever to deliver the regional stadium the city deserves and the vast majority of Bristolians support. A huge amount of effort has gone in to get to this point, with the result that we have the finance, political support and planning permission to build the stadium.

"We remain utterly committed to bring the vision and plans for a new regional stadium for Bristol to reality as soon as possible."

Club owner Steven Lansdown told the BBC he would continue to fight for the stadium and said the next step was to wait for the council's decision on the town green application. He added that the club had submitted new information in its appeal against the town green decision.

WEMBLEY STADIUM APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Melvin Benn has been named as the new chairman of Wembley Stadium after replacing David Bernstein, who was appointed FA chairman earlier this year.

Benn has been a non-executive director of the Wembley Board since July 2008 is delighted with the new role: "The stadium is going from strength to strength and 2011 promises to be another fantastic year. I look forward to a close working relationship with the management team at Wembley."

The appointment follows an NFL announcement earlier this week that the league will play another regular season game at Wembley this year – their fifth consecutive match since the venue re-opened in 2007. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the designated home team against the Chicago Bears on Sunday 23 October at 6pm GMT.‪

Wembley Stadium managing director Roger Maslin added: "Melvin has great experience in staging the best in entertainment events. I look forward to working with him to further the progress Wembley Stadium has made in being the ultimate venue for the fans, the sports men and women and the artists that grace this fantastic stadium."

As well as staging The FA Cup Final, Champions League Final and England’s crucial Euro qualifier against Switzerland this summer, Wembley will host a record-breaking eight nights of Take That in July.‪

UNITED ADMIT DAMAGE TO WEMBLEY DRESSING ROOM

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Football Association will not take action against Manchester United for damage caused to dressing room walls after the FA Cup semi final defeat on Saturday.

Red Devil’s stars Rio Ferdinand and Anderson were involved in an angry bust up with Manchester City's Mario Balotelli but after viewing video footage the FA have decided against taking disciplinary action. United apologised after a dent was kicked in the wall of the United dressing room after the 1-0 defeat by City which required emergency repairs so the room could be used by Stoke City the following day.

The club said it was they who brought the FA's attention to the damage on Saturday night after the match. A United spokesman told the BBC: "We brought it to their attention on Saturday night, we apologised and offered to pay. It was about three inches in diameter and was only surface damage and not a hole."

The Wembley Stadium showdown was a feisty encounter in front of 86,549 which saw United knocked out of the competition ending their hopes of repeating a historic treble winning campaign.

MOROCCO TO HOST FRANCE’S CHAMPIONS TROPHY

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Morocco will host France's Champions Trophy on 27 July.

The match between the French Cup winners and the league champions will be played at Le Grande Stade de Tangiers. The brand new stadium has a capacity of 45,000 and is set to open on 27 April.

It will not be the first time the trophy has been hosted in Africa. In 2010, Marseille defeated Paris Saint-Germain at a penalty shootout at the Stade 7 November in Tunisia.

BATH RUGBY PLANS GROUND EXPANSION

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Bath Rugby Club has announced a new proposal to increase the capacity at their home in the centre of the city.

The Aviva Premiership side hopes to push capacity to 17,000 but due to the ground’s position next to the river in the city centre space is at a premium. The club hopes to move the Recreation Ground 40 metres to allow room to redevelop the stand along the riverside.

But the plan hinges on a land swap deal that will see the club give an area of the training ground at Lambridge to the city.

Nick Blofeld, the Bath Rugby chief executive, said: "Lambridge works better than the previous suggestion of Firs Field. I think a lot of people in the city are big supporters of ours and what we plan to do is a minor improvement and increase in the scale of the stadium without disrupting the city too much."

The Recreation Ground Trust has begun an eight-week public consultation on the plans, which if given the green light will be referred to the Charity Commission. If successful it will then go before the local council for final approval.

"These are exciting times. This will, once and for all, decide whether we can stay at our historic home and occupy more space for the development of a slightly bigger, but significantly better stadium," Blofeld added.

Bath’s previous plans to redevelop the ground were turned down by the Charity Commission in 2009. It said at the time there were not sufficient benefits to the charity, but that it was open to accepting a revised proposal.

BRIGHTON EYE BEST FAREWELL TO WITHDEAN

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club aim to end their residence at the Withdean Stadium by securing automatic promotion.

The Seagulls can clinch promotion to the Championship tonight if they overcome Dagenham and Redbridge leaving coach Gus Poyet admitting he’ll be sorry to leave the club's rickety home. Next season Brighton will play at a brand new £92m 22,500-seater stadium leaving the former zoo and athletics track behind them.

The American Express Stadium will replace Withdean which has been home to Brighton for the last 10 years. It recently has become a lucky omen for the south coast side as they’ve won their last 12 home matches something they hope will add extra momentum to the game against Dagenham.

But Seagulls’ boss Poyet admits the stadium's strange lay out and bumpy surface have grown on him as he told the Mirror: "For a whole year I was blaming Withdean Stadium for all our problems. Now I feel sad that we are leaving. The place has a certain charm and it is certainly different. Other clubs do not always like playing on it.

"But best of all I like it because we have won so many games here. We know how to play on it and we have so many matches here this season.'"

Brighton will play their last game at Withdean on 30 April against Huddersfield which could be some party if the club manages to secure their place in the second tier of English football.

CASTLEFORD TIGERS GIVEN PLANNING CONSENT

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Castleford Tigers Rugby Club has received planning consent for a new 13,300-seater stadium in West Yorkshire.

The Tigers will move to their new home in Glasshoughton by the start of the 2013 season. The £50m plans will see their current site become a supermarket.

Chief executive Richard Wright told the club website: "Today is another significant milestone for Castleford Tigers. This consent is not just good for the club.

"The delivery of the new stadium will act as a catalyst for further development of the Glasshoughton. It will also kick start regeneration in the Wheldon Road corridor and town centre."

The Tigers’ attentions now turn to obtaining the funding required to construct the new venue. It recently announced a deal with Opus Land (North) Ltd and financial partner Palmer Capital to redevelop its current site on Wheldon Road as a large format store, subject to planning permission.

"This is the final piece of the jigsaw in terms of delivering the new stadium," added Wright.

"We’re now firmly focused on achieving planning permission for the PROBIZ Coliseum as quickly as possible and we ask Wakefield Council and the town of Castleford to continue their fantastic support of the new stadium project."

DONCASTER DENIED TRAINING AT KEEPMOAT

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Doncaster Rovers Football Club has been banned from training on their home pitch before this weekend's Championship match against Cardiff City.

Rovers were refused by the Stadium Management Company (SMC) which runs the town's Keepmoat Stadium. The club was told it would be unfair on the Doncaster rugby league club who also share the stadium.

Doncaster Rovers chairman John Ryan told BBC News: "I simply cannot believe it, it has never been a problem before so why is it a problem now? We pay them around £1m in rent each year, we are the main tenants. This is a vital game for us and we have to make home advantage count."

It’s a strange situation as the rugby club stated it has no problems with the Championship side training on the pitch before their match on Sunday. Rovers, who also have a training ground at Cantley Park, said their players had trained on the Keepmoat pitch "on numerous occasions" earlier this season.

Chief executive Dave Morris told club website: "I think this shows that the people who run this stadium are not concerned with the key partners within it and do not understand how important this could be." The Stadium Management Company had nobody available to comment on Tuesday.

WEMBLEY TO REBUILD TWIN TOWERS

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Wembley Stadium looks set for another expensive transformation after officials announced plans to rebuild the iconic twin towers.

The Wembley Institution New Development Society (WINDS) has revealed £200 million plans to recreate the famous towers at a prestigious press conference in North London. The group hopes the move will turn around the fortunes of the England national football team.

WINDS chairman Billy O’Reilly said: "We won the World Cup with those towers and we feel that by rebuilding them we could bring some luck to the lads. We haven’t won anything for nearly 50 years so we need all we can get,” he added.

"The money has been raised through a number of private donations and we'd like to thank everyone for help making this dream soon become reality. I feel a lot of pride in bringing back our history to the most famous stadium in the world."

The old Wembley Stadium was first built in 1923 and hosted both the FIFA World Cup in 1966 and the UEFA European Championships in 1996. It was demolished in 2003 and replaced with a £850 million new venue that opened in 2007.

Construction is scheduled to begin on 1 April – April Fools’ Day – and is expected to be completed by summer 2012.

Happy April Fools' Day!

SPURS LEGAL THREAT TO OLYMPIC STADIUM

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club is demanding answers from Olympic bosses following West Ham United's successful bid for the 2012 stadium.

The north London club, which had hoped to use the Olympic Stadium, has written to the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) questioning the decision. The OPLC has four weeks to respond, before Spurs can legally request a judicial review.

Tottenham could look to challenge the OPLC’s decision making process which led to West Ham chosen as its preferred bidder for the £537million venue. A Spurs statement read: "Our lawyers have written to the OPLC, the Mayor of London, the Minister of Sport and the Secretary of State for Local Government and a separate letter to the London Borough of Newham raising a number of concerns with the processes which led to the award.

"The letters also requested - in the interests of transparency - for the provision of certain information concerning the processes, which the Club considers that it is entitled to. Tottenham Hotspur will determine its next step as and when it receives a response to these letters."

It comes as further bad news for the OPLC which has received complaints from local League 1 side Leyton Orient over potential loss of income with West Ham’s impending relocation. Leyton Orient's current home, the Matchroom Stadium, is just over 2 miles from Stratford.

One way or another Spurs will have an answer within 4 weeks time.

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE AT OLYMPIC STADIUM

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The grass was finally greener at the Olympic Stadium after the final section of turf was laid marking an end to the construction of the venue.

Builders first kicked off work on the 80,000-seater stadium, less than three years ago in May 2008, which has been completed on schedule. More than 5,250 people have worked on the project with more than 240 UK businesses involved.

ODA chairman John Armitt said: "The Olympic Stadium has been finished on time and under budget. To complete a complicated project such as this in less than three years is testament to the skill and professionalism of the UK construction industry.

"I would like to thank the Team Stadium consortium and all of the workers for their hard work and commitment. It is thanks to them that we can today celebrate this huge milestone for the London 2012 project and be proud of what can be achieved by UK plc," he added.

The turf was grown in Scunthorpe from a special blend of perennial rye grass, smooth stalk meadow grass and fescue grass seeds. A total of 360 rolls of turf were used to cover the 9,000m² area.

The running track will be laid later this year which will ensure it is protected during the programme of temporary works for the opening and closing ceremonies.

COSTA RICA NATIONAL STADIUM OPENS

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Costa Rica has unveiled a brand new 35,000-seater national stadium in San Jose with a showcase International football match.

The game between Costa Rica and China ended in a 2-2 draw but it is clear that the impressive stadium will be a massive winner for supporters. The match was part of the weeklong celebration that includes concerts, boxing and dancing.

Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica was financed by the Chinese government as part of its global construction scheme. Construction began on 12 March 2009 and is rumoured to have cost $105 million.

Costa Rica president Laura Chinchilla paid tribute to her predecessor in a glowing "Don Oscar, Costa Rica will never forget your visionary rudder. This giant and beautiful space we are inaugurating today will always be living proof of that."

Costa Rica will next play Argentina in a friendly match on Tuesday with a Shakira concert to end proceedings in a week’s time.

RESIDENTS DEMAND ANSWERS TO LIVERPOOL STADIUM

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Liverpool Football Club’s new owners, Fenway Sports Group, have been urged to announce any future stadium plans by local residents.

The community surrounding the iconic Anfield want to know what the future holds for their neighbourhood as no official decision has been announced. Original plans for a new stadium were first revealed by the club’s previous owners but never materialised due to lack of available funding.

Ros Groves, chairman of the Anfield and Breckfield Physical Regeneration Group, told the BBC: "What I would like is if they could just come out and tell us what’s going on. We just need to be kept informed over and above by the media - we just need to be kept in the loop."

In December, Liverpool co-owner and chairman, Tom Werner said: "We're hard at it, we've had a lot of meetings and we are moving forward with various options. It's too early to go in one direction or another in terms of whether or not to build a new stadium or refurbish Anfield, but we are making progress."

As part of Liverpool’s growth – either whilst staying at Anfield or with a new stadium – the nearby area would be redeveloped, with money invested into the local community, transport links and facilities for residents. John Henry and Fenway Sports Group are still considering all stadium options, and have previously stated they will do what the fans want.

CHELSEA DENY STAMFORD BRIDGE EXIT

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Chelsea Football Club has denied latest reports that the Blues are looking to leave their Stamford Bridge home.

There has been growing speculation that Chelsea was considering relocating to a new 60,000-seater stadium at Earls Court. Stamford Bridge has a 42,055 capacity, a relative disadvantage to Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United, who both pull considerable gate receipts at each home fixture.

Chelsea recently posted losses of over £70million but chief executive Ron Gourlay claims that there are no plans to relocate. He told Sky Sports: "We're always looking at our options but I can tell you that there is no move imminent.

"Of course, it would help if we had another 15,000 or 20,000 seats but we don't need to leave Stamford Bridge to break even. We’re in pretty good shape financially even with the January purchases of Torres and Luiz.

"The board remain confident we are heading in the right direction," he added. But with new UEFA financial fair play rules kicking in for the 2012/13 season Chelsea may have to look to a finding a new home to help balance their books.

CITY LOOK TO STADIUM NAMING DEAL

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Manchester City Football Club has been granted permission by the Council to sell the naming rights to their stadium.

The Blues hope that a sponsorship deal at the City of Manchester Stadium will help the club to become more financially self sufficient as new UEFA financial fair play rules kick in next year. The ruling means that football clubs who want to take part in European competition have to break even over a three-year rolling period, starting from the 2012/13 season.

According to its financial figures, Manchester City reported a £121m loss in the year ending 31 May 2010 despite being owned by the Abu Dhabi-based billionaire, Sheik Mansour. This has led the club to look to other revenue streams to maintain their European ambitions.

City aim to cash in on their current status as a top-four Premier League team and star-studded squad by landing a multimillion-pound sponsorship deal. The move mirrors that of Premier League rival Arsenal, which sold the 15-year rights of its stadium to Emirates airline for nearly £100m in 2006.

DAMAGE TO AMI STADIUM HITS WORLD CUP HOPES

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Christchurch's AMI stadium may miss out on hosting Rugby World Cup matches after damage caused by the 22 February earthquake.

The 44,000-seater venue was set to host two quarter-finals and five group stage games in the competition but the 6.3-magnitude quake damaged the stadium's stands and grounds. About 180 people were killed in the disaster.

The International Rugby Board has called in specialist engineers to carry out a structural assessment which will ultimately decide its fate. If the AMI is deemed unfit it will be good news for Eden Park in Auckland who will step in as an alternative host.

Prime Minister John Key said he has dim hopes of the earthquake-hit city participating in the event. "We all need to be realists here and we need to provide them (the IRB) with good, sound advice. We will do that," he said.

"Obviously, emotionally we want to hold the Cup (in Christchurch) but if we practically can't, then we won't, but let's not rush the decision," he said. The tournament is due to kick off in September, less than six months away, and Key is expecting a decision by the IRB by the end of the week.

Even if damage assessments on the stadium’s structure come back with the all clear Key thinks getting the pitch ready in time for the tournament would be no mean feat.

NEBRASKA TO INCREASE MEMORIAL STADIUM CAPACITY

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Nebraska athletic department has announced further plans to its stadium expansion by increasing the capacity by 1,000 seats.

University officials had originally planned a 5,000 seat increase at the 81,067-seater Memorial Stadium but a smaller expansion was decided at the design phase. The stadium has seen a number of expansion projects since it was built in 1923.

John Ingram, assistant athletic director for capital planning said: "It prepares us for the future and gives us more flexibility for making changes down the road as far as adding seats. It doesn't limit as much what we can do."

The latest change is expected to add around $8m to the cost of the overall redevelopment to a total of $63.5m. The plans include a major overhaul of existing athlete facilities and training areas.

Memorial Stadium underwent impressive changes in 2009, with the addition of two new HuskerVision replay boards and a ribbon board running across the overhang of both the east and west sides of the stadium.

Athletic director Tom Osborne said in October that a modest expansion would bring the stadium closer in size to its Big Ten counterparts – the biggest stadiums in US. It would also preserve Nebraska's sell-out streak, which is the longest in college football and dates to 1962.

Nebraska enters the Big Ten on July 1. The largest stadium in the conference—and in college football—is Michigan Stadium, the venerable Big House, which seats 109,901. Construction for the redevelopment is scheduled to begin in May is expected to complete before the 2013 football season.

MAN FALLS AT SCUNTHORPE STADIUM

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A man has fractured his skull after falling 15ft (4.5m) from a railing at a football match between Scunthorpe United and Leicester City.

Police believe the incident at Glanford Park is not suspicious. A Humberside Police spokesman said: "He was on his own, nobody pushed him, and it seems to be an accident."

It is thought that the Leicester man, in his early 20s, was trying to stand on the railing when he fell into an exit way. He was taken to Scunthorpe General Hospital and his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said: "He is quite comfortable."

STADIUM FOR CORNWALL

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Cornwall Council has completed a feasibility study on building a brand new stadium in the South West of England.

It reviewed possible locations, stadium design, potential tenants, capital and revenue implications plus also the options for the management of the stadium. The report identified Langarth Farm, Threemilestone as the best potential site for a stadium.

A council statement read: "As a community stadium, the project is intended to provide economic regeneration and social benefits. As an economic development project the stadium could create up to 400 full time direct and indirect jobs and facilitate visitor spend of up to £3,000,000 per annum."

The 10,000-seater facility is expected to cost between £14m and £24m and include integrated community and commercial facilities plus a business centre. There is currently no planned start for construction.

WARRINGTON WOLVES PLAN STADIUM EXPANSION

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Warrington Wolves Rugby Club has announced plans to expand their stadium to increase capacity by 2,000 for the 2012 season.

The Halliwell Jones Stadium which opened in 2003 currently holds 13,024 but the club is keen to cash in on high attendances by developing the Martin Dawes Stand. It’s expected to cost £2m to bring the stadium capacity to 15,000 which could help make the venue more attractive for hosting future sporting events.

A club spokesman said: "When the stadium was originally built the fans particularly requested that the traditional standing terraces from Wilderspool be incorporated into the new stadium and this will be continued into the new development. The south-east corner will be standing terraces and the north-east corner will be seating with new roofing connecting the East to the North and South."

Wolves hope the expansion will help their bid to host 2013 Rugby League World Cup games. The 14 team tournament will be held in England and Wales in November 2013 but organisers have yet to confirm host stadiums.

The stadium has also hosted Liverpool Football Club's reserve team between 2007 and 2009 and UEFA Women's Euro 2005 matches. The development work is scheduled for the summer of 2011 and be ready in time for the 2012 season.

BRISTOL COUNCIL APPROVE SAINSBURYS’ PLANS

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol City Council has granted planning permission for a new Sainsbury’s supermarket on Ashton Gate stadium.

The decision is an important landmark in Bristol City Football Club’s hopes of a new stadium at Ashton Vale. City plan to sell their current home to Sainsburys’ as part of an enabling development for the new venue.

Club chairman Steve Lansdown said: "The club has been a part of the community for a long time and we want to continue doing so. There was a lot of talk about this project being all about me.

"This is not about me, it's about the football club and what we want to bring to South Bristol in the years to come. I truly believe the stadium will bring jobs and prosperity to South Bristol which it has desperately lacked for years."

The Robins continue to target 2013 for the opening of the new 30,000-seater stadium at Ashton Vale, although Steve admits there are more hurdles ahead. "The Sainsbury's application still has to go to the Secretary of State and there are I's to be dotted and T's to be crossed," he said.

"We’ve also got the Town & Village Green hurdle to overcome. Talks are still going on that and are at a delicate stage."

NORWICH LOOK TO CARROW ROAD REDEVELOPMENT

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Norwich City Football Club has announced it will expand Carrow Road rather than build a new stadium at a different site.

City has played at their current home since 1935 and the news will no doubt please club supporters. The Championship club has had high crowds throughout the season and it was thought the club would consider a move to build a new stadium.

Chief executive David McNally told Future Radio: "This is our home and it is pretty sacred to most supporters so it would have to be a significant development for us to leave here. So I can’t envisage that.

"Where else can you be five minutes away from a beautiful railway station? Where else is a football club situated, even if you walk slowly, 10 minutes away from the city centre?"

However McNally admitted that any expansion to the ground would be unlikely until it had the financial benefits from being in the Barclays Premier League. Norwich certainly have a chance of gaining promotion this season which could mean a capacity increase to their 27,000-seater home could happen sooner than expected.

"I think we can get to 35,000 eventually but the thing that would hold us back is the capital investment that you would need to get there, with the City Stand development being up to £20m so it would be wrong to go ahead with that in the short term," he added.

"If we can get 35,000 seats into Carrow Road then we can become a self-sustainable Premier League football club."

UEFA 2012 TICKETS ON SALE

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

UEFA EURO 2012 preparations have reached another major milestone after tickets go on sale in less than 24 hours.

Fans from across Europe can buy tickets for the prestigious football tournament exclusively from UEFA.com from 1 to 31 March. The highly anticipated competition will be co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland next summer and is expected to sell out quickly.

Ticket prices start at €30 for group matches and rise to €600 for the most expensive seat at the final. A UEFA spokesman said: "UEFA, the Polish and Ukrainian football federations and the local organising committees have put in place a transparent and fair ticketing policy with the aim of offering affordable prices for all 31 matches of UEFA EURO 2012."

The news comes after the controversy surrounding ticket prices for the Champions' League Final at Wembley in May. It appears UEFA has considered the local populations of both host nations in pricing tickets.

"The purchasing power of local citizens has been taken into account when deciding on prices and the cheapest tickets will cost 50% less than at UEFA EURO 2008 in Austria/Switzerland. Furthermore, tickets for the final in category 3 will cost €50 only." For more information on prices visit UEFA.com.

ABERDEEN MOVE CLOSER TO NEW STADIUM

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Aberdeen Football Club’s plans for a new £40million stadium at Loirston Loch took a step closer today after the council approved the development.

It will now be referred to the Scottish government but the Dons hope to move into the 21,000-seater venue in time for the 2013/14 season. Duncan Fraser, club chief executive, said: "Naturally we’re delighted Aberdeen City Council has taken on board the recommendations of their colleagues in the planning department.

"However, I would stress, while this is an important step in terms of our move towards a new home, there remains a tremendous amount of work to be done before our vision becomes a reality. That said, I would like to thank our staff and consultants who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes."

Aberdeen intends to sell its current home at Pittodrie near the beach for a new housing development. The new stadium will be lit at night with a red glow and have a 1,400 space car park surrounding the site.

LONDON 2012 UNVEILS OLYMPIC VELODROME

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The 6,000-seater Velodrome has become the first London 2012 stadium to be officially opened.

At the prestigious opening event, Beijing Games medal winners Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, Jason Kenny and Ross Edgar, all inspected the impressive £93million venue. It has already been nicknamed the 'Pringle' due to the inverted roof and has been earmarked as the world’s fastest track.

Olympic Delivery Authority chairman John Armitt said: "In delivering the Velodrome on time and to budget, we have completed our first Olympic Park venue and biggest milestone to date. The striking architecture and the medal prospects of our world-leading cyclists mean the venue will become one of the defining images from the Games, and a landmark new building for future generations to enjoy."

Construction work started in March 2009 and has been completed within budget. It took a team of 26 carpenters eight weeks to install the Siberian pine track and more than 350,000 nails were used on its 56km of timber surface.

Sir Chris Hoy, British triple Gold medal-winner at the Beijing Games and the most successful Olympic male cyclist of all time, said: "Having been involved in a very small way in the design process in the early stages, it’s amazing to see it finally completed. To be able to have ridden on it today gives me a feel for what it’s going to be like in less than 18 months time. I can’t wait!"

The stadium will host the Olympic and Paralympic track cycling events in 2012. After the Games, the Velodrome will be used by elite athletes and the local community. It will feature a cafe, bicycle hire and cycle workshop facilities.

BIRMINGHAM NEW STADIUM DELAY

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Birmingham City Football Club has announced it will not move away from St Andrews unless attendances improve.

St Andrews has a capacity of 30,079 but average crowds for Premier League matches struggle to top 25,000 meaning building a new venue may not be practical. Club acting chairman Peter Pannu says: "We have not ruled out a stadium move but our primary concern with that option would be our average attendances. Moving to a 55,000 capacity stadium may not be prudent at this stage."

City has played at St Andrews since 1906 a new home may not be a popular move for supporters as Pannu explained: "We know that quite a lot of our fans want to stay put as well so we need to make sure we consider everything before deciding on how to move forward."

The Blues are now looking into redeveloping their current historic home and showcased plans for a revamped Garrison Lane Stand at a shareholders’ gala in Hong Kong. "These are possible blueprints of how St Andrews could look in the future. But it is certainly not a done deal," Pannu added.

"This is at a very early stage and we do not want to heighten expectations too much. There are lots of people we need to run this by, including sponsors who may be interested in investing."

Visit the club website to see the proposed plans.

WEMBLEY TO BE MOST EXPENSIVE CHAMPIONS’ LEAGUE FINAL

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

UEFA has come under fire after announcing match ticket prices for the 2011 Champions’ League final at Wembley Stadium in May.

Fans hoping to pick up one of the 11,000 general sale tickets will have to cough up £176 for the cheapest seat. It means the Wembley final will be the most expensive in Champions’ League history.

The Football Supporters’ Federation (FAF) has condemned the prices and believes it contradicts UEFA’s policy of encouraging families to football events. FAF director of communications, Michael Brunskill, branded the decision ‘absolutely outrageous’ and said:

"It just strikes of profiteering at the supporters’ expense. The price on some tickets has doubled in one year and that’s before we even get started on the £26 admin fee which is the cherry on top of a pretty disgusting cake."

According to the Guardian, both Chelsea’s Carlo Ancelotti and Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger have criticised the decision, calling for the prices to be reduced. The English Football Association has attempted to distance themselves from UEFA with regard to ticket prices, insisting the European organisation had the final say.

"Part of UEFA’s reasoning for a Saturday evening final was to encourage children and families along. How does this square with charging £338 for a family ticket comprising of one child and one adult? On their own website UEFA warn fans not to buy ticket from touts as they’ll only be charged 'exorbitant prices' – the FSF would suggest that those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones," Brunskill added.

Interestingly, a ticket for the UEFA women's Champions League final, which is being held at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground on 26 May, is £5.

EARTHQUAKES MOVE CLOSER TO NEW HOME

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

San Jose Earthquakes has announced the first step of the construction process for their brand new soccer-specific stadium.

On March 3, demolition teams will pull down a former chemical factory and begin clearing the site that is on the outskirts of Mineta San Jose International Airport. The club plan to launch the demolition with a special ceremony that will give supporters a real buzz.

Earthquakes president Dave Kaval said: "We’re excited about it. We’re not all the way there yet, but the thing is, we’re starting to build that momentum back."

The preliminary works are expected to take 12 weeks to complete and the club hope to move into their new 15,000-seater stadium at some point during the 2012 Major League Soccer season. Unlike many US stadium projects no public money will be used.

Furthermore Lewis Wolff, the Earthquakes owner, has offered to pay for the maintenance of the stadium for a fifty-five-year time span. However the club is still searching for a naming-rights sponsor for the venue.

San Jose currently play their matches at Buck Shaw Stadium at Santa Clara University in California.

SCOTLAND TO PLAY BRAZIL AT EMIRATES

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Scottish Football Association has confirmed Scotland will play Brazil in a friendly at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on 27 March.

The last time the two national sides met was in France at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Scotland’s last appearance at a major tournament. The match is expected to draw a big crowd to the Emirates Stadium like other previous international games.

Scotland boss Craig Levein told FIFA.com: "This game will not only capture the imagination of the Scotland support but also the squad, who will relish the prospect of testing their skills against one of the finest international teams in world football.

"I believe the recent performances - and not simply the results - against the Faroe Islands and Northern Ireland have given the whole country a lot of encouragement for the second half of the UEFA Euro 2012 qualification campaign and beyond."

The 60,000-seater stadium has played host to a number of high profile matches since it opened in 2006, costing £390miliion. It will be Scotland's first appearance in London since the 1-0 victory over England at Wembley in the Euro 2000 qualification play-off in 1999.

"The players have a confidence in the way forward and while I believe the most important aspect of the forthcoming international break is to further cultivate a club Scotland culture within the squad, the opportunity to play Brazil was irresistible," Levein added.

FINAL WHISTLE ON MEAT AT FOREST GREEN

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you thought munching on a steak and kidney was part of the football fan experience then think again.

Forest Green Rovers Football Club has banned burgers and sausages from being sold to fans at the New Lawn. The ban was first applied to players at the Blue Square Bet Premier club a few weeks ago but has now been extended to the whole stadium.

Dale Vince, club owner and vegan, said: "A few weeks ago the decision was taken to no longer feed our players red meat. The decision was taken on performance and health grounds.

"Following that it seemed quite right that if red meat was not good enough to feed our players, then it wasn't good enough for our staff, fans and visitors too," he added.

Vince who also runs green electricity company Ecotricity said free-range poultry and fish from sustainable stocks will continue to be served.

WEST HAM PREFERRED OLYMPIC PARK BIDDER

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

West Ham United Football Club and Newham Council looks set to take over the 2012 Olympic Stadium after the Games.

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) selected the joint bid over Tottenham Hotspur earlier today. The decision must now be rubber stamped by two government departments and the mayor of London.

Karren Brady, club vice chairman, told whufc.com: "Today is a momentous day. I would like to thank the OLPC for making us preferred bidder and acknowledge everyone involved in what has been a truly professional process.

"I would also like to recognise the significant contribution of Newham Council, who have shared in our exciting vision from day one, and thank our supporters for trusting in us to take West Ham United to a new level," she added.

West Ham plan to convert the 80,000-seater stadium to a 60,000-seater venue and keep the athletics track. It is expected to cost £95m but means the Olympic Stadium could be used for football, athletics and cricket.

Spurs' plan was widely criticised because it involved demolishing the stadium and building a new one. The club intended to pay for an expansion of the athletics facility in Crystal Palace, rather than keeping a legacy for the sport in Stratford.

The North London club will now turn their attentions to the redevelopment of White Hart Lane.

A delighted Brady added: "We are proud to have been passed the Olympic torch and fully embrace the responsibility we have for keeping the flame alive. We have been working on this project for some time now and are just at the starting line of the race to make this a stadium that will really make the nation proud."

WOLVES TO REDEVELOP MOLINEUX

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club has confirmed it will redevelop Molineux at the end of the current season.

The club plans to demolish the Stan Cullis Stand in May and build a new £16m two-tier stand that extends into the north east open corner. It means Molineux's capacity will rise from 29,000 to approximately 31,700.

Wolves chairman, Steve Morgan, told wwfc.com: "The aim is to drive the club forwards at all levels and to ensure we put our team in the best possible position to compete at the highest level. To do that we need the best possible facilities at Molineux.

"New facilities, better seats, much wider concourses and increased catering offerings will also give our fans a great match day - and non-match day - experience of visiting Molineux and supporting the team."

The new stand is planned to be ready in time for the start of the 2012/2013 season and if successful could lead to a second phase of redevelopment. Wolves plan to invest a further £40m to raise the capacity to 36,000 but no exact date has been confirmed.

"As well as the football, we have always stressed the importance of the club also playing a key role in the life of the City. And we are keen for Molineux to grow as a source of immense civic pride for everyone in Wolverhampton," said Morgan.

"It has taken a tremendous amount of work to arrive at this point. I'd like to thank everyone for their on-going support in helping us get this far. There is a lot of hard work to be done and we will continue to require the support of the Council and other stakeholders."

Plans also include a new club megastore, museum, café, family information centre, impressive pitch facing hospitality facilities and a larger accessible lounge for disabled supporters.

Morgan added: "This is a brave and decisive leap forward but one which will open up an exciting and historic new chapter for the benefit of everyone connected to this wonderful football club and City."

The club will finalise formalities with Wolverhampton City Council in the next few days. To check out the latest redevelopment news visit www.molineuxpride.co.uk.

ALBANIA TO BUILD NEW NATIONAL STADIUM

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Albania will spend £51million on a new national football stadium to meet both UEFA and FIFA requirements.

The 30,000-seater stadium will be the country's largest ever sports investment.

Albanian football federation president Armando Duka told Reuters: "The goal of the Albanian Soccer Federation is to give a dignified stadium for our team, our institution, Albania and the Albanian fans."

It will replace Qemal Stafa Stadium, Albania’s main venue which opened in 1946. The 19,600-seater stadium is in need of major upgrades and has come in under heavy criticism in recent years.

Last year the floodlights cut out during a friendly match between an Albanian team and Spain's Real Madrid much to the shock of the world’s media. Other complaints have arisen following cold showers after the games.

"It will be an elite stadium," Duka said. "It will meet all the requirements established by UEFA and is adequate for every kind of international match."

UEFA President Michel Platini has visited Albania to help push forward the stadium project. It is expected to open in late 2013.

SUPER BOWL XLV SET FOR RECORD CROWD

Sun, 06 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Tonight’s Super Bowl is expected to be the biggest yet with a predicted attendance of 110,000, smashing the previous record of 103,985.

It was set in the 1980 Super Bowl at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, when the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Los Angeles Rams. This time, the Steelers are playing the Green Bay Packers.

If every ticket holder manages to battle through the heavy snow the record attendance could exceed the population of Green Bay, which is about 104,000. Over 700 flights to and from Texas were cancelled this week, and several people were hurt by ice falling off the roof of the stadium.

Super Bowl XLV looks set to be the ultimate test for the $1.3 billion Cowboys Stadium which opened in 2009.

OLDHAM SUFFER NEW STADIUM SETBACK

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Oldham Athletic Football Club's hopes for a new stadium took a major blow after proposed plans to move to Failsworth were rejected by the Charity Commission.

The Latics wanted to build a 12,000-seater stadium on the site to replace their existing home at Boundary Park. However the Commission refused to sanction a land swap deal leaving the future of the project in doubt.

Oldham chairman Simon Corney told OAFC.com: "For whatever reason we cannot make progress. I believe Oldham Council wants a new stadium, but I don't think they’re capable of helping us to deliver it.

"We’re considering our options in the light of the ruling, but feel we’ve been badly misled. I’m not spitting out my dummy. I just want the best for the club and for the fans."

It is bitter blow for the club who were recently blocked from redeveloping their existing home.

"We can't keep playing at Boundary Park which is an old, dilapidated stadium in which less and less people are coming through the doors," he added. "The ground should have been demolished 10 years ago, and here we’re still talking about moving."

Corney highlighted the decline of Stockport County, who do not own their own ground, as a warning as to what could happen to his club. "It was not long ago they were an established Championship club and now they are staring at relegation to non-league football," he said.

Oldham has said it is now considering all options to build a new stadium.

AVIVA STADIUM PICKS UP FOUR AWARDS

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Aviva Stadium has picked up four industry awards marking an impressive first year of operation.

The first award came from the European EPSE for the stadium’s innovative use of polycarbonate both in the roof and the wraparound skin of the stadium. It then received three awards for National Impact, Best Civil Engineering Project and Best Architect in the Irish LAMA Awards in January.

The awards were given for overall national impact, civil engineering excellence and for architects Scott Tallon Walker, who along with Populous, created the innovative design that has been winning plaudits and awards worldwide. The ceremony was organised by the Local Authorities Association in Ireland to recognise Excellence in Construction at local, county and national level.

Arriva Stadium director, Martin Murphy, paid tribute to the wider team behind the creation of the stadium. He said: "Over the three year construction project 90 companies and over 6,000 individuals had all worked to create a stadium of which the country could be proud."

The Dublin venue opened in May 2010, costing £320million and has hosted a string of top class events.

In less than a year, it has hosted 17 pitch events and almost 2,000 functions. Latest figures show that more than 900,000 people have visited the venue.

BESIKTAS SET FOR NEW STADIUM

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Besiktas Football Club plans for a new £103million stadium have been approved by Istanbul’s cultural preservation board.

The club’s current home Fiyapi Inonu Stadium will be demolished at the end of the season to make room for the new 42,000-seater arena. It will include a theatre, a congress centre, a 5-star hotel plus also a large shopping centre.

The club hopes the new complex will generate an annual revenue of around £30million allowing more money to be invested into the team. Besitkas will hold the usage rights of its new facility.

"This is a success that belongs to Besiktas chairman Yildirim Demiroren," said a club spokesman.

The new stadium was designed by HOK Sport architects of Emirates Stadium and the new University of Phoenix Stadium. The Black Eagles will play their matches at various stadiums around Turkey during the construction phase of the new stadium.

It is due to be completed by early 2013.

MARINE REVEAL ARRIVA STADIUM PLANS

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Marine Football Club will install a new floodlight system, a 130-seater stand and snack kiosk at the Arriva Stadium.

The Northern Premier Division Club is keen to improve the facilities at the venue which has been their home since 1904. Marine chairman Paul Leary said: "The imbalance of facilities for spectators in our football ground is a cause for concern when we have games with large attendances.

"In the interests of spectator safety, we need to provide additional facilities at the Crosender Road end of the ground."

Marine signed a sponsorship deal with transport company Arriva in 2006 to name the stadium.

MEDIATION TALKS OVER ASHTON VALE

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The long running dispute over the future of a plot of land in Bristol looks set to move closer to a resolution after both parties agreed a mediation meeting.

Bristol City Football Club plan to build a new £92m 30,000-seater venue on a site in Ashton Vale but some local residents opposed the scheme and want the site to be given Town Green status. The new venue was part of England’s failed 2018 FIFA World Cup bid and will replace City’s Ashton Gate.

Deputy leader of Bristol City Council, Liberal Democrat Simon Cook, told BBC Sport: "We have to make a decision sooner rather than later whether we register this land as a town or village green.

"An inquiry has taken place and we have an inspector's recommendation. If we do not implement this we could be subject to judicial review.

"If we do implement it and register the whole 42 acres I think Stephen Lansdown [Bristol City's chairman] has made it quite clear they club would seek a judicial review of that decision."

The council already approved planning application for the stadium.

BRENTFORD DEALT NEW STADIUM BLOW

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Brentford Football Club’s hopes for a new stadium look to be fading after partner Barratt Homes withdrew from the Lionel Road project this week.

The property development company has said the scheme is no longer viable due to the current financial situation. However the club still has the option to buy the site if the situation develops but chairman Greg Dyke has not ruled out searching for a different venue altogether.

"It is clearly disappointing news, but we are looking for an alternative partner and funding," he said. "We are also looking at alternative sites although we are still hopeful that we will eventually build a new stadium at Lionel Road."

Brentford has played at their current home Griffin Park since 1904.

PANTHESSALIKO STADIUM CLOSED FOR ONE MATCH

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

PAOK Salonika has been fined £77,000 and ordered to play a game behind closed doors after crowd violence during a recent game with Olympiakos Volos.

The match was delayed for 30 minutes after a section of the Panthessaliko Stadium in Volos was damaged by fire as police attempted to stop PAOK fans entering without tickets. The Greek Super League said PAOK will play the second leg of their Greek Cup quarter-final against Olympiakos next month in an empty stadium.

This latest incident is part of growing problem in Greek football which has already seen similar crowd trouble occur this season. Panathinaikos had to play two games behind closed doors in December after supporters chased the players off the pitch and pelted them with missiles after a shock home defeat.

Larissa players and staff were left inside their team bus for four hours earlier this month when fans set up a blockade of bonfires following a heavy loss.

OLYMPIC STADIUM DECISION POSTPONED

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A decision on the future of the Olympic Stadium has been postponed by the Olympic Park Legacy Company.

The OPLC verdict was due on Friday but has said it needs more time to examine bids from Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United Football Club. The Hammers have vowed to keep the athletics track, but Spurs want to demolish the £537m stadium and rebuild it as a football-only venue.

An OPLC spokesman said: "Given the detailed nature of both bids received, we need more time to seek further clarification with both bidders in order to identify a preferred bidder.

"The stadium is a significant public asset and we have a duty to run a robust process. Securing the most appropriate solution for the stadium is vital to our long-term aspirations for the future Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the wider regeneration of the area."

Despite interest from the Premier League clubs, the OPLC also has the option of converting Olympic Stadium into a 25,000 seat, mixed-use venue. "In going to market, the Legacy Company's aim was to consider options which would enhance and build on that plan," the spokesman added.

Any recommendation requires approval from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Department of Communities and Local Government, and the London Mayor's office. The deadline for the OLPC is the end of the financial year, but there is no hint it will take that long to make its decision.

UEFA APPOINTS CHAMPIONS’ LEAGUE CONTRACT

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

UEFA has appointed Hyperactive Events to create its event hospitality area at the Champions League Final at Wembley in May.

The contract will see Hyperactive Events provide decoration and event production services for UEFA across its sponsor hospitality areas in the Champions’ Village at Wembley Stadium on 28 May 2011. Sponsors including Sony and Playstation, Heineken, Ford, Mastercard, Adidas and Unicredit will be providing hospitality at the game.

Hyperactive was previously appointed by Vodafone to provide set display, event production, guest hospitality and ticketing programmes for the UEFA Champions League Finals in Athens in 2007, Moscow in 2008 and Rome in 2009. It is also currently working with Vodafone on its Laureus World Sports Awards Guest Programme for 2011.

Account director Jane Dolan, who worked closely with managing director Lynda Fletcher Emptage on the pitch, said the contract was a valuable win for the agency.

FINAL SUBMISSIONS FOR OLYMPIC PARK

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United Football Club have both made final submissions to take over Olympic Park in east London.

The Premier League football clubs have already handed in detailed proposals to the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC). Committee chief Andrew Altman will use the final submissions to make a recommendation to his board ahead of a meeting on 28 January.

The future of Olympic Park has been heavily debated in recent months, with head of world athletics and International Olympic Committee member, Lamine Diack, the latest voice to concerns. Diack told BBC Sport that London will have told a "big lie" to get the Olympics if the main stadium were to lose its track.

He said: "While concerns have been raised about sightlines for football we should recall that football has often shared with other sports. The old Wembley Stadium had a track around the pitch which was not only used for athletics but for speedway and greyhound racing."

Over the last four years, three Champions League finals have been held in Olympic Stadiums with athletics tracks surrounding the pitch.

EAGLES TO FLY HOME

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Crystal Palace Football Club has announced ambitious plans of a return to their original home at Crystal Palace park.

The project would provide a 40,000-seater stadium, new indoor aquatic centre, reconfigured indoor sports structure and a new community sports facility. Steve Parish, club co-chairman, said: "We’re delighted to put forward our plans to return the club home to where it all began."

Crystal Palace is a unique place, one of the highest points in London, a point where five South London boroughs collide and the home of the club. It also holds a special place in English football, hosting the first cup finals and early England Internationals.

"We believe a stadium at Crystal Palace park can help create a bright new future for the club as well as helping it to breathe new life into both the sports centre and the park," Parish added.

The plans hope to reduce running costs and offer a wider range of community and elite athletic sports.

Check out the latest images of the stadium on the club website.

CAMBRIDGE CITY EXTEND STAY AT MILTON ROAD

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Cambridge City Football Club has extended their lease of Milton Road until May 2013.

The new deal will keep the Lilywhites at the stadium which has been their home since 1922.

Kevin Satchell, City chairman, said: "We’re delighted we’ve been able to agree an extension on the lease at Milton Road.

"The discussions with our landlords have been positive throughout and I was always confident we could come to an agreement. This extension strengthens our position for when we ultimately move."

Milton Road was one of the largest venues outside the Football League with a capacity in excess of 16,000.

However the current capacity is around 3,000 with approximately 700 seats, something the club is seeking to improve.

Satchell also expressed his gratitude to Newmarket Town, for agreeing to ground share after the Milton Road lease expires.

"Newmarket has recognised that City would find it hard to turn down any possibility of extending our stay at Milton Road," he added.

"They really could not have been more helpful to us and we remain grateful to them for their understanding in this matter."

City are still working on more permanent options following the ground share and are seekingto develop stronger commercial relationships.

Supporters’ director, Derek Bailham, said: "The lease extension removes the uncertainty around the Club's immediate future. It allows us to reinforce our foundations, both commercially and within the local community.

"We can continue to develop and improve our contacts with local community charities such as Cam-mind, and with local football fans. We will be able to do this more effectively with the question mark over our location removed."

MAIDSTONE UNITED HOPES OF A NEW STADIUM

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Maidstone United Football Club hopes to raise £1.6m for a new stadium at James Whatman Way by April this year.

The club’s current owners plan to invest £400,000, with a further £150,000 from a Football Foundation Grant.

The rest will be financed through investors buying shares in Maidstone United Ground Ltd, which will not give them any stake in the football club itself.

Terry Casey, co-owner and director, said: "Investors will feel totally involved in the running of the football club as well as the ground operating business but they will be sheltered from any real risk in the football club itself.

"Instead they have a share in a business which we forecast could be highly profitable. And if that were not enough they will know they are helping an entire community - including the various pan disability teams we manage - by providing excellent new local sports and social facilities. It's the perfect option for them really."

Maidstone is asking for a minimum investment of £160,000 which would give them a 6% stake in the company.

It will also be the first football ground in the country to feature a 3G pitch from its conception.

Club chief executive Bill Williams, added: "It’s a bold move but we believe that for the non-league game to survive in the future, other clubs will opt for this high-quality synthetic surface.

"The majority of non-league clubs cannot survive on matchday revenues, sponsorship, advertising and other commercial activity. Using an artificial surface gives us the opportunity to make the business financially viable and provide excellent facilities for our own teams.

"Equally importantly we have a venue that community groups, schools and others can hire to play sport and maintain a healthy lifestyle."

CHINA HANDS OVER STADIUM TO MOZAMBIQUE

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Mozambique has officially received its new $57m national sports stadium from the Chinese government.

Nearly 100 people attended the opening ceremony at the 42,000-seater Estadio do Zimpeto, outside Maputo, the largest venue built since the country's independence from Portugal in 1975.

There have been heavy delays in construction which started in November 2008.

Around 2,000 workers, including 600 Chinese, took part in the construction of the stadium which features a giant statue of a figure with multiple arms raised to the sky and greets visitors after they pass a Chinese-style entrance.

The stadium was due to host warm-up matches ahead of the 2010 World Cup in neighbouring South Africa but was not finished until October last year.

Deputy sports minister, Carlos Sousa, said: "It will enable us to host international tournaments in the region such as the 2011 African Games."

According to Sousa, international football body FIFA, has already approved the facilities in principle, with Maputo hosting the African Games in September later this year.

However there is some work remaining as parking space and other entry points are still unfinished.

WALKERS STADIUM TO RELAY PITCH

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Leicester City Football Club has re-laid the pitch at the Walkers Stadium in a bid to help their push for promotion.

Following the subzero temperatures and wintry weather before Christmas, the playing surface had begun to cut up badly.

The Foxes had been using the Walkers Stadium for training as their usual facilities were severely hit by the weather.

City manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson told club website: "I think it is our fault. When it was frozen for a couple of weeks we trained too much on it and destroyed it a little bit."

The pitch received heavy criticism from Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini following Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie.

Eriksson decided to ask the club’s owners for further support and was impressed by their answer.

"One evening I asked them if it was possible to relay the pitch, which I thought was necessary for us in the way we play our football," added Eriksson.

"It took less than 48 hours for the ground staff to get to work. The owners are brilliant for this football club, they say to me, if you think it's necessary, let's get it done."

The new pitch is expected to cost around £120,000.

DOWNLOAD STADIA IPHONE APP

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

You can now download the StadiaDirectory iphone app from iTunes App store.

If you are fortune enough to own an iphone or itouch you will be able to read the latest stadia news on your handset, as well as check our new videos and photos of stadiums as they are uploaded with our new app.

You'll also be able to keep up with our twitter feed in the same console and contact us directly from the convenience of your Apple handheld.

To download the app from itunes, please click here

ABERDEEN STADIUM HEARING MEETING

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Aberdeen Football Club will soon hear a verdict on their ambitious plans for a new stadium on the outskirts of the city.

The Dons hope to build a 21,000-seater venue, costing nearly £40m, at Loirston Loch in the south of the city.

A city council pre-determination hearing is expected to hear objections against the plans, but no actual decision will be made at the meeting as Scottish ministers will have the final verdict.

Aberdeen is looking for permission for the new stadium which would include a gym, a club shop, museum and cafe.
Plans also include plan is for the whole facility to be lit at night by a red glow.

Stewart Milne, Dons chairman, previously said: "We hope to get planning consent from the council in February.

"It will then be called in by the Scottish Office and we would hope for a decision before the break-up of parliament next year, around April."

The application follows a public consultation.

2012 OLYMPIC BEACH VOLLEYBALL STADIUM APPROVED

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

London 2012 took a step closer to completion after stadium plans for Olympic beach volleyball have been approved by Westminster City Council.

The 15,000-seater temporary stadium in Horse Guards Parade will feature two warm-up beach courts, along with six training courts in St James's Park.

It will also have lighting for evening competition and a video screen.

The application was submitted by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Horse Guards Parade is not new to hosting major events as it is the home of Trooping the Colour.

Conservative councillor Alastair Moss, planning committee member, told the BBC: "We're thrilled to be part of the Olympics and are proud to be able welcome so many of the world's top athletes.

"Westminster has a strong history of holding very successful major events and we will work hard to ensure this is another of them."

In total 96 athletes will compete in the men's and women's volleyball events at London 2012.

Beach volleyball made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Games and has been a major success at previous Games.

HULL HOPE TO BUY KC STADIUM

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Hull City Football Club has confirmed it wants to purchase the KC Stadium from Hull City Council.

The stadium was opened in 2002, costing £46m and was funded by the sale of Kingston Communications.

The club’s new owners, who recently completed a £40m takeover of the Championship side, are now keen to purchase the 25,000-seater KC Stadium.

"We have not yet had chance to get stuck into the 'nitty gritty' details, but that is our aspiration," said owner Ehab Allam.

"We do not know if the council are prepared to sell."

If successful in the bid to buy the stadium the club hopes to raise the capacity to 38,000.

Hull City Council leader Carl Minns says they would agree to discuss the matter further with the Eqyptian businessmen.

Minns told the BBC: "The Allams are very serious players in the area. Of course we will listen to what they have to say."

BLACKPOOL SEEKS STADIUM NAMING DEAL

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Blackpool Football Club has announced the naming rights to Bloomfield Road are up for sale.

The Premier League newcomers have defied the footballing hierarchy by clinging onto a mid-table position and now the board is looking to exploit a potential second season in football’s most lucrative league.

However the prospect of renaming Bloomfield Road has only gone down marginally better than Mike Ashley’s decision to rename Newcastle United’s ground the sportsdirect.com@St James’ Park stadium.

A club statement said: "With one of the smallest grounds in the Premier League, it’s the club’s responsibility to maximise the potential of all available commercial opportunities.

"In order to continue developing the stadium, strengthening the squad, and establishing the facilities that will help to ensure Blackpool Football Club continues to compete in the best football league in the world."

The club has played at Bloomfield Road since 1901.

GALATASARAY TO OPEN NEW STADIUM

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Turkish football club Galatasaray, will open their new home stadium with a friendly game with Ajax on January 15.

The Turk Telekom Arena has a capacity to hold 52,467 spectators, costing $210 million to build and has a huge parking lot for 4,500 vehicles.

It also features a world-class retractable roof the first of its kind in Turkey.

The new venue will replace the club's previous home, Ali Sami Yen Stadium and will not just host football matches but also other events like concerts and shows.

SPIREITES TO HOST ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Chesterfield’s b2net Stadium will stage an international match for the first time next month when England Under-19s face Germany in a friendly.

The game on February 8 is seen as a stern test for the Young Lions as both countries prepare for the European Championship Elite Round tournament in Switzerland in May.

England head coach Noel Blake said: "England versus Germany is always a heavily-weighted fixture at any level and this is the sort of opposition we want to face.

"Chesterfield has an excellent facility for us to use since their move from the old Saltergate ground. I've been down there a couple of times this season to watch them.

"It's a nice, new venue and we're looking forward to taking an England team there."

The b2net Stadium was unveiled at the start of the season and cost £13m to build.

Spireites chairman Barrie Hubbard added: "We’re absolutely delighted that in our first season at the b2net Stadium we are actually hosting an England International and appreciate being chosen to do so by the FA."

MASTERCARD AGREE NAMING RIGHTS DEAL FOR STADIUM IN CHINA

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

MasterCard has announced a five-year naming rights deal for the former Beijing Olympics basketball stadium.

The deal is the first time a foreign firm has acquired commercial naming rights over an arena in China's capital.

Under the agreement, the 18,000-seat arena, which is also used for concerts and other sports, will be called the MasterCard Centre.

Stadium naming rights deals are common in the US but are more unusual in China where the government has traditionally owned the venues.

Following the Beijing Olympics in 2008, there were moves to sell branding rights to the iconic Bird's Nest National Stadium, home to track and field events during the Games.

Despite a number of multinational firms expressing interest, no actual deal was made.

MasterCard have not announced how much the deal is worth but the move is considered as the U.S. card company tries to enter the Chinese electronic payments market that has been largely closed to foreigners.

NDOLA STADIUM AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A new 40,000-seater multi-purpose stadium in Ndola, Zambia, is expected to be completed ahead of schedule.

It is expected that work on Ndola Stadium will be completed three months ahead of schedule in June 2011, against the initial October 2011 deadline.

Ndola Stadium will feature a running track and also a VIP stand higher than 50m. It will replace the current large stadium in Ndola, Dag Hammarskjöld Stadium.

Once completed, the venue will host the remaining 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football qualifiers and other major international matches.

Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe, Zambia used to host international matches but was declared unfit to host international matches.

QATAR 2022 BID HELPED BY PROTOTYPE STADIUM

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup bid was aided by a 500-seater demonstration stadium, which showcased innovative green technologies.

The Showcase Stadium was used to show FIFA and the world that a hot summer climate is not a barrier for hosting global events.

Photovoltaic panels on the stadium roof convert solar energy into electricity which is used to air-condition the arena by using an under-seat supply.

The solar heat collectors have a series of motorised mirrors that track the sun, focusing the sun’s power onto collecting tubes.

A Qatar 2022 spokesman said: "Once collected, the energy will be turned into electricity to supply lighting, power and other functions within the venue.

"This cools the seating area and flows down to create cooling for the players. Importantly, the surfaces of the Showcase are designed to remain cool throughout the match to help to stabilise the heat gains from lights and people."

The maximum temperatures are below guidelines set by the FIFA medical committee to avoid players suffering significant heat stress and also beat the ASHRAE comfort standards for spectators.

During the FIFA inspection team visit, the outside temperature reached 44C but the temperature on the pitch was recorded as 23C showing the true potential of the technology.

With less than 12 years to kick off keep yourself up to date with the latest news on StadiaDirectory.com.

2010 STADIUM ROUND-UP

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

2010 kicked-off with an aura of anticipation surrounding the World Cup in South Africa.

It was the first time FIFA had chosen an African country to host the prestigious football tournament and as the months drew closer to kick-off, news desks across the world were kept busy by worker strikes, pitch problems and worrying news of stadium delays.

As every England supporter will testify it wasn’t the stadiums that brought disappointment this summer...but closer to home the year was not all bad news. On the stadium front in this country a number of clubs looked to expand their grounds or even relocate in hope of increased revenues and commercial opportunities.

Several clubs, all the way through to the FC United of Manchester, announced ambitious plans for new stadiums making a real statement of intent during the tough economic climate.

Everton pressed on with plans to develop commercial and office space at Goodison Park to help generate more funds for the Toffees. Construction started at the American Express Community Stadium, the new £60m home for Brighton and Hove Albion which is scheduled to open in August 2011.

The £13m b2net stadium opened in triumphant style as Chesterfield kicked off their League 2 campaign at a brand new 10,500-seater home. Morecambe also began life in a new home in August, the impressive near 6,500 capacity Globe Arena.

Birmingham City announced plans of a £20m redevelopment of St Andrews which will no doubt help the club in their push to compete with the Premier League big boys. Chelsea admitted to being in search of a possible new and expensive home at the site of Earls Court Exhibition Centre, just around the corner of Stamford Bridge.

West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur began a tug-of-war over the currently under construction Olympic Stadium. Throughout 2010, the Olympic Delivery Authority was under the spotlight as athletics bodies and politicians condemned the idea of the purpose built venue hosting permanent football after the Games. It doesn’t look likely to be resolved anytime soon and could well run on until London 2012.

Spurs have interestingly kept their options open by pressing on with the Northumberland Project, their codename for the redevelopment of White Hart Lane. The plans are currently subject to approval as the final details are ironed out.

Another club experiencing difficulties with their stadium dream is Bristol City. The Championship club has been through all kinds of emotions in their attempts to build a new home at Ashton Vale.

After numerous ups and downs the Robins looked set to gain planning permission until about 200 nearby residents applied for their proposed site to be a town green. With no date decided for a final ruling it could well be some time before City get an answer to their stadium predicament.

It wasn’t just planning permission that club Chairmen up and down the Country were tearing their hair out about. The extreme weather at the start of the year meant that new pitches were all the rage as many clubs experienced playing surface problems. Even the £750m Wembley Stadium was not exempt from turf issues, it received heavy criticism for the playing surface throughout the first half of the year.

It was all change for groundsmen at the home of English football as consultants were called in and dug deep to get to the root of the problem. After much heated debate and condemnation the famous stadium received its 11th new pitch since re-opening in 2007.

A year that began with great anticipation surrounding the World Cup finals, also managed to end on that note too, and again the news was disappointing for English football. After a year jam-packed full of publicity stunts, marketing campaigns and embarrassing bickering, FIFA voted for new destinations for the next two tournaments.

As everyone knows Russia beat England, along with other rival nations, to win the rights to host the 2018 competition, much to the belligerence of the British press. Numerous reasons as to how and why have been bandied around ranging from intrusive media to the undercover journalists unmasking alleged corruption of FIFA officials.

No matter what the reason, the fact remains the Russians will host the World Cup for the first time in their history and in another first, Qatar were unveiled as the hosts for the 2022 tournament. The news was immediately greeted with concern over the obvious temperature problems and possible cultural differences the Middle East may pose to competing nations. The Qataris pledge to combat those worries by building impressive solar powered, air conditioned, outdoor stadiums in various locations across the oil rich nation.

2011 is set to be an exciting year for everyone interested in the stadium industry with construction already underway for the 2012 European Championships in Poland and Ukraine plus not to mention London 2012.

To keep abreast of the news as the year unfolds, please stay logged on to the number one online database of the world's stadiums.

Best wishes for 2011 from everyone at StadiaDirectory.com.

SNOW DAMAGES SCHALKE STADIUM

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Christmas has brought an unwanted present for FC Schalke after heavy snowfall damaged the roof of the Arena AufSchalke.

The damage has caused the annual biathlon World Team Challenge to be postponed due to safety issues after a 1,000 square metre hole appeared in the roof on Christmas Eve.

Schalke's first Bundesliga match of 2011 against Hamburg on January 15 should not be at risk, although it remains likely the roof will stay open, irrespective of the weather conditions.

Club chairman Peter Peters told club website: "The holes are not going to be closed in time. The safety of the spectators is the utmost priority."

As temperatures remain below zero, repair work is unable to begin until the snow has melted, but Peters is confident the Arena AufSchalke can at least be opened in time for the Hamburg fixture.

"I am optimistic that we will be able to start the second half of the season according to schedule," he added.

COVENTRY TO HOST WOMEN’S FA CUP FINAL

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Ricoh Arena has been named as the host for the FA Women’s Cup 2011 final.

It will come as a welcomed boost to the midlands after the disappointment of England’s failed bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Coventry City Football Club currently uses the 32,609-seater stadium and it will be the first time it has hosted the event.

Daniel Gidney, chief executive of the Ricoh Arena, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the final of the prestigious FA Women’s Cup in May.

"We have a strong track record of supporting women’s football in the city since we set a new attendance record of 1,057 in the FA Women’s Cup in 2006.

"Our mission for carrying the torch for girls’ and women’s football continues with this fantastic high- profile match and is yet another milestone for the Ricoh Arena in attracting world class events which will culminate in Olympic women’s and men’s football matches being staged here during the summer of 2012."

In 2006, the stadium hosted an England Under-21 UEFA Championship qualifier against Germany, which England won.

The Under-21s returned to The Ricoh in October 2009 and beat Macedonia 6-3 in another UEFA Championship qualifier.

Phil Boas, head of sponsorship and events at E.ON said: "As a major employer in the area, we are thrilled that The FA Women’s Cup Final is being staged at The Ricoh Arena.

"We've been supporting the women's game for five years and it is fitting for the showpiece event to be held at the venue for women’s football in the 2012 Olympics."

NEW MACCLESFIELD STADIUM GREEN LIGHT

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Macclesfield Town Football Club’s hopes of a new stadium received a major boost after the council agreed plans to regenerate the town.

The proposals include regeneration of Macclesfield town centre and the development of the South Macclesfield Development area for mixed retail, residential and leisure use and also a new stadium.

It means the new venue would replace Moss Rose, the home ground of the Silkmen since 1891.

Club chairman, Mike Rance said: “The proximity of the soon to be capped landfill site to the development represents a real opportunity for us.

"Not only would we like to utilise the open space to provide much needed community sports facilities but the renewable energy potential of the landfill is substantial.

"With the incorporation of sustainable energy sources at the design stage we can break new ground by creating the first low carbon stadium in the UK which would be real achievement for the club."

The club will be working closely with Cheshire East Council and other potential partners in the scheme to resolve the route to development including the sensitive use of land and resources.

"The Council endorsement of the proposal is a massive stepping stone in the achievement of a sustainable future for the club, but it's just the end of the beginning for both the football club and for the wider community," added Rance.

"The challenge is now to put in the hard work that will be necessary to convert the vision into an economically viable reality."

PLAYERS DEMAND WINTER QATAR 2022

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

FIFPro believes the 2022 Qatar World Cup should be held in winter instead of the red hot summer of the Middle East.

The world players’ union is concerned about the effects of high temperatures on the players out on the pitch.

Tijs Tummers, FIFPro technical committee secretary, said: "It’s not sensible to award a World Cup in the summer to a country with an average temperature of 41C in June and July, a midday temperature of 50C and above all, extremely high humidity.

"Tourists are advised not to travel to Qatar in the summer months. Inhabitants of Qatar leave the country en masse during this period.

"The summer months in Qatar also do not provide suitable conditions for a festival of football such as the World Cup should be, including for the supporters."

Initially, FIFA was initially against the switch but following recent comments by FIFA president Sepp Blatter and general secretary Jerome Valcke it appears a change could be possible.

Qatar has guaranteed temperatures inside stadiums and at training centres will be reduced to 27C by air-conditioning but there are environmental sustainability and reliability concerns.

"We will of course have to take a careful look at the international match calendar, but FIFPro does not foresee any insurmountable problems in this regard," added Tummers.

"Space will have to be made for the tournament, even though many countries already have a winter break. If you look at what happened last weekend with weather problems in Europe because of heavy snowfall, you could see this as an advantage rather than as a problem."

EMIRATES STADIUM TO HOST ARGENTINA AND PORTUGAL

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Emirates Stadium will host an exciting International Friendly match between two the world’s biggest football nations on Wednesday 9 February 2011.

Argentina will take on Portugal in a mouth-watering encounter which will give UK football fans in the UK the chance to see some of the world's greatest players on the pitch.

Arsenal Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis said: "Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is proud to welcome two of the world's greatest national teams to Emirates Stadium.

"The national teams of Argentina and Portugal are full of quality and world-class players. Both countries have great football histories and we are looking forward to welcoming many Argentinean and Portuguese supporters to Emirates Stadium in February.

"This match is a fantastic opportunity for football lovers in the UK to watch some of the world's best players in action in what is sure to be an exciting contest."

It will be the second time Argentina and Portugal have played matches at Emirates Stadium, both previously playing International Friendly games against Brazil.

It will also be the sixth time Emirates Stadium has hosted an International Friendly match since its official opening in July 2006.

CASEMENT PARK PLANS APPROVED

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Casement Park looks set to transform into a 40,000-seater stadium after budget plans were given a green light by the Northern Ireland Executive.

Redevelopment of the Belfast venue is expected to cost £100m, with investment coming from both sporting body GAA and the government.

Ulster Council president Aogan Farrell was delighted with the news and said: "The redevelopment of Casement Park will have major economic, regeneration and social benefits for the entire community."

"Sport makes a strong social and economic contribution to society in areas such as the promotion of tourism, health and well-being, community development, social capital and cohesion and also contributes to good relations.

"This project is another example of the positive role that sport has to play in the wider community," he added.

The budget consultation process will be completed in February 2011 but there is currently no date scheduled for the work to begin.

WILDCATS IN NEW STADIUM DELAY

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Wakefield Wildcats have suffered a major setback to their plans for a new stadium after planning permission has been referred to the Secretary of State.

The club plan to move to a site in Newmarket is now on hold and which could affect their future in Super League.

Wildcats need a new ground before 2012 to meet changing Rugby League criteria.

Wakefield chief executive James Elston admitted: "With Super League licensing looking closely at facilities this delay is a huge blow.

"Rugby League has been synonymous with the City of Wakefield for 137 years and this delay could put that in jeopardy.

Despite Wakefield Council granting the proposed development planning consent, part of the land is owned by Leeds City Council - which received objections from local residents.

"We now need to conduct further meetings with the Developer, the Community Trust and with other stakeholders to review the contingency plans that were put in place in the event of such a delay in planning," added Elston.

The proposed stadium is set to have a 12,000-seater capacity and is expected to cost around £19m.

MERSEYSIDE GROUND SHARE DEPENDS ON FANS

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Liverpool Football Club new owner John Henry insists that the Reds will not ground share with local rivals Everton, if supporters oppose it.

The new owner, who bought the club for £300m in October, is keen to press on with stadium redevelopment but understands he needs fans’ support.

He said: "If the fans don't want it, it's difficult for the club to do anything about it.

"Obviously it's the fans who come, so it might make the most sense, if you're building a new stadium, but if the fans don't want it it's a non-starter."

Liverpool also revealed talks over the redevelopment of Anfield or move to a new stadium in nearby Stanley Park are still ongoing but maintain progress is still being made.

Reds co-owner and chairman Tom Werner said: "We certainly feel the need to do something. Our intention is to increase our revenue so we can put put the best possible squad together.

"We're hard at it, we've had a lot of meetings and we are moving forward with various options.

"It's too early to go in one direction or another in terms of whether or not to build a new stadium or refurbish Anfield, but we are making progress," Werner added.

INVERCARGILL STADIUM PLANS TO BE UNVEILED

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Preliminary plans for rebuilding the Invercargill stadium in New Zealand will be released next week after part of the roof collapsed following heavy snow in September.

A report commissioned by Stadium Southland's owner shows it collapsed partly because of engineering faults and poor workmanship.

Trust chairman Acton Smith says engineers and quantity surveyors should have the initial plans by Wednesday.

Stadium manager Nigel Skelt said at the time: "We have never had a snow fall this big before.

"We’re really conscious it wasn't during a peak time because the result could have been far more catastrophic. We are just talking about a building here."

The 2000-seat venue opened in 2000 and cost about $10 million to build.

CLYDE TO LEAVE BROADWOOD

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Clyde Football Club has announced it will leave its current home at Broadwood and search for a new venue.

The statement follows extensive discussions between the club and North Lanarkshire Leisure on the conduct of the lease between both parties.

Both parties agreed the club will work towards an exit over an extended period and there are no plans for an alternative location at this stage.

A Clyde spokesperson said: "Development at Broadwood in recent years and limitations of the lease mean that the club is unable to operate on a long term sustainable basis compatible with its ambitions.

"An extensive process will now begin to consider alternatives that will see Clyde back in control of its own destiny for the first time in 80 years, since the club became tenants on the sale of Shawfield."

The move comes after many years of well publicised financial problems at Broadwood.

"These were reversed this season when the rent was paid a year in advance, bringing much needed stability and allowing the club and North Lanarkshire Leisure to focus on the practical business difficulties arising from both organisations operating from the same location," continued the statement.

Former landlords North Lanarkshire Council have previously offered to support the process by finding an appropriate site for development.

COBBLERS CAUTIOUS OVER STADIUM MOTION

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Northampton Town Football Club has given a "cautious welcome" to the latest council motion passed towards the development of their stadium.

The Cobblers have seen plans to improve Sixfields stadium consistently turned down by a succession of different councils over the last eight years.

However the club is hopeful the latest statement by Northampton Borough Council could open the door to future development.

Conservative group leader councillor David Palethorpe proposed a motion to the Council that recognised the importance of the stadium to the sporting, cultural and economic wellbeing of the town.

He also suggested the council would support any planning applications (subject to the normal planning process), that will help to ensure the continued development of the clubs.

Cobblers chairman David Cardoza said: "We have been looking to proceed with our re-development for a number of years so we give a cautious welcome to the news.

"Our welcome is only cautious, because we have been here and seen this before. However this motion does give us renewed hope and optimism that the Borough Council can see sense and that we can work in partnership to fulfil our ambitions on behalf of the club, the community and the town.

"What we need now is action and co-operation as well as supportive words, but we look forward to working with the Borough Council and our re-development partners to see what can be achieved."

BETFRED EXTEND WEMBLEY STADIUM BETTING DEAL

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Betfred has extended its sponsorship deal with Wembley Stadium, which will see the company remain the venue's official betting supplier until 2014.

It will continue operating betting kiosks at the venue including all FA Cup and England senior matches.

"We have been the Official Betting Supplier since the new stadium opened in 2007 and I am delighted with the association," said Betfred owner Fred Done.

"I am very proud to see our kiosks at Wembley and as a proud England fan, although I’m still gutted we didn’t get the World Cup in 2018, I hope I can pay out a few quid to my fellow England supporters over the next four years."

FA group head of sponsorship Peter Daire said: "Having an in-stadium betting provider is an important part of a sports fan’s day out so I am really pleased that we have renewed our deal, who has been a key partner of Wembley since the stadium opened."

Last month the independent bookmaker confirmed that it was interested in buying the Wigan-based Tote, thought to be worth around £200m.

Betfred currently sponsors the World Snooker Championships at the Crucible in Sheffield.

STADIUM:MK TO COMPLETE IN TWO YEARS

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman has vowed to increase the capacity of stadium:mk to 32,000 within two years.

The announcement comes despite the disappointment of England`s unsuccessful bid for the FIFA 2018 World Cup.

Winkelman told MK Dons Player: "We're totally fixated on finishing the stadium because, when we finish it, it's a fantastic stadium and people are going to know that.

"The big thing for me now is that I don't have to take the roof off which, while possible, would have been quite dramatic and it's certainly easier not touching it!"

Stadium:mk has a current capacity of 22,000 but Winkelman is keen to improve the infrastructure of the venue such as roads, car parks and creating new retail units.

"For me personally I want to get the arena open, so we've got our own challenges over the next eighteen-months-to-two-years and, if we can keep achieving that, we will keep growing our reputation and our ability to take part in events that are important to the nation," he added.

The last time England hosted a World Cup 44 years ago, Milton Keynes was without professional football but the club hope to press on with stadium development that will rival top sporting venues in Europe.

Last summer's internationals between Ghana and Latvia and Nigeria and Columbia has seemed to whet the appetite of the Don’s chairman.

"We've met loads of people, been part of a national bid for the biggest competition in the world and we've learnt things about sports cities from London, from Manchester and from Sheffield which we're going to try to put together in terms of policy here.

"So there will be a legacy that comes out of this bid in Milton Keynes in terms of the way we present ourselves to the world and we want to keep doing that."

NOTTINGHAM STADIUM PLANS HIT BY RUSSIA 2018

Sat, 04 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Nottingham’s hopes of a brand new stadium have been dealt a major blow following England's failed bid to stage the 2018 World Cup.

The city had hoped to build a 45,000-capacity venue on land off the A52 at Gamston as part of the bid.

On Thursday FIFA voted to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia meaning the new stadium could be postponed.

Nottingham's World Cup bid director Hugh White told BBC the driving force behind the new stadium had been FIFA technical requirements.

"We will have to reappraise that but I know Forest have for a long time have wanted a long-term stadium solution," he said.

"I'm sure there will be discussion around that, but this opportunity has gone and we are very disappointed."

Nottingham was included in England's bid despite Nottingham Forest's existing City Ground being too small and having inadequate access.

The new venue was expected to bring an investment of around £130m into the region.

MANSFIELD TOWN LOOK FOR TEMPORARY HOME

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Mansfield Town Football Club is discussing the possibility of ground sharing with neighbouring clubs Alfreton Town and Notts County after being locked out of their Field Mill home on Thursday by landlord Keith Haslam.

The Stags were ejected following a rent dispute and Town owner John Radford says the club will not be held to ransom over Field Mill.

A club spokesman said: "They seem to be keen to help us out if possible. We have had a positive discussion and talks are at a more advanced stage than Notts County, whom we have also made contact with."

Mansfield Town hope to resolve the dispute before the next home game, against Grimsby on Boxing Day.

RUSSIA AND QATAR TO HOST FIFA WORLD CUPS

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

FIFA has announced Russia will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup while Qatar will host the 2022 tournament.

It will be the first time the prestigious event will be played in two very different regions and also very different climates.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter said: "I have to say thanks to the Executive Committee of FIFA because for 2018 and 2022 we go to new lands, because the FIFA World Cup has never been in eastern Europe or the Middle East."

It was one of the biggest media events ever seen in Switzerland with around 70 TV stations reporting live and over 1,000 reporters from all over the world covering the event.

"So, I'm a happy president when we speak of the development of football," he added.

"But I have to give big compliments to all the bidders for the big job they have done and the messages they have delivered.

"All have delivered the message that football is more than just a game. Football is not only about winning; it is also a school of life where you must learn to lose, and that is not easy."

The statement will come as little consolation to England, Netherlands/Belgium and Spain/Portugal who submitted bids for the right to stage the 2018 finals.

Both Spain and England have previously hosted a FIFA World Cup which appears to have been a deciding factor.

England hosted and won the tournament in 1966 with Spain staging the 1982 event, when the trophy was won by Italy.

Igor Shuvalov, Russia's deputy prime minister, vowed that his country would not disappoint and said: "You have entrusted us with the FIFA World Cup for 2018 and I can promise that you will never regret it. Let us make history together."

Qatar won the right to host the 2022 tournament over Australia and also previous host nations Korea Republic, Japan and USA. Japan and Korea were the first World Cup joint hosts in 2002 with the US staging the finals in 1994.

Qatar 2022 bid team member Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani said: "Thank you for believing in change, for expanding the game and for giving Qatar a chance.

"You will be proud of us - and you will be proud of the Middle East. I promise you this."

Watch out for the latest stadium construction news on stadiadirectory.com

CLOSING IN ON FIFA WORLD CUP DECISION

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

With less than 48 hours to go the hosts of the FIFA 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals will soon be announced to the world.

On Thursday 2 December at 1600 GMT a verdict in Zurich will confirm the next destination of the greatest show on earth.

The tournament is much more than a football festival as it’s a major source of financial income with huge fan attendances, merchandise and sponsorship deals.

Receiving such an economic boost at a time financial uncertainty is making the bidding even more intense.

With this in mind StadiaDirectory.com decided to find out what’s happening in the final few days in the run up to the ultimate decision.

On Wednesday afternoon, the five contenders for the 2022 tournament will give a final 30-minute presentation at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.

Australia will kick off proceedings at 1300 GMT with South Korea, Qatar, the United States and Japan following at hourly intervals.

The next day, bright and early Thursday morning at 0800 GMT, the 2018 bidders start their final pitches.

This starts with co-bidders Netherlands-Belgium, then joint Spain-Portugal bid nations, with England next and ending with Russia at 1100 GMT.

The running order for the final presentations was decided by was determined by the drawing of lots.

Once all presentations have been heard FIFA's executive committee will retire to vote in a secret ballot.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, leads the executive committee which consists of eight vice-presidents and 15 members appointed by the football’s confederations and national associations.

But due to recent allegations of corruption the election will consist of 22 votes after the suspension of members Amos Adamu and Reynald Temarii.

The winning host nation for each tournament is the first to receive an absolute majority of 12 votes among the members.

If no host nation receives the required votes, the bid with the least votes is eliminated and another round of voting begins, with the process repeated until there is a winner.

Interestingly if two nations are tied on 11 votes each, president Sepp Blatter will have the deciding vote.

The winning bids will then be announced to the world by Blatter in Zurich Exhibition Centre at around 1600 GMT.

Who do you think will win? Let us know on www.twitter.com/stadiadirectory

PLANNING APPROVED FOR TEN ACRES

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

FC United of Manchester has been given planning permission for a brand new 5,000 capacity stadium at Ten Acres Lane.

The news will delight supporters of the breakaway club which was formed in 2005 by disgruntled Manchester United fans following the controversial takeover of the club.

A £3.5m sports complex will be built in Newton Heath, only streets away from Manchester United’s first home.

General manager Andy Walsh said: "This is fantastic news and testament to the hard work and support we have received from New East Manchester and Manchester City Council, in particular the help and guidance from the planning department.

"None of this would have been possible without the dedication and commitment of our supporters and their desire to see supporter ownership at all clubs."

The club has already raised nearly £700,000 from a community shares scheme it launched six weeks ago but needs £3.5m to complete the stadium.

GREEN LIGHT FOR MILLERS’ NEW STADIUM PLANS

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Rotherham United Football Club looks set for a new home after the council granted planning permission for a new 12,000-seater in the town.

Outline planning permission was granted to redevelop the old Gest and Chrimes site on the outskirts of Rotherham, but due to the size of the stadium, final approval must be given by the Secretary of State.

Millers’ chairman Tony Stewart said: "We are delighted that the council have supported the application."

The South Yorkshire club has been playing at Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium since 2008, after failing to agree a deal to remain at Millmoor.

The new stadium is expected to cost around £20m and will take two years to build.

"This is a significant regeneration scheme in Central Rotherham, which is proceeding at a pace despite the worst recession in 30 years," added Stewart.

"It represents another significant step towards our goal of bringing the Millers back home to Rotherham and we're all determined to make Rotherham United a Football Club that everyone in the town can not only be proud of but will feel a part of too."

WHITE HART LANE PLANS APPROVED

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club hopes of redeveloping White Hart Lane have received a massive boost after the Mayor of London approved plans.

Mayor Boris Johnson had the authority to turn over last month's decision by Haringey Council to grant planning permission for the 56,000-seater stadium.

However he decided to support the council meaning the £450m redevelopment of White Hart Lane will now go ahead unless the government decides to intervene.

The news will come as an interesting development considering Spurs also registered an interest in moving to the 2012 Olympic Stadium.

As government intervention appears unlikely, the North London club must decide whether to press ahead with redeveloping White Hart Lane or follow the Olympic Stadium option.

Fellow Premier League West Ham United are also keen in becoming tenants at the venue in Stratford once the Games are completed at the end of summer 2012.

After giving Tottenham's plans his approval, Mayor Johnson wrote to Haringey Council, saying: "I am content to allow Haringey Council to determine the case itself, subject to any action that the Secretary of State may take, and do not therefore wish to direct refusal or to take over the application for my own determination."

EWOOD PARK TO CHANGE NAME

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Blackburn Rovers Football Club is considering stadium naming rights to bring in extra revenue and raise the profile of the club’s new owners.

Indian company Venkateshwara Hatcheries purchased Rovers earlier this week in a deal reported to be worth £23m and has plans to develop the club’s global brand.

Anuradha Desai, chairperson of Venkateshwara Hatcheries strongly expressed the need to change the functioning of the club and has suggested renaming Ewood Park to Venky’s Stadium.

"We need to improve the brand Blackburn Rovers. The management thus far has done a good job but has not been proactive enough. We are looking to change that," she said.

Acquiring shirt sponsors, renaming the stadium and hunting for co-sponsors in general will be the task at hand for the group as they will be looking to globally widen the market for the club.

"Arsenal named their stadium the Emirates after their main sponsors. Our stadium could be called the Venky’s Stadium or could adopt the name of another sponsor. We are looking to spread the name of Blackburn Rovers wherever we can. India is our major target," Desai added.

LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD TO GO GREEN

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Philadelphia Eagles will have a greener stadium than the shirts after revealing aggressive green energy plans.

The NFL club hope to convert Lincoln Financial Field to a self sufficient venue generating all energy from renewable sources.

It plans to install solar panels, wind turbines and an alternative-fuels power plant at the 70,000-seater stadium which could save $60m on electricity costs over the next 20 years.

Team owner and chief executive officer, Jeffrey Lurie said: "We’re proud to take this vital step towards energy independence from fossil fuels.

"This commitment builds upon our comprehensive environmental sustainability program, which includes energy and water conservation, waste reduction, recycling, composting, toxic chemical avoidance and reforestation.

"It underscores our strong belief that environmentally sensitive policies are consistent with sound business practices."

The Eagles will install 80 20ft wind turbines on the upper edge of the stadium and around 2,500 solar panels.

In total this will contribute about 15 percent of the output while the rest will be generated by a plant that can run on biofuels or natural gas.

The new equipment will generate at least 8.6 megawatts of electricity, above the 7MW peak used by the stadium on game days with excess power sold to a local utility company.

Energy generated by the new program could power 26,000 homes and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions will be the equivalent of taking 41,000 cars off the road.

Philadelphia Eagles, whose players wear green kits, has been operating an environmental sustainability program over the last seven years, and has ambitious goals on recycling, composting and the purchase of materials such as beer cups from renewable sources.

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell said: "With this ground-breaking initiative, the Eagles are taking another significant step forward in their commitment to environmental responsibility and to their community.

"The work of the Eagles' Go Green initiative in raising environmental awareness and implementing green programs is a tribute to the leadership of the organization."

The power system is targeted to be ready to go for September 2011.

STADIUM UPGRADE FOR INSTITUTE

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Construction is already underway on a £1m upgrade to Institute Football Club's ground in Drumahoe, Northern Ireland.

Riverside Stadium will receive a new 650-seater East Stand with, turnstiles, security fencing and CCTV, as well as a new control room, media suite and toilets.

First minister Peter Robinson and the sports minister Nelson McCausland kicked off the ground breaking ceremony which will see stadium capacity increase to 3,000.

Peter Robinson said the improvements would provide "safer and more attractive family friendly facilities for fans.

"This in turn will help promote greater participation in sport."

Billy Gillard, a member of Institute's development committee, told the BBC that the club were delighted the work was underway and said: "In terms of comfort and safety we will have one of the best stands around, and that includes good facilities for people with disabilities.

"Hopefully this will enable us to attract more players and more spectators, and it will be good for the Drumahoe area all round."

Chief executive of sport Northern Ireland, Eamonn McCartan, said the upgrade would improve the health and safety of spectators.

"This will greatly improve the safety infrastructure at the venue, and also ensure that the facilities on offer meet the expectations of spectators in terms of comfort and accessibility."

The work is due to be completed by March 2011.

LIGHT FOR MICHIGAN STADIUM

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Michigan Stadium has completed the permanent stadium lighting projects weeks ahead of schedule.

The $1.8m project was funded by athletic department resources and is the first time any permanent stadium lighting has been installed.

It was anticipated that the project would be completed ahead of the Michigan-Michigan State hockey game 11 December, but the process was accelerated.

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said: "It took us 130 years to get to this point. This is an historic day in Michigan football and is a major step forward for us."

The lights will be tested during Michigan's final regular-season game against Wisconsin on Saturday, even though the kickoff is noon.

The 109,911 capacity Michigan Stadium recently underwent $226m renovation project in time for the new NFL season.

GREEN LIGHT FOR GOODISON PARK

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Everton Football Club has been granted planning permission to build a £9million retail and administration development at their stadium.

The four-floor development at the Park End of Goodison Park will include a museum, cafe, shop, hospitality lounge and offices.

It will also free up space for corporate hospitality inside the stadium itself.

Robert Elstone, Everton chief executive, told evertonfc.com: "The new building is an exciting phase in the development of Goodison Park.

"It will help us grow our business by giving fans a new, purpose-built club shop more than twice the size of Everton One, a new hospitality lounge targeted towards Evertonians wanting to socialise before and after games at Goodison.

"It will also get the entire Everton team under one roof, something that is long overdue and an opportunity to further improve how we work as a team for the benefit of the fans."

Work will start before the end of the year and is expected to be completed in autumn 2011.

The project is funded by club retail partner Kitbag and stadium catering partner Sodexo.

Mr Elstone added: "This new scheme is totally self-funded by partners so there is no net cost to the Club. In fact, it is cash-positive from the start."

MILLENNIUM STADIUM TURNS BLUE

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Millennium Stadium turned blue to celebrate World Diabetes Day.

On Sunday 14 November, the charity lit the stadium blue to mark the day as part of the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) Blue Monument Challenge, which lights up landmarks worldwide.

Previous landmarks lit blue for the day include the Sydney Opera House, the London Eye and New York’s Empire State Building.

Dai Williams, National Director of Diabetes UK Cymru, said: "We were really delighted to celebrate World Diabetes Day by lighting the Millennium Stadium blue and would like to thank the stadium’s management for enabling us to do so.

"As one of Wales’ most iconic landmarks, the stadium was an excellent ambassador for Wales in the worldwide Blue Monument Challenge to celebrate the day.

"Diabetes is increasing throughout Wales and we hope to have raised awareness about the condition by celebrating World Diabetes Day in this way."

The theme of this year's World Diabetes Day was promoting physical activity.

WIGAN TO STAGE WORLD CLUB CHALLENGE

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Wigan's DW Stadium has been announced as the venue for the 2011 World Club Challenge between the Warriors and Australian champions St George Illawarra.

Despite rumours of a switch to Australia, the annual clash of the champions will be held in England making it the 12th successive year.

It was thought the encounter would be held at Bolton's Reebok Stadium but the DW Stadium has been announced to host the event.

Wigan's first appearance in the World Club Challenge for 17 years will take place on Sunday, February 27, with a 7.15pm kick-off, and organisers are expecting a 24,000 sell-out.

A Wigan Warrior’s spokesman said: "The match is expected to be a mouth-watering clash featuring some of the best players in the world."

SARACENS REVEAL BARNET COPTHALL STADIUM PLANS

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Saracens Rugby Club has confirmed it will look into transforming Barnet Copthall Stadium into their new home.

The club will begin discussions with the London Borough of Barnet about the possibility of developing the venue into a multi-purpose sports venue and installing an artificial pitch.

Barnet Copthall Stadium is currently home to Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers amongst other sports clubs and is considered a potential training centre for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Saracens chairman Nigel Wray said: "There is a unique opportunity to create a fabulous stadium.

"In the process, we will create a home for Saracens, an ambitious club playing entertaining rugby in a superb stadium, an institution which will make the people of Barnet and all North London can feel proud for many years to come."

The proposals include refurbishing the existing main building to the west of the site and building a new permanent stand to the east which would be used by spectators of athletics meetings and rugby matches.

Demountable stands would be in place during the winter season to facilitate up to 16 Saracens fixtures, increasing the capacity of the ground to 10,000 to meet Premiership Rugby requirements.

Geoff Morphitis, treasurer of Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers said: “This is a tremendous opportunity in these difficult financial times to refurbish a stand that is nearly 50 years old and to bring in new facilities.

"This would ensure the venue can continue to host top class athletics meetings and serve as a valuable sports facility for the local community. We look forward to working with Saracens to ensure the delivery of an outstanding sporting venue and to expand our work in the local community."

Public exhibitions are due to be held later this month for the local community to view and comment on the plans.

CHELSEA EXPLORE NEW STADIUM SITE

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Chelsea Football Club is considering building a new ground on the soon to be demolished Earls Court exhibition centre.

The proposed site is less than half a mile away from their existing stadium Stamford Bridge which has been their home since 1905 when the club was first formed.

The Blues are looking at ways of increasing revenue and believe a brand new 60,000-seater stadium could help close the gap in gate receipts to their rivals.

Stamford Bridge has a current capacity of under 42,000 which is dwarfed by Manchester United's Old Trafford which holds around 76,000 and Arsenal's Emirates at over 60,000.

Current plans hope to transform Earls Court into a new residential area with more than 8,000 homes.

A Chelsea spokesman said: "We will always look at proposals put to us and we get two or three of these a year. But we have no plans to move stadium at this time."

Any new stadium would not be ready until 2015 because Earls Court is booked to host the 2012 Olympic volleyball competition before the centre is pulled down.

The latest phase of public consultation takes place this week and is being undertaken with fellow landowners, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Transport for London.

BRIGHTON INVEST EXTRA £2.1M IN NEW STADIUM

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club is investing an additional £2.7million into their new stadium to provide extra 1901 Club seats and an additional supporters' restaurant.

After 1901 Club membership sold out this week and due to a continued demand for premium seats at the American Express Community Stadium.

Chief executive Martin Perry explained, "We are thrilled with the support we have received from the business community in Sussex.

"To be able to offer fans what they have asked for - a good quality eating area and bar, where families and individual supporters can enjoy quality hospitality before the match, and also for special occasions such as birthdays and other family celebrations."

The 1901 Club premium seats have been an unprecedented sales success for the club with all 2,109 west stand hospitality seats selling out much faster than anticipated, a full nine months ahead of schedule; while all 14 executive boxes sold-out in March.

A previously-unused floor in the East Stand will now be developed into an extra 1901 lounge offering further hospitality facilities.

The East Stand will also house a restaurant and bar, which will be open to all supporters on matchdays and for Sunday lunches.

MILLENNIUM STADIUM GETS £3M UPGRADE

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Millennium Stadium has invested almost £3m on a brand new state of the art audio and visual entertainment system.

The 90metre-square screens along with nearly 500 high-definition TVs around the ground have been installed in the biggest single investment in the stadium since it was completed in 1999.

Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Roger Lewis said: “Our ambition within Welsh rugby is taking Wales to the world and bringing the world to Wales.

"This is a big day for the WRU, a big day for the Millennium Stadium and a big day for Wales."

The cutting edge system was provided by American technology company Cisco. A central control room remotely controls each of the 470 screens, which can stream individual content at the same time.

It is hoped the new facilities will attract more investment and more visitors to Wales.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "This stadium is now 11 years old but if you go down to that pitch it almost looks newer now than when it was first built."

Millennium Stadium is due to host between 12 and 15 football matches for the 2012 Olympics.

SPURS RENEW STADIUM CATERING CONTRACT

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has extended Lindley Group's contract for public concourse catering until 2013.

The extended contract is worth over £2m for Lindley Group who has managed the public sector catering at White Hart Lane Ground since 2001.

Spurs head of sales, Alistair Spiers, said: "Over the past nine years, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and Lindley Group have worked successfully together to deliver the highest standards of public catering to in excess of 35,000 fans every matchday.

"As the Club enters an exciting new era of Champions League competition, this contract extension demonstrates the commitment of both parties to continually improve the matchday experience at White Hart Lane."

The news follows a recent announcement by Kudos Hospitality, which has also had its contract with Spurs renewed. Kudos has provided hospitality at the club for nine years and in September it was awarded a new two-year deal worth £6m.

Paul Biffen, Lindley Group sales and marketing director, added: "We're delighted to continue our partnership with Spurs.

"It's testament to the quality of food, service and the strength of the relationship that the Lindley team has developed with the club over the last decade that they have already committed to extending our contract for a further two years beyond the expiry of the existing contract."

HEARTS CONSIDER STADIUM OPTIONS

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hearts Football Club has announced it will keep all options open in the search for a new stadium despite detailed plans for the redevelopment of Tynecastle.

The official statement follows a story in a local newspaper suggesting redevelopment may not be viable for the Scottish Premier League club.

A club spokesperson said: "Any participation in the charrette referred to in today's newspaper would not be unusual because as a club Hearts must be aware of any plans to build a 25,000 seat stadium only a few miles from our own ground.

"Hearts will explore any potential opportunities that might exist to create a state of the art football stadium at Tynecastle or elsewhere in the west of Edinburgh."

The proposed £50m redevelopment includes a two-tier, 11,000-capacity main stand, as well as a hotel, leisure facilities, apartments and conference facilities but has been hit with a number of setbacks recently.

"Hearts is fully committed to the redevelopment of Tynecastle and the club has no intention of moving from our current home as long as there is a financially viable stadium redevelopment option on the table.

"As a club we've already invested over £1m in stadium redevelopment plans and have no intention of walking away from that extensive development work.

"Our first priority is to exhaust every option for the redevelopment of Tynecastle."

BRISTOL BACKS STADIUM IN POLL

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol City Football Club hopes of a new stadium received a major boost after nearly two thirds of Bristol residents support the plans according to a survey.

A total of 64% of those surveyed said the Ashton Vale development should go ahead, with only 24% disagreeing with the project.

City chief executive Colin Sexstone told bcfc.co.uk: “We’re not surprised by the outcome of the poll. The numbers speak for themselves; 64% of people living in the city back our plans to build a new world-class stadium for Bristol on this site.

"More than 21,000 people have already signed the City United epetition, so even before the results of this poll were published we knew about the phenomenal and overwhelming support for the stadium plans."

Planning permission was granted for the £92 million stadium and neighbouring wetlands and wildlife area by the City Council in February this year, following a three-year application process.

However, in September the Council received an independent planning inspector's report recommending that the site - half of which is a former landfill site - be given special designation as a town green scuppering the club’s hopes of a new stadium.

"The priority for us now is to press on, to find a solution to the village green challenge that works for everyone, and to make the stadium happen," Sexstone added.

"We believe that we have uncovered compelling new evidence to put before Bristol City Council before it makes a decision on village green status, but in the meantime we remain willing to talk to anyone about the site."

The development is expected to bring upwards of £150million investment to Bristol and provide more than 6,000 new jobs, all of which would increase if England wins the World Cup bid for 2018.

TWO KENYA STADIUMS CLOSED AFTER DEATHS

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Kenya has closed two Nairobi stadiums following the deaths of eight fans killed in a stampede on Saturday.

Both the Nyayo National Stadium and City Stadium have been shut down indefinitely.

Kenyan police are already investigating the cause of the disaster, which happened at a league match between popular sides Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, despite the stadium being under capacity.

A similar tragedy befell the same Nyayo National Stadium in 2005, as a teenage fan died after a crush developed ahead of a World Cup qualifier against Morocco.

As a result, FIFA barred the use of the stadium for six months while the Kenyan government promised an investigation, even though little materialised.

FIFA ISSUE WARNING OVER WORLD CUP HOST ALLEGATIONS

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

FIFA has warned it will not tolerate unethical conduct in the bidding race to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The order follows the suspension of two FIFA members amid allegations that they offered to sell their votes in the 2018 contest.

The Sunday Times posted a film of Zen-Ruffinen – FIFA general secretary from 1998 until 2002 – accusing current president Sepp Blatter of mismanagement and appearing to suggest a vote exchanging deal between Qatart and joint host nation Spain/Portugal.

Both bidders have denied the claims but a FIFA statement read: “FIFA and the ethics committee are committed to zero tolerance for any breach.

"We’re determined to protect the integrity of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process."

The allegations come only days after Tahiti's Reynald Temarii and Nigerian Amos Adamu were provisionally suspended for 30 days pending an investigation into claims about a vote for cash deal by Sunday Times journalists.

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke insists there have been no talks to postpone the vote in Zurich on 2 December to decide the winning host nation.

SEVEN DEAD AFTER STADIUM STAMPEDE IN KENYA

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A stadium stampede at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya has left seven football fans dead and others injured at a league fixture.

The crush occurred as a crowd attempted to enter the ground to watch a match between two of Kenya's most popular teams, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.

Six people died at the venue while another died later in hospital.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said: "I wish to express extreme sorrow and extend our condolences to the Kenyan football community and, most importantly, to family, friends and loved ones following these tragic deaths.

"I have learned that an investigation is already underway. Everything possible must be done to understand the cause of this terrible incident in order to prevent such a tragic happening at this stadium again."

In 2005 a stampede at the Nyayo National Stadium killed one fan, leading FIFA to temporarily ban its use in the World Cup qualifiers.

WIN VIP TOUR OF WEMBLEY STADIUM

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Do you fancy winning a VIP tour of Wembley Stadium?

There is an extra special footy prize on offer this week on the Football League website.

The VIP tour gives a family of four a fully guided look behind the scenes at the home of English football.

Winners will visit the England dressing room, players' tunnel, pitch side dug-outs, Royal Box and press conference suite during the 90-minute tour.

The tour also passes a number of artefacts synonymous with the success of English football - including the crossbar from the 1966 World Cup Final, and the Jules Rimet Trophy.

There are also four runners-up prizes of standard Wembley tour family tickets.

For your chance to win, simply answer the following question:

Q: What colour are the seats at Wembley?

a) Red
b) Blue
c) Yellow

Please e-mail your answer to win@football-league.co.uk with 'VIP Wembley Tour' in the subject line.

The competition closes on Sunday 7 November.

WAKEFIELD WILDCATS' STADIUM PLAN APPROVED

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Planning permission for a new stadium for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats' has been unanimously approved by the local council.

The go-ahead for the development on green-belt land bordering Leeds and Wakefield is seen as a major step towards securing the rugby club’s future.

Wildcats’ was awarded its Super League licence on the promise of a move from the ageing Belle Vue site, which has been their home since 1878.

James Elston, the Wildcats' chief executive, said: "This is fantastic news and is the biggest day in the clubs modern history. We are still aware that we have some boxes to tick but now we can move onwards and upwards.

"I would like to thank all supporters, players and staff who spent three hours outside showing their support for the club this morning and also to Wakefield Council."

Yorkcourt properties, the developers behind the scheme, said the site was zoned as green belt but was an old colliery and will be the basis of a £60million, 12,000-seater stadium.

Hundreds of fans lined the streets outside Wakefield County Hall and cheered as they heard the council's decision.

The club is currently subject to a winding up petition from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

On Thursday Wakefield announced an unknown benefactor had offered to pay their tax bill, on the basis that the new stadium plans were approved.

SWEDEN TO HOST WOMEN'S EURO 2013

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

UEFA has announced Sweden will host the women's European football championships in 2013.

Swedish Football Association spokesman Jonas Nystedt said he is confident the tournament will run smoothly, like the men's under-21 European Championship last year.

He said: "We are very happy and proud to organize this European Championship."

"We already think our female footballer’s situation is very good in Sweden and we hope that this will encourage more women in Sweden to play."

The 12-team tournament will be staged in different cities around the country in July 2013.

Matches are scheduled to be played at Gamla Ullevi (Gothenburg), Örjans Vall (Halmstad), Öster Arena (Vaxjo), Kalmar Arena (Kalmar), Nya Parken (Norrkoping) and Linköping Arena (Linkoping).

The final will be held at the new national football stadium in Solna, which is scheduled to be completed in 2012.

Sweden is no stranger to high-status football competitions as they co-hosted the tournament with Norway in 1997 and the UEFA under-21 championships in 2009.

ENGLAND REVEAL BID STADIUMS FOR UNDER-21 EURO 2013

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

England appear to be interested in more than just hosting a World Cup after they announced the six stadiums part of their Under-21 European Championships bid for 2013.

Five of the venues are usually home to Football League clubs but the final would be held at Wembley Stadium if England were successful in their bid.

The bid team plans to use stadiums of Nottingham Forest, Notts County, Derby County, Shrewsbury and Chesterfield, as well as Wembley Stadium.

League 2 clubs Shrewsbury Town and Chesterfield have both recently moved into new grounds and the Shrews Greenhous Meadow has already hosted both England under-19 and women's internationals.

Shrewsbury General Manager Jon Harris is relishing the chance to show off his club's assets, as he told BBC Radio Shropshire: "Just imagine: the cream of Holland, Italy, Spain and, of course, England playing here at Shrewsbury."

"This opportunity isn't just good news for local football fans - it would also mean thousands of tourists coming to Shrewsbury and to Shropshire."

The recently opened £13million b2net Stadium has also been selected as one of the tournament’s potential stadiums.

Chesterfield FC chief executive Carol Wilby said: "Along with the FA we have been delighted to welcome the delegates from UEFA, as part of their week-long technical inspection visit to assess England’s bid to host the UEFA 2013 Under-21 European Championship Finals."

She added: "The chance to host European football at the b2net Stadium is not only a very exciting proposition for the football club but it will also be a real boost to Chesterfield and North Derbyshire."

During the visit The FA, along with its host cities, aims to demonstrate a commitment to UEFA that it can create and offer an unrivalled platform for the 2013 UEFA European Championship Finals, and provide a memorable tournament for players, fans, and local communities.

Three other nations are also bidding for the honour to host the Finals, including Israel, Bulgaria and Czech Republic.

The final decision where the Finals will be held will be made in December.

ENGLAND WORLD CUP BID TEAM FOCUS ON 2018

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The England World Cup bid team has pulled out of the race to host the prestigious FIFA tournament in 2022.

England will now concentrate on their campaign for 2018, which will definitely be held in Europe following the United States decision to withdraw their bid.

England and Russia remain in the running for 2018 along with joint bids by Belgium/Holland and Spain/Portugal.

The United States had been the last non-European bidders remaining in the race for 2018 following Australia's withdrawal in June and remained in contention for both 2018 and 2022.

An England bud team statement read: "England 2018/22 today confirmed to FIFA that it was withdrawing its candidature from the FIFA World Cup 2022 and will now focus on its bid to host the tournament in 2018.

"This followed consultation with UEFA president Michel Platini on the most appropriate moment to withdraw.

"England 2018 is delighted it is now clear that the FIFA World Cup will be coming to Europe in 2018 following the withdrawal of the United States bid."

The successful bid nations will be announced on 2nd December 2010.

SARACENS RULE OUT BIG STADIUM MOVE

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Saracens’ Rugby Club has ruled out a permanent move to Wembley or the new Olympic Stadium.

The club is currently considering whether they will remain at Vicarage Road beyond this season after stadium owners Watford Football Club, activated the break clause in the two clubs’ agreement in May.

Saracens pay Watford £489,000 a year to play at Vicarage Road but the football club have stated on a number of occasions in the last 18 months that the sum needs to increase.

Had the Hornets not activated the break clause then Saracens could have remained at Watford’s ground until 2017 paying the same amount.

Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths told BBC Three Counties: "Wembley is owned by the Football Association so I don't think we'd ever play every match at Wembley.

"The Olympic Stadium's not suitable as a 25,000-seater stadium in a team sport."

He added: "There's a permanent athletics track which means you're quite far from the action.

"We're looking for a stadium that's smaller to be our home stadium, where we can develop some kind of scarcity."

PLANS TO REVAMP ST ANDREW'S STADIUM

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Birmingham City Football Club is planning a £20 million redevelopment of St Andrew’s stadium to push capacity to over 45,000.

The ambitious plans would see the 104-year-old ground add 15,000 extra seats and a new hotel - but the club has stated it depends on an increase in supporter attendances.

Club owner Carson Yeung has made it a long-term objective to improve the club’s infrastructure by redeveloping the Garrison Lane Stand, and having canvassed fans, the Hong Kong-based businessman is now contemplating increasing the St Andrew's capacity from 30,000 to 45,000.

Acting chairman Peter Pannu, said: "That’s why I call upon our fans to actively participate in making this dream a reality.

"Maybe come and fill the stadium and roar their support. There’s no point in building a 46,000-capacity stadium if we’re not going to fill it."

The Blues are also in talks with Birmingham City Council about the possibility of building a 55,000-60,000-capacity City of Birmingham Stadium, a concept first put forward in 2005.

"The alternative would be the building of a new stadium. I think it would be foolhardy to think about this," Pannu added.

"How we retain fans now and bring in new fans obviously depends upon the performance of the team - and quite often how they perform depends on the support they get, the noise they hear from the attending fans. So you can see the circular argument."

QATAR 2022 REVEALS PLANS OF STADIUM ISLAND

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Qatar has unveiled impressive plans of an 86,250-seater stadium on a purpose built island as part of their 2022 FIFA World Cup bid.

The brand stadium in New Lusail City would host both opening and final matches if Qatar wins the rights to stage the tournament.

H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, chairman of the bid team, said: “The stadium will inspire a new generation of regional and international sports venues, incorporating environmentally friendly cooling technologies to ensure the ideal conditions for players and spectators alike."

The venue is designed by Foster & Partners and reflects various elements of Qatari heritage including the traditional dhow sail.

It includes a fully retractable roof and the same environmentally friendly, solar cooling technologies that will ensure all of Qatar’s 12 open-air stadiums are cooled to around 27 degrees Centigrade.

The stadium will have shade across the entire pitch and will have the world’s largest cable-net roof.

"The design of the stadium provides fans with optimum views of the action in a cool and comfortable setting," added Khalifa Al Thani.

"Its beauty and ambition represent the pride and enthusiasm that we have displayed in our bid thus far and will continue to display until the day FIFA awards the 2022 World Cup and beyond."

All proposed venues are within an hour of central Doha enabling fans to see at least two games in a day.

If Qatar is awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup, construction of the Lusail Stadium will start in 2015 and be completed in 2019.

MAIDSTONE UNITED NEW STADIUM VOW

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Ryman Premier League side Maidstone United Football Club’s new owners have vowed to take the club back to playing in the town.

Maidstone Town has not played in a stadium of their own in the town for over 20 years.

Shareholder Oliver Ash and local businessman Terry Casey took control of the club from outgoing chairman Paul Bowden-Brown.
The 50-50 ownership deal will also see Bill Williams operate as chief executive.

Chairman Oliver Ash, said: "It’s an honour for me to take charge at Maidstone United and in particular to do so together with Terry Casey and Bill Williams. We all share the same ambition, which is to get the club playing (and winning) at our own ground as soon as possible.

"At the same time I cannot forget that we are taking over from Paul Bowden-Brown, who has been totally dedicated to the club over many years. He has been synonymous with Maidstone United.

"He ensured its survival when needed and then took it forward with passion. Now however it's up to us to try and rebuild again."

Lifelong supporter Terry Casey emphasised the importance of a new ground if the club is to move forward.

"I believe strongly that the only way for the club to survive and prosper is to return to play at our new ground in Maidstone as quickly as possible," he said.

"To achieve that target the club will, in addition to our own financial contributions, need to attract new investment. We are confident we can attract good people to join us as partners to help make that ambition a reality."

The club is set to name its managing committee is the coming week.

BRISTOL CITY TAKE STADIUM PLANS TO WESTMINSTER

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol City Football Club officials visited Westminster to meet MPs and discuss their new stadium project.

The club is battling against an Inspector's report which suggests the proposed site of the new stadium at Ashton Vale be declared a Town and Village Green.

Any final decision sits with Bristol City Council, but the club has been gathering evidence against the report and are now taking the battle to the House of Commons.

Club officials decided to meet with MPs to discuss the Inclosure and Commons Acts which allow people to apply for Town and Village Green status.

City chairman, Steve Lansdown said: “The rules which have seen the stadium held up are ridiculous.

"We've gone through all due process with the democratic planning process, had consultations with the public and we've got agreement from both sets of councils and suddenly this joker has been thrown onto the table.

"This project is a big project so we're drawing MPs' attention to the vagaries of this legislation and asking for it to be reviewed," he added.

A petition showing the support for the new stadium at Ashton Vale - and a battle against the Inspector's report - has already topped 17,000.

BRAZIL TO PLAY AT PRIDE PARK

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Derby County Football Club's Pride Park Stadium has been selected to host a prestigious international football friendly next week.

Five-time World Cup winners Brazil will grace the Pride Park playing surface against Ukraine on Monday 11 October.

Brazil have played a number of games in England in recent years, mainly at the Emirates, the home of Arsenal.

Derby County CEO Tom Glick told dcfc.co.uk: "This is a fantastic opportunity, we’re immensely proud and it’s a real opportunity to showcase the city of Derby and what a fantastic venue Pride Park Stadium is to the whole world."

Pride Park has a capacity of 33,597 and club officials are expecting a big attendance.

Councillor Harvey Jennings, Leader of Derby City Council, also told dcfc.co.uk: “This is really exciting news for football fans and for the city as a whole.

"To have world class players at Pride Park really puts the city on the footballing map and gives Derby residents a chance to see some international quality football on their doorstep."

SWINDON TO INVEST £20M IN COUNTY GROUND REDEVELOPMENT

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Swindon Town Football Club has announced a £20 million redevelopment of their home ground.

The plan could see the County Ground gain a new roof, similar to that of Bolton Wanderers’ Reebok Stadium, as well as increased capacity.

Nigel Bennett, a spokesman for the Swindon Town Supporters’ Club, said: "I think long-term fans have been looking forward to potential ground improvements for many years now and any move in that direction can be regarded as a positive from the fans’ perspective.

"As a fan and supporter we see a number of developments in other areas which has given those areas a real boost in terms of look and feel and one hopes Swindon and the community will embrace any potential development in this way.

The Robins currently play their home matches in front of a capacity 15,768 fans and hope they can increase this to 25,000.

Andrew Fitton, Swindon Town chairman, believes work on the development could start as early as May and said: "The next few weeks are going to be key. It’s an important site in Swindon so there is a lot that needs to be discussed.

"It will be bigger than the existing stadium. It’s designed for the Championship, we think that Swindon can sustain a Championship football team. In our time here we have seen crowds rise by 20 to 25 per cent. The big rise would come if we were in the Championship. We would plan for the future, plan for extra capacity."

NORTHERN IRELAND STADIUM CLOSER TO FUNDING

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The long awaited multi-million pound redevelopment of Casement Park, Windsor Park and Ravenhill is moving closer to approval by the Stormont Executive.

The £110 million plan will be presented to the Stormont Culture arts and leisure committee on Thursday.

The project includes demolishing GAA venue Casement Park in west Belfast and rebuilding a 40,000-seater stadium.

It also includes plans to redevelop Windsor Park increasing capacity to 18,000 along with rugby venue, Ravenhill further developed to accommodate 15,000 spectators.

Sports Minister Nelson McCausland has yet to agree the plans which are due to go before Finance Minister Sammy Wilson's department to get the rubber stamped approval by the Northern Ireland Executive.

SPURS REGISTER INTEREST IN OLYMPIC STADIUM

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has registered an interest in taking the brand new Olympic Stadium after London 2012.

The news comes as a surprise after the club announced the plans for their new stadium were approved by the Planning Committee of Haringey Council.

Daniel Levy, Spurs’ chairman, said in a club statement: “Clearly we are delighted with this unanimous decision and are grateful to all those who expressed such clear support for the plans.

"I should stress that there is still much work to be done. We shall continue to work with Haringey Council and the application will now be considered by the Mayor of London and referred to the Secretary of State."

The Northumberland Development Project will be built alongside the Spurs’ current stadium, White Hart Lane, and is expected to cost £400 million to complete.

Spurs’ new home is planned to have a capacity of 56,250 and also includes 200 homes, a 150-room hotel, a supermarket and a public square for community events such as ice skating or street markets.

Levy explained the club’s surprising decision to register interest in the Olympic Stadium: "It is only prudent and good management that we ensure that we investigate all possible options.

"We were informed by the Olympic Park Legacy Company that if we did not register an interest at this time, there would not be an opportunity at any future date.

"We have always maintained that we wouldn't undertake any project that could undermine the overall financial stability and future success of the club and this shall remain our guiding principle going forward and in determining our best option in the interests of the club and all its fans and stakeholders."

Spurs hope to move into the new stadium, whilst it’s partially-built, for the beginning of the 2012/13 season.

WSDL MOVE CLOSER TO NEW STADIUM

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Plans for delivering a new stadium for Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps took a major step forward as Wycombe Sports Developments Limited revealed the preferred location.

WDSL hope to build a new venue as well as an important sports village for the community at Wycombe Air Park at Booker.

Both clubs, through WDSL, have outlined their vision for a jointly operated stadium with a 17,500-20,000-seater capacity along with sports facility for the local community.

The sports village would include pitches for football and rugby, a racquets centre, cricket ground, five-a-side pitches and an athletics facility.

New commercial space, a hotel and connected residential development could also form part of the overall development alongside new facilities for education and training.

WSDL has launched a new website this week to explain the vision and how people can get involved.

Wycombe District Council is carrying out a public consultation to gather feedback on how the local community would like to see the proposals taken forward.

Steve Hayes, owner of Wycombe Wanderers and Wasps, told club website: "We launched a vision in March for how we want to develop new facilities that would be really exciting, would help us build a successful and sustainable future here in Wycombe and would provide tremendous benefits for the clubs, the fans and the community we serve.

"We are now clear on how we can best achieve that - by building a new community stadium and sports village at Wycombe Air Park at Booker."

WSDL has launched the website to ensure that supporters, stakeholders, the community and anyone with an interest in the proposals can find out more and get involved.

"This is about building something in Wycombe that we can be proud of, that will deliver a major boost to the community and which will create a positive and lasting legacy," added Hayes.

An initial decision on the proposed site will be made following public consultation by the local council.

MEADOW LANE CAPACITY INCREASE

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Notts County Football Club will now be able to play in front of 17,271 fans after Meadow Lane after gaining a green light by the council.

The capacity increase comes following a full review of the safety standards and procedures by Nottingham City Council.

County have been working closely with the council to improve the safety rating issued for Meadow Lane, which ultimately decides the number of fans allowed into the stadium on matchdays.

Notts County CEO, James Rodwell told club website: "There is more to raising safety standards than just procedures and ground improvements, it’s about earning the trust of the City Council and I think that this announcement represents a massive step forward with that."

The Council has agreed that the maximum allowable capacity should be increased to an S-Rating of 0.85 meaning the club can now entertain 17,271 supporters.

“Huge credit should go the club's Safety Officer, Brian Walton, who has been overseeing the work to improve the safety procedures at Meadow Lane, but I know that he is not satisfied with this latest increase and is determined to continue his hard work to get the club back up to full capacity, where we all feel we belong," Rodwell added.

"That will, hopefully, come with time, as the City Council, who issue the safety certificate, put their faith back in the club and I am delighted that the relationship between the two parties continues to go from strength to strength."

GREEN FUTURE FOR MILLENNIUM STADIUM

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is hoping to become the UK’s first green stadium.

The 74,500-seater venue is busy working towards British Standard accreditation which is recognised throughout the events industry.

Two exhibition arenas in London, Olympia and Earls Court already have the award, but the Cardiff venue would be the first stadium to be given the official green mark.

The £121 million venue has undergone further renovation work including installing a rainwater harvesting system for pitch irrigation, infra red controls on toilet flushing systems and water and energy meters.

Millennium Stadium manager, Gerry Toms, said: "While we have always considered our impact on the environment and have introduced systems such as rain and waste recycling, we are now looking at more ways to run the business more efficiently.

"Events at the stadium contribute more than £100m to the local economy each year and it is important that we keep attracting the biggest and best entertainment to Cardiff."

There have been widespread upgrades throughout the Millennium Stadium including innovative heating and ventilation systems.

Plans also include looking at alternative ways to produce electricity, such as photo voltaic cells and small wind turbines.

Stadium facilities manager Darren Crossman said the ground recycles all waste: “Our maintenance department has worked very hard to ensure that we have virtually no landfill waste.

"We produce between 350 and 500 tons of waste per year and all recyclable material is segregated for that purpose, leaving only residual waste that cannot be treated."

A decision by the British Standard green mark awarding body will monitor the venue’s sustainability and will offer a pre-assessment in December.

ALEXANDER STADIUM WANTS TO BE UK ATHLETICS BASE

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Birmingham City Council has approved a £12.25m revamp of Alexander Stadium in the hope it will become the new home of UK Athletics.

The funding will be used for a new 5,000-seater stand, increasing capacity to 12,800, office space for 250 people and improved leisure facilities for the public.

Alexander Stadium hopes to become a venue for UK Athletics' Diamond League, but it currently does not meet the minimum requirement of 15,000 seats.

Mike Whitby, the leader of the council, said: "We play host to gold medal hopefuls from the USA and Jamaica ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games and, to build on that success, we need the facilities required for the world's best athletes to compete here on a regular basis.

"That's exactly what this project will achieve and we're once again showing Birmingham has the commitment needed to be a significant player in world sport."

The proposals have been developed with Birchfield Harriers, the resident athletics club at the stadium.

Work will begin next month and is due to be open by June 2011.

NEW PITCH FOR SANTIAGO BERNABEU

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Real Madrid has begun replacing the playing surface at their famous stadium after outspoken criticism by manager Jose Mourinho.

Work at the Santiago Bernabeu commenced on Wednesday following comments from Mourinho comparing the playing surface as a "potato field."

Groundsmen started tearing up the grass straight after Madrid beat Espanyol to have it ready in time for their next home match against Deportivo La Coruna on 3 October.

A club spokesman said the pitch, which had patches of dry blotches, had been affected by three different types of fungus.

The new surface has arrived from Slovakia and will take 30 hours to install.

STADIUM TO BE NAMED AFTER DIDIER DROGBA

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

French club Levallois Sporting is set to name their stadium after Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba.

The French fourth division club announced that its new stadium will be named after Didier Drogba during the inauguration ceremony in the town of Levallois-Perret near Paris.

Drogba had played youth football with Levallois when he was 15, before moving to Le Mans in 1997.

The club said Drogba would be present at the ceremony.

FIRST POLISH EURO 2012 VENUE UNVEILED

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Stadium construction for UEFA EURO 2012 has reached a major landmark after Municipal Stadium Poznan was unveiled to the world’s media.

The 43,000-seater venue is the first of four Polish venues for the prestigious football competition.

Over 30,000 people attended the official ceremony that included a concert by British rock star Sting backed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Other performers included Polish band Indios Bravos and singer Anna Maria Jopek.

Ryszard Grobelny, mayor of Poznan, said: "We showed that the stadium can be also a place for exciting cultural events."

The Municipal Stadium Poznan fulfils all UEFA requirements and boasts two 116m² screens, among the biggest in Poland, and a state-of-the-art sound system.

It will be home to KS Warta Poznań and KKS Lech Poznań, who will play the stadium's first match when they welcome FC Salzburg in the UEFA Europa League on 30 September.

BRIGHT LIGHTS FOR MICHIGAN STADIUM

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The University of Michigan will spend $1.8 million to add permanent lights at 109,901-seater Michigan Stadium.

The school's board of regents approved the project Thursday and the new lights are expected to be ready before the Wolverines play Michigan State in December.

Athletic director Dave Brandon said: “The addition of permanent lights will improve the quality of viewing experience for our fans, we take great pride in having the best game day experience in college football, and this will further enhance that position.

"Short-term there will be a cost savings on the rental fee associated with bringing in lights for the Big Chill, and long-term it eliminates the need for lights to be brought in every time we play an afternoon football game."

Last year, school officials showed off a $226 million renovation that added luxury suites and club seats, but these improvements did not include lighting.

Michigan Stadium has been using temporary floodlights for games up until now.

BRISTOL CITY NEW STADIUM DEALT BLOW

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol City Football Club’s hopes of a new £92 million stadium at Ashton Vale have been dashed after the site was recommended for use as a town and village green.

Despite the setback the Robins remain confident they can still achieve their goal of building a 30,000-seater stadium to replace Ashton Gate.

Chief executive Colin Sexstone told the club's official website: "We are naturally disappointed to hear about the report. However, it is only once Bristol City Council has formulated its own recommendation that we will be able to assess what the future holds for the stadium project.

"Bristol City Council assures us that it is doing everything in its power to find a way forward on this and until it makes its decision; it's business as usual for us."

City hope the proposed complex, that includes a hotel, restaurant and housing, will improve their chances of becoming a host city should England be successful in their bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

"The Council wants to see a new regional stadium on this site as much as we do and we have every confidence we can achieve that goal together," Sexstone added.

"Moreover, Bristol City Council accepts the report has far wider implications than just the stadium and thus it is essential there is a hasty resolution to the matter.

"Registering a 42-acre development site as a Town and Village Green will have a major effect on the whole of South Bristol as it is likely to completely stifle any future investment and employment opportunities."

The final decision will be made by Bristol City Council.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE NEW STADIUM WILL GO AHEAD

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Pilgrims have announced their new £50million stadium will become a reality even if they fail in a bid to become a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

However executive director Keith Todd admits sorting out the club's finances is proving a much harder task than first thought.

He said the aim of separating the stadium from the football club was to set up a structure to raise £50million for the new, enlarged Home Park.

This deal would see the club have priority to play in the stadium, currently used only for 23 home league games and a handful of home cup games each season.

It means the stadium would benefit from additional events held at Home Park, whose new playing surface is designed to take extra wear and tear.

Todd said: "The primary impact of the World Cup is on the timing of phases of building. We are planning to start Phase 1 as early as possible next year, but subsequent phases will depend on the success of the stadium as a venue, and the success of the club."

"The club will also not have to find the capital to build the new stadium. The aim is to have a debt-free club, although that may not be immediate, and then operate the club within its means," he added.

The first phase will see the capacity rise to 27,000 and subsequent phases will raise the venue to a 46,000-seater stadium in time for the 2014/15 should England’s and Plymouth’s World Cup 2018 bid be successful.

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Work is already underway at Allen High School's $59.6 million new stadium project.

The brand new 18,000-seater venue will feature a sunken-bowl design, video scoreboard, weight room, wrestling practice room and even an indoor area for golf practice in bad weather.

Gary Stocker, president of the Allen school board said: "It meets the needs and desires of our community. We're a one-high-school town. Everyone's an Eagle in Allen."

Planning for a new stadium began in 1995, but officials chose to make school construction a priority for the fast-growing district.

In May 2009, voters approved a $119 million bond package that included the stadium, a fine arts auditorium for the high school and a district service centre for maintenance, student nutrition and transportation.

FEYENOORD LOOK TO FUTURE ENERGY NEUTRAL STADIUM

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Feyenoord Football Club has unveiled plans for Europe’s most environmentally-friendly stadium to be built in Rotterdam.

Scientists and engineers from energy company Eneco believe ultra-modern techniques could achieve a CO2 emissions reduction of almost 60 per cent.

If wind energy can be generated the stadium, which will replace the historic De Kuip venue which hosted the Euro 2000 Final, could even become energy neutral.

The nearby Meuse river can contribute to cooling facilities while solar panel technology is improving all the time.

Stadium director Jan van Merwijk said: “Our new stadium should become one of the state-of –the-art stadiums in Europe.

"Not only will it have an important position with respect to capacity and prestige, but by utilising the possibilities for increased sustainability we also demonstrate our social commitment in cooperation with the surrounding area," he added.

The brand new stadium features predominantly in the Holland/Belgium bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup finals and will go ahead whatever the final decision in December later this year.

Club officials are planning a 100,000-plus capacity which would make the new stadium the largest in Europe.

Research into lighting, pitch construction, restaurants and fan zones compared the potential of the new Feyenoord home with data for the Allianz Arena in Munich.

Rens Knegt, director of Eneco Shared Energy Solutions, added: “Our research was deliberately not limited to the Netherlands.

"We have visited several stadiums in Europe to include as much experience as possible. This not only applies to the technology to be used, but also to the way in which all the parties involved cooperate."

England, Russia and Japan are competing with Holland/Belgium to win host rights in 2018.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES SELECT STADIUM ARCHITECT

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

San Jose Earthquakes has announced 360 Architecture will serve as the architect of the club’s new football stadium.

The new 18,000-seater venue will be located near the San Jose International airport, not far from the Earthquakes' current home at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara.

It will be constructed privately and is scheduled to open in 2012, despite the club’s owner Lew Wolff still searching for sponsors to foot the bill, estimated to be $40-60 million.

"During the past few years, 360 Architecture has worked closely with us as we have studied design alternatives and analysed the feasibility of a new ballpark,” said Wolff.

Wolf also owns Oakland A's and has hired the same firm to look into a new stadium for the Major League Baseball side.

"Under the leadership of Brad Schrock, the firm has demonstrated the ability to be an excellent steward for the two projects as they continue to move forward,” Wolff added.

360 Architecture has designed a number of stadiums throughout the United States, most notably the New Meadowlands Stadium, home of the National Football League's New York Jets and Giants.

The firm is also the lead architect for Basra Sports City in Iraq, a complex that will host the 2013 Gulf Cup of Nations tournament and includes a 65,000-seater main stadium.

Brad Schrock, from 360 Architecture, said: "We are excited to bring to each project our passion for an innovative design that achieves success for the team and delivers an exceptional experience for their fans."

MICHIGAN STADIUM SET TO REOPEN

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A $226 million revamp at Michigan Stadium is to be unveiled on Saturday as the NFL season begins to take off.

The 80-year-old home of the Michigan football team underwent extensive redevelopment after growing concerns over safety and accessibility.

After three years of work the stadium is ready to open its gates for the Wolverines to take on Connecticut this weekend.

Michigan Stadium was first built in 1927 and has only undergone minor improvements, twice adding seats to the bowl while changing the playing surface on numerous occasions.

Bill Martin, Michigan Athletic director, said: “We didn’t renovate Michigan Stadium to build 5,000 premium seats.

"That was a means to an end. By building 5,000 premium seats, the revenue paid to fix the bowl for everyone else."

Capacity has increased to 109,901 meaning the stadium has stayed true to its nickname as 'The Big House.'

Acoustic experts believe the new design will make the stadium 30 percent louder.

Martin said: "It was so important that every fan gets a better game day experience and that they said, 'Wow, am I proud of this.'"

"The Big House is still The Big House, and it’s a better house," he added.

NEW STAND PLANNED FOR LONDON ROAD

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Peterborough City Council has announced plans to re-develop London Road that will see the stadium turn into an all-seater venue.

The council bought London Road from previous landlords in an £8 million deal earlier this year.

Plans include a new stand at the Moys End of the stadium which is scheduled to be completed by mid-2013.

Andrew Edwards, from Peterborough City Council, told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: “People are fed up with talking. We need to start delivery of the ground.”

The project will be financed through a central government grant and private finance and will include a new further education facility.

“The development has to be aimed towards the community and financially sustainable. We couldn't have the project becoming a burden on the taxpayer,” added Edwards.

The council will submit plans before Christmas with demolition work on the current stand starting in the summer of 2011.

Construction is expected to be completed by August 2012, although the timescale is currently provisional.

Peterborough United Football Club chief executive Bob Syms said: “I would like to thank the City Council and its business partners for all the help and support they have given in making this Phase One project happen.

"The football club will be involved with the new partners in an ongoing capacity that will be of benefit to the community and hopefully our supporters as we move forward."

Check out the latest plans on the club website.

STADIUM DEMOLISHED AS BRAZIL BUILDS FOR 2014 WORLD CUP

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Fonte Nova stadium was demolished on Sunday as Brazil prepares to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Experts used 700 kilograms of explosives to destroy the upper stands of the stadium and the 138 pillars that supported the roof in just 15 seconds.

All that was left standing after the implosion was the seating in VIP boxes, which will be demolished with excavators instead of explosives to avoid risks to nearby buildings.

Fonte Nova, in the north eastern city of Salvador, has been closed since November 2007 after stands collapsed during a match killing seven people.

A new $330 million venue, called The Bahia Arena, will be built on the former site once the rubble has been cleared.

The new ground will have a capacity of 51,000 and will host also be used for the football preliminaries of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

AMI STADIUM CLOSED DUE TO EARTHQUAKE

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The $60 million redevelopment at AMI Stadium has ground to a halt as engineers inspect the structure for damage.

The venue has been closed following Saturday's earthquake in New Zealand, which registered 7.1 on the Richter scale.

Further assessments are needed before the ground, which is set to host five Rugby World Cup and two quarterfinals, can be given the all-clear.

AMI Stadium chief executive Bryan Pearson said: "There is a lot of damage and breakage to fixtures and fittings. But that is relatively minor stuff... lights, glassware, ornaments, paintings, mirrors and that sort of stuff.

"'But in terms of major structural damage, at this stage from our preliminary assessment, there is no indication yet that there is an issue.

"Obviously though, we will need to complete further assessments over the coming days."

The earthquake struck nearly nine hours after thousands of rugby fans had headed to AMI Stadium for Friday night's match.

"The modern buildings in Christchurch have suffered very little damage and that is a testament to the quality of the building code," Pearson added.

SEAGULLS FANS LEGACY AT NEW STADIUM

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Brighton and Hove Albion fans have being given the chance to leave a lasting personal legacy at the American Express Community Stadium.

The club is offering supporters the opportunity to purchase individual granite heritage stones, including their own unique engraved message.

Brighton chief executive and stadium project director, Martin Perry, explained: “Fans have always asked if there would be an opportunity like this, for fans to make their mark on the stadium.

"The scheme gives supporters and sponsors the chance to show their own support for the club; while I know many other fans will want to pay tribute to loved ones."

Albion are also creating a special dedicated area for all those supporters who donated £250 or more to the Alive & Kicking appeal in 2004 and providing these special granite stones free of charge to mark their support.

Perry added: "Originally we planned to put names on seats, but that would have meant that people's generosity would only have been seen by a handful of people inside the stadium.

"By creating a special area outside the main entrance to the stadium, everybody will get to see the names of those who reached out to support the club during a very difficult time."

The American Express Community Stadium is due to open for the 2011/2012 season.

FULL CAPACITY GREEN LIGHT FOR B2NET

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Chesterfield Football Club has been given the go ahead for 100% capacity crowds of 10,379 at the b2net stadium after the Safety Advisory Group gave the green light.

The Spireites two pre-season games against Derby County (attendance 7,550) and Barnsley (attendance 3,757) were both carefully monitored and the football club has been commended on the success of their safety procedures at both games.

Philip Taylor, b2net stadium director, said: "The combination of a brand new stadium, which meets all the latest regulations, and the experience of existing match day staff enabled the Safety Advisory Group to immediately give the go ahead for 100% capacity."

He added: "I want to place on record the club's appreciation for the hard work put in by our stadium manager Colin Nellist and his team, with assistance from the Safety Advisory Group, in ensuring this quick and successful outcome after only a couple of weeks of the stadium opening."

NEW ALLEN HIGH STADIUM TO COST $59M

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A brand new 18,000-seater stadium for Allen High School is set to cost $59.6 million, which is just within budget agreed by Allen Independent School District voters last year.

The new high school football stadium will include 4,500 parking spaces, a video scoreboard and a two level press box with film deck and observation deck.

It will also include a weight room costing $1 million.

Tim Carroll, the public information director, said: "The cost may appear high to other parts of the country, but it compares to what people are doing here.

"It becomes an economy of scale. This facility will be used by the entire community."

The stadium will be built in a horseshoe-fashioned sunken bowl with wide concourses. The pitch will be an artificial surface.

Allen High School is one of the largest schools in Texas State and has an 800-plus member marching band, one of the largest in the country.

"The community supports our kids in everything: Football, baseball, basketball, band," Allen coach Tom Westerberg said. "It isn't just athletics. They really support us with everything we do.

"The new stadium has been discussed for a number of years and the bond was passed. We are very excited to get this project done and get in there and play."

Construction will begin 16 September with the venue scheduled to open in August 2012.

MARACANA STADIUM BEGINS RENOVATION FOR BRAZIL 2014

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Renovation work is officially underway at the iconic Maracana Stadium in preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

A number of seating sections were removed from the Rio de Janeiro venue on Tuesday, kick-starting the work for football's biggest showcase in four years.

The world famous stadium is expected to host the World Cup final, will not be immediately closed, but will see a reduced capacity during the renovation.

As per usual, more than 80,000 fans crammed into the Maracana for a Brazilian league match between Fluminense and Vasco on Sunday.

The stadium was originally built for the 1950 World Cup and is likely to be used for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

DUNDEE UNITED IN STADIA SWITCH

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Dundee United Football Club's Europa League clash with AEK Athens has been moved to a venue with a capacity of only 11,700.

The Terrors switched stadiums after concerns over the 80,000-capacity Olympic Stadium’s pitch.

The match will now go ahead tomorrow night at the Nea Smyrni in Athens, which is home to Greek Super League side Panionios and meets UEFA standards.

AEK Athens currently lead the fixture 1-0 after victory in the first leg, but faced the possibility of being thrown out of the tournament if they didn't find an alternative stadium in time.

A club spokesman said: "We have been contacted by AEK Athens to advise that Thursday night's Europa tie will be switched to an alternative venue in Athens, due to an unplayable pitch in the Olympic Stadium."

Dundee United expect to take 600 fans to Greece and chairman Stephen Thomson was furious at the debacle over the hosting of the second leg, with the winners going into the group stages.

Sources said AEK originally tried to switch the game to another city more than 200 miles away but UEFA told them it had to be played in Athens.

FIFA TEAM ASSESS ENGLAND 2018 BID

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A six-man FIFA inspection team has begun a four-day visit to assess England’s World Cup bid.

The team will meet deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg MP and England manager Fabio Capello, amongst other high profile bid delegates.

England 2018, Chief Executive, Andy Anson, said: "We are delighted to welcome Harold Mayne-Nicholls and his FIFA Inspection team to Wembley Stadium on the first day of their visit.

"We are looking forward to bringing our proposals to life by providing the inspectors with opportunities to experience some of our facilities first-hand and to take part in a range of presentations involving football people, from greats of the game through to community coaches and volunteers.

"We believe our Bid Book represents a strong proposal to FIFA that will focus on what it can do for football all over the world."

Wembley Stadium will be the first football venue visited by FIFA inspectors. The team will be given a tour of the stadium, before watching a community coaching session alongside England manager, Fabio Capello, on the pitch.

DEMOLITION AT BOULEVARD STADIUM

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bulldozers are set to pull down Hull Football Club's historic former ground.

The Boulevard stadium has fallen into disrepair since the rugby club switched to its new home at the KC Stadium in 2003.

The venue became victim to extensive vandalism and council officers called time on the historic venue, declaring it unsafe and approving demolition.

Hull Football Club played at the stadium for 107 years and many supporters will be sad to see teh venue destroyed.

Pete Allen, chairman of fans' group FC Voices, told BBC: “They will be removing what had been, since 1895, the home of the Airlie Birds and the spiritual home of hundreds of thousands of Hull supporters.

"Progress is inevitable, but it is important that in the future the heritage, location and origins of the famous club are remembered."

Mr Allen said the group would work closely with the council to ensure there was a lasting memorial to the stadium.

The original foundation stones from the stadium, which were laid by councillors when the Boulevard was built, will be used in a memorial.

The rugby posts are being removed, restored and donated to West Hull Football Rugby Club.

PSYCHIC OCTOPUS JOINS ENGLAND 2018 WORLD CUP BID

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Paul the psychic octopus has become the latest celebrity to support England's bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018.

The two-year-old cephalopod became a global star for predicting results at the World Cup in South Africa.

He has signed a book and a number of merchandise deals, including a possible film deal.

Former England star John Barnes told BBC: "Paul becoming an official ambassador is tremendous for the bid campaign."

The famous octopus was hatched at Weymouth Sea Life Centre in 2008 hit the headlines during the summer for his football predictions.

Paul correctly predicted the results of all seven of Germany's games - including the 4-1 demolition of England for a place in the quarter-finals and also the Spain-Netherlands final.

FIFA WRAPS UP RUSSIA BID

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

FIFA concluded a four-day visit to Russia to assess its bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

Russia was warned that stadium construction and infrastructure improvements must begin immediately if the bid is successful.

The country vows to build all facilities from scratch other than the proposed venue for the final, Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

A FIFA inspection committee arrived earlier in the week visiting four potential host cities of St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan and Sochi.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told FIFA on Tuesday that Russia will waive visa requirements for participants if it wins hosting rights, an idea the delegation warmly received.

Russia has axed visa requirements for sports events before, allowing Manchester United and Chelsea fans at the 2008 Champions League final to show their tickets at passport control.

FIFA will decide the winning bid in December 2010.

DONS SUBMIT PLANS FOR NEW STADIUM

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A planning application for Aberdeen Football Club's new home ground has been lodged with the city council.

The Dons hope to build a 21,000-seater stadium and plan to spend £40 million in the construction at Loriston Loch in the south of the city.

Duncan Fraser, chief executive officer of AFC said: "After much hard work and consultation, we are delighted to submit a planning application for a stadium that will inspire our fans and the wider community and be a major new attraction for Aberdeen City and Shire.

"The exciting design will create a modern, atmospheric stadium that offers the ultimate match-day experience and signifies the clear ambitions of the club."

Increased pitch dimensions will allow the club to attract further sporting events and concerts.

The pitch will also be fully enclosed on all sides and the continuous bowl and roof design. The whole facility will be lit by a red glow at night.

The stadium will have 26 high level hospitality boxes, hospitality suites and a supporter's bar over-looking the fans walkway. Plans also include a club shop, ticket office, museum and cafe.

A public consultation will consider the application.

BIDDING BEGINS FOR OLYMPIC STADIUM

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Formal bidding for the long term lease of the Olympic Stadium has begun.

The final decision will be made by the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) which said over 100 companies are interested in the east London arena.

West Ham Football Club and AEG, which runs the O2 Arena, are reported to be in the running.

The £537 million venue will be the show piece to the London 2012 games which is set to complete in 2011.

According to OPLC guidelines the successful bidder must preserve the stadium as a distinctive physical symbol and support the area’s regeneration.

The 80,000-seater stadium was designed to give future operators the option of reducing its capacity.

A shortlist will be selected by the OPLC once the bidding period ends on 30 September.

Margaret Ford, chairman of the OPLC, said: "The stadium is at the heart of the Olympic Park and securing the most appropriate solution is crucial to our long-term aspirations for the area.

"We have generated a great deal of interest by working with the market to understand how they would use this iconic venue.

"I am delighted that organisations with a serious interest all want a mixed usage - this is in-line with our promise to meet the bid commitments, and our vision for the Stadium to be a focal point for sport and community use," she added.

OPLC aims to select an anchor tenant by the end of the financial year.

ELIOR WINS £18M CONTRACT AT NEW BRIGHTON STADIUM

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Brighton and Hove Football Club has agreed an £18 million deal with Elior to provide catering at their brand new stadium which opens next year.

The £93 million American Express Community Stadium has is due to open in June 2011, after two and half years of contruction.

Elior will be responsible for the new stadium’s eight hospitality suites, which can accommodate 2,400 people.

Malcolm Fox, Elior's sales manager, said: “Historically stadiums existed purely as football grounds, until clubs realised there is a lot of business to be gained in the 300-plus non-match days in a year and the grounds had to be adapted to become conference and banqueting facilities.

"But the American Express Community Stadium is a conference and banqueting centre that will become a fantastic football stadium when there's a match," he added.

"We've already had numerous enquiries to book it for the launch month."

The Seagulls have been without a permanent home since 1993 when the former board sold the Goldstone Ground, to developers, with no new stadium arranged.

Since then Brighton and Hove Albion have been tenants at Gillingham's Prestfield Stadium in Kent before moving to Brighton's Withdean Stadium.

$1.6 BILLION MEADOWLANDS HOSTS FIRST NFL MATCH

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

New York Jets and New York Giants will meet for their opening pre-season match at their new stadium tomorrow.

It will be the first NFL game at the $1.6 billion Meadowlands Stadium which has taken three years to build.

The 82,500-seat stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey has already sold out in anticipation of the enthralling match between the two rivals.

Jets Quarter-back Mark Sanchez said: “I’m excited to see how the fans react, to see how the locker room is on a game day, to get out on the field and see that stadium.

“It looks great with nobody in it. I think it will look even better with people. It will be a big time rivalry game -- us against the Giants. That will be fun.”

It is the first time since 1983 that the Jets and Giants have met for their opening preseason game.

Giants quarterback, Eli Manning, said: “I’m definitely excited about being in the new stadium. We haven’t even been in our own locker room yet.”

Both teams have identical locker rooms in size and signage can be remotely changed to suit either the Jets and Giants.

The stadium has hosted other events from college lacrosse tournaments and soccer exhibitions to concerts but this will be the first NFL game.

SARACENS RETURN TO WEMBLEY

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Saracens Rugby Club has announced they will play two more matches at Wembley Stadium.

The London rugby club will play both their Heineken Cup match against Leinster on Saturday 16 October (kick-off: 17h45) and their AVIVA Premiership match against Wasps on Boxing Day, Sunday 26 December, at the 90,000-seater stadium.

Saracens chairman, Nigel Wray, said: "Saracens at Wembley has quickly become synonymous with a great family day out including great rugby and great entertainment for a great price at a great venue.

“We are delighted to take these two outstanding matches to Wembley, and we look forward to two more fantastic occasions."

The Saracens usually play their home games at Vicarage Road.

TOFFEES UNVEIL STADIUM PLANS

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Everton Football Club has announced plans for a state of the art retail and administration development adjacent to the Goodison Park stadium.

The planned building, on the current site of the Club Everton lounge at the Park End of the stadium, will house a retail store, museum, cafe, corporate hospitality lounge and office space.

Club chairman Bill Kenwright told club website: “We want to give the fans something and I think it looks terrific.

"Our partners have been phenomenal in helping us with this one, but it doesn't mean the search is not going on for a new stadium within the Liverpool city boundary!"

The four-floor, £9 million development will also free up space within Goodison, meaning that capacity for corporate hospitality inside the stadium itself can be expanded.

Chief executive Robert Elstone said that the new development would offer no net cost to the club stating it is already cash positive.

"Even if a new stadium scheme came to light very quickly it would take a number of years to realise," he added.

"Our discussions with Liverpool City Council have genuinely been more positive but the crux of the matter is we need substantial enabling support and the council see that as being difficult and hard to deliver.

"If I'm managing expectations, in the current climate it is hard to foresee a new stadium in the short-term or medium-term but it doesn't mean we will not continue to pursue it vigorously and enthusiastically."

The Toffees are confident planning permission will be given for the new building, which will sit within the Goodison Park footprint.

The project could be operational by summer 2011.

IRELAND MAKE DEBUT AT AVIVA STADIUM

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Republic of Ireland's debut at the Aviva Stadium ended in defeat after a 1-0 loss to Argentina.

It was Ireland’s first match at the new £350m Aviva Stadium on the old Lansdowne Road site which was host to some outstanding sporting events over the years.

50,000 fans packed into the brand new arena which took just three years to build but the Boys in Green couldn’t muster a result.

CRUSADERS TO INVEST IN NEW £25M INDOOR VENUE

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Crusaders and Newington are set to announce a £25million investment plan for a new stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Despite a recent Special EU Programmes Body decision to reject a funding application clubs but they remain committed to sharing a new arena.

This has lead to both clubs looking at other options which could include the possibility of sharing an indoor stadium.

Mark Langhammer, leading member of the Giants Park steering committee, said: “One of the things we will be looking at is whether the shared stadium could also be Ireland’s first indoor football stadium.

"With the expertise of local professionals and stadia viability specialists, ongoing political support, the support of a wide range of ambassadors from the business, legal, media and community worlds, our own hard work and with the support of the people of north Belfast, together we’ll find a way to make this work."

Both clubs were aware the ambitious project at North Foreshore could encounter difficulty but they are convinced their stadium dream can still become a reality.

Newington treasurer Brian Kearney said "The stadium project is still a reality. After much discussion and a detailed appraisal procedure, the two clubs have put together what is a realistic new proposal for review.

"A political consensus has ensured that land on the North Foreshore in Belfast will be available for the shared stadium and sports village, subject to two requirements.

"The first requirement states that the clubs secure the capital investment to design, plan and build it. Secondly, the business plan must demonstrate that it will be a viable concern. So it’s back to the drawing board to revise the sports village master plan."

An indoor football stadium would be the first of its kind in Ireland.

AVIVA STADIUM HOSTS FIRST GAME

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The brand new Aviva Stadium hosted its first match yesterday in dramatic fashion.

A capacity crowd filled the 50,000-seater stadium witnessing a Leinster and Ulster side cruise to a 68-0 victory over a Munster and Connacht selection.

The €410 million venue in Dublin is built on the old Lansdowne Road site which hosted Irish rugby and football since 1878.

Football fans will get the chance to sample the new stadium when an Airtricity League XI plays a Manchester Utd selection next Wednesday.

The following week, the Irish national football team will christen Aviva Stadium as they take on Argentina, in a friendly international ahead of the European qualifiers later in 2010.

CASTLEFORD TIGERS AGREE LAND DEAL FOR NEW STADIUM

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Castleford Tigers has signed an agreement that guarantees land for a proposed new multimillion pound stadium.

The rugby league club currently uses The Jungle stadium in Castleford but hope to begin construction of a state of the art facility as soon as early 2011.

Waystone Ltd has already secured planning consent at the 335-acre site, which is currently home to Xscape and the Designer Outlet Village.

Stuart McLoughlin, Waystone managing director, said: "We are delighted to support the Tigers on their road to secure a new home for a Super League future.

"Glasshoughton attracts 3.5 million visitors each year. With major infrastructure, such as an adjacent railway station and direct motorway access, already in place it provides the ideal location for a new stadium facility."

Architects Ramsden and Partners have been instructed to draw up detailed plans to support the reserved matters planning application.

In the longer term Waystone hopes to add further leisure facilities to the stadium complex, enhancing the area to the local community.

Tigers chief executive, Richard Wright, said: "This Agreement secures the 20 acre site at Glasshoughton on behalf of the Club and is another step forward in delivering the stadium.

"Our next objective is to complete the detailed design and this process is now well underway."

The Tigers hope construction could start as early as spring 2011.

TRUST STADIUM ARENA INSTALLS NEW LIGHTING

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Trust Stadium Arena has installed New Zealand’s first based-hinged lighting columns as part of an iconic new floodlighting scheme.

The new lighting system has already been officially tested by the New Zealand All Blacks during a special training session earlier this month.

Simon Wickham, stadium chief executive, said: “The floodlights signify a commitment of the Waitakere City Stadium Trust to develop iconic versatile facilities appropriate for our community.

“It’s great to have a New Zealand first using the latest lighting and construction technology to complete this project on budget and debt free.”

The base hinged masts, designed by Abacus, lower to ground level by use of a hydraulic tool for easy access and ongoing maintenance, ensuring no risk of working at height.

It means there is no need to drive access vehicles over the pitch, which ensures the surface is in top condition for the match.

Abacus’ export director, John Anthony, said: “New Zealand is committed to developing health and safety measures and is introducing, wherever possible, ways of making maintenance safer and easier.

“Our base-hinged masts not only do just that, but also offer a competitive solution since there is no need to provide expensive and ugly fixed ladders to access the masts.

“There is also no need for the repetitive hiring of expensive hydraulic platforms to gain access to a rigid structure.”

Floodlights direct light onto the playing area without overspill or light pollution which was an essential requirement on this project as the stadium is situated within a residential area.

Trust Stadium Arena will be used for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and is set to host the All Blacks, Australia and England.

CUMBES ANGRY OVER OLD TRAFFORD TEST SNUB

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Lancashire chairman Jim Cumbes has hit out at the England and Wales Cricket Board for stripping Old Trafford of Test matches.

The Manchester venue will not host a Test until at least 2012 and Cumbes claims the decision has badly affected the North-West of England.

Cumbes is confident the current £32 million redevelopment of Old Trafford will allow Lancashire to compete again with the likes of Headingley, Lord’s and Trent Bridge.

He said: “Hopefully now we can go and press for Test matches again.

“The fact is there are too any Test grounds and not enough Tests. As much as we want Tests back here, there is already too much cricket, so what’s the answer?”

Test matches have been handed to the new-and-improved Rose Bowl and Swalec Stadium which makes the Old Trafford refurbishment even more crucial.

“We have no Tests next year but from 2012 onwards we will look to be back on the iteniary: we’d like to stage an Ashes Test in 2013,” Cumbes added.

“The problem is the ECB are not mindful of the fact the North-West is a big region with a huge cricket following and those people want to see Test stars.”

DOUGLAS BOWL REVAMP IS UNDERWAY

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A £3 million redevelopment at the King George V Bowl stadium in Douglas has begun.

The 3,000-seater stadium is being refurbished ready for the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games which will be held on the Isle of Man.

The Bowl will host the opening ceremony and the Rugby Sevens.

A new synthetic pitch and seating will be installed as part of the refurbishment.

Project director, Mike Ball, said: "It's going to be broader, it's going to have more covering, right the way along one side and into the corners, that will give us a fraction under 1,000 covered seats.

"The pitch area will be slightly narrower, as we're going to push it forward to get better viewing lines.

"The synthetic surface is approved by the International Rugby Board for international competition. It is approved by FIFA for football competition, up to and including European Championship level," he added.

Other events will be held at the Villa Marina and The National Sports Centre.

BRISTOL CITY’S NEW STADIUM PLANS HALTED

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol City Football Club’s plans for a brand new stadium have taken a major hit after councillors refused permission for a new Sainsbury's superstore at Ashton Gate.

The Robins hoped to sell their existing stadium at Ashton Gate to the supermarket chain and use the money to help fund a new £92 million venue at a different site.

Club officials and Sainsbury's are now considering whether to appeal against last night's dramatic decision.

A club spokesman said: “Last night's decision will, at the very least, delay the stadium plans, and does indeed call the viability of a new regional stadium into question.

“We remain ambitious as a football club, both on and off the pitch, which, at the moment, is more than we feel able to say for our city's planners.

“However ambitious we might be though, we cannot move forward without the funds that the sale of Ashton Gate will generate,” he added.

Sainsbury’s wanted to move its existing store off Winterstoke Road to the site of City's ground.

But after a four-hour meeting at the Council House, members of the Development Control committee turned down the plan much to the bemusement of both parties.

“We had worked extremely hard with Bristol City Council planning officers and felt that we had addressed all planning issues,” continued the club spokesman.

“We deeply regret their decision to ignore their officers' professional advice, as well as the advice of independent planning experts.”

The new stadium is crucial to Bristol City’s hopes of becoming a host city for England's bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

VUVUZELAS BANNED FROM EIGHT PREMIER LEAGUE STADIUMS

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Eight Premier League football stadiums have banned vuvuzelas for the 2010/11 season.

The vuvuzela generated great media attention throughout the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, as the continual drone of the horn resulted in unexpected criticism.

Tottenham Hotspur was first to ban the instrument but since then Arsenal, Birmingham City, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool and West Ham United have joined veto.

A Spurs spokesman said: "We are concerned that the presence of the instruments within the stadium pose unnecessary risks and could impact on the ability of all supporters to hear any emergency safety announcements.

"We are very proud of the fantastic atmosphere that our supporters produce organically at White Hart Lane and we are all very much looking forward to this continuing into the forthcoming season."

North London rivals Arsenal decided to ban the horn only two hours after the announcement. A Gunners statement read: "Further to their hugely debated involvement at this summer’s World Cup Finals in South Africa, Arsenal Football Club has decided to forbid the use of vuvuzelas within Emirates Stadium with immediate effect.

"The decision has been taken to ensure the enjoyment and safety of supporters on match days, which is of paramount importance to the club."

So far the Premier League has refused to issue a widespread ban leaving individual clubs to decide on their own policy.

Interestingly Chelsea, Manchester City and newly promoted Blackpool have stated they have no plans to ban the vuvuzela, with the remaining eight clubs yet undecided the future of the horn looks to have an uncertain future in English top flight football.

EMIRATES STADIUM TO BE RENAMED

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Arsenal Football Club has announced the stands at Emirates Stadium are to be re-named for the start of the new Premier League season.

The Gunners have decided to re-introduce the names of the stands from Arsenal's old stadium, Highbury.

“These developments are part of the process currently taking place at the stadium called ‘Arsenalisation',” a club statement read.

“It will reflect the Club's rich history is being celebrated through illustrating key players and moments through many initiatives, which are turning Emirates Stadium into a very visible stronghold of all things Arsenal.”

From the first home Premier League match of the 2010/2011 season against Blackpool on Saturday 21 August, the stands at Emirates Stadium will be known as: Clock End, North Bank, East Stand and West Stand.

The existing quadrant colours on all maps and directional signage will be changed in time for the Blackpool match.

The new Clock End, which is at the south of the stadium, opposite the new North Bank, will be the home for a new clock inside Emirates Stadium from next season.

Supporters will be able to see the new clock in the stadium from the Emirates Cup, but the Club is planning an ‘official welcoming' for the new clock before the Blackpool match to commemorate this historic moment.

SAINTS’ NEW STADIUM CLOSER TO REALITY

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

St Helens RFLC’s dream of moving into a new purpose-built stadium is being realised after the letting of the construction contract.

For the last three years development partner Langtree, St Helens Council, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and Saints have ran through complex legal and financial foundations which will see the club leave their historic GPW Recruitment Stadium.

The 18,000 capacity stadium will have corporate hospitality facilities, meeting rooms and conference space for up to 1,600 delegates for match day hospitality.

Eamonn McManus, Saints chairman, said: “This is an incredibly proud day for me as chairman of this great Club. Our supporters will now see their club’s new home rise out of this site.

“This stadium is fitting for a club of the tradition of Saints but it also signals a new era for us and demonstrates that we are a forward looking club with our eyes fixed on the next generation of great Saints supporters and players.

"I would urge the fans and the town to get fully behind the club and its team in the season ahead as it is the most important year in our history and will lay the foundation for our future."

The project also includes a 140,000 sq ft Tesco Extra store which will form part of the stadium construction contract, new public realm and new pedestrian links into St Helens town centre.

Langtree managing director, John Downes, said: “The letting of the contract is the final part of the process and people will now see construction activity begin on site. With the stadium at its centre this development will deliver the wholesale regeneration of this brownfield site.

“Following our acquisition of the site over 10 years ago and close liaison between all partners through a detailed planning and tender process, it is very satisfying to see the project finally become a reality.”

The new stadium will be built by Barr Construction which was selected following an open tender process which started in June 2009.

An exhibition of the stadium plans will be on view at the GPW Recruitment Stadium and you see more at the stadium www.saintsnewstadium.com.

SPIREITES TO TRAIN AT NEW STADIUM

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Chesterfield Football Club will train at their new b2net Stadium for the first time this week.

The new 10,300 all-seater venue at Whittington Moor was officially handed over to the club last week.

Spireites manager John Sheridan is delighted with the new ground and said: "The pitch and stadium are beautiful. We just need to get used to it as quick as possible.

“I've told them the size of pitch I want and I think that is all sorted out now."

The club kick off their npower League 2 campaign at the b2net Stadium to Barnet on 7th August before hosting Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup only three days later.

Sheridan added: "I was pleased we got the first game at home and the cup game is a great draw. We will be playing against a very good team, one of the fancied teams in the Championship, so it is a real test for us."

VANCOUVER CANUCKS ANNOUNCES NEW NAMING RIGHTS DEAL

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Vancouver Canucks has announced a new sponsorship and naming rights deal for their new stadium.

The NHL side has signed a 10-year contract with Rogers Communications to rename the 18,810-seat downtown rink, Rogers Arena.

Victor de Bonis, Canucks chief operating officer, said: “As an organization we are committed to building relationships with partners that have the same corporate and community values as we do.

“Rogers is an industry leader and innovator focused on enhancing customer experiences and fostering community partnerships.

“Our Arena is where we engage our loyal fans and host our most important partners; we are thrilled to have Rogers as an integral partner in our business.”

The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Nadir Mohamed, Rogers Communication president and chief executive officer, said: “We look forward to partnering with the Canucks to engage fans and to connect Canadians to what matters most, including their passion for sports and hockey.”

The stadium name change marks a premature end to the previous sponsorship deal which still had five years left on the original 20-year naming rights deal with General Motors.

General Motors reportedly spent $20 million for the exclusive naming rights in 1995 and the recent change comes a year after the auto giant was in bankruptcy.

However GM Canada spokesman Tony LaRocca said the premature end of the contract is not directly tied to restructuring of the company, which was saved in 2009 by emergency loans from the Canadian and United States governments.

BLACKPOOL CHANGE VENUES FOR FIRST PREMIER LEAGUE GAME

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Blackpool Football Club has switched their first ever Premier League from a home encounter against Wigan Athletic to an away match after concerns over their stadium.

The Seasiders opted for the change in fixture in case upgrades on the East Stand at Bloomfield Road are not completed by Saturday 14 August.

"This is the only Blackpool fixture that will be affected," said a Premier League statement.

"This decision will give both clubs and fans maximum time to plan accordingly."

Blackpool clinched promotion to the top flight for the first time since 1971 after winning the Championship Play-Off against Cardiff last season.

The club had requested an away to kick off their campaign but were drawn to play Wigan at home.

However, the Premier League decided to switch the match as work continues on improving Bloomfield Road and increasing the capacity up to 17,600.

"The board felt it was important to take this decision as early as possible if there was any potential for Blackpool FC's stadium not being ready for the first match of the season," said the Premier League statement.

"The board would like to put on record its thanks to both Wigan Athletic FC and Wigan RL [rugby league] whose flexibility in the circumstances has been extremely helpful."

The Seasiders will travel to Arsenal on 21 August before their first home game of the season against Fulham on 28 August.

A club spokesperson said: “We can confirm this is the only fixture that will be affected and the first home game of the 2010/11 season will be when Fulham visit the Fylde Coast on August Bank Holiday Saturday 28 August.

“We would like to thank the Premier League, Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors for their help and flexibility on this situation.”

Blackpool’s home fixture against Wigan is now scheduled for Saturday 16 April 2011.

ENGLAND UNDER-21S AT ASHTON GATE

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol City Football Club will host an England Under-21 international friendly at Ashton Gate in August.

The match against Uzbekistan will be played on Tuesday 10th August and will be the Under-21s' fourth visit to Bristol.

England’s last visit to Ashton Gate came in August 2007 when Stuart Pearce's side held Romania 1-1 in front of more than 18,500 fans.

The other two previous encounters at Ashton Gate both ended in victories; against Italy 1-0 in February 1997 and over Turkey by three goals to nil back in 1985.

City's managing director Doug Harman told club website: "We're absolutely delighted to be welcoming the Under-21s back to Ashton Gate.

"Stuart Pearce brought his team here three years ago and was thrilled with the pitch, hospitality and facilities on offer.

"A lot of hard work has gone into gaining another showpiece fixture and hopefully the Bristol public will turn out in force just like they did three years ago."

BRAZIL TO SPEND $500M ON MARACANA STADIUM

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

As the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa draws to a close, supporters and organisers will soon be looking to the next tournament in four years time, in Brazil.

Brazil is set to spend $500 million renovating Rio’s legendary Maracana Stadium for the 2014 tournament.

Secretary of Sports and Tourism, Marcia Lins, said: “The start of renovation work at the stadium was planned for March 2010 but it will only close completely in September.”

The stadium was the largest in the world when it was inaugurated in 1950 for the FIFA World Cup and the renovations are expected to be completed by December 2012.

The Maracana is classified as an historic monument so the facade will be maintained but the officials say a roof will be added to the five-storey oval stadium. The stadium’s capacity will however drop to 83,000 from its current 88,000 while other stadia designated for matches would be put in order.

“Before, stadiums were practically just large pitches but today they are multi-disciplined arenas,” said Lins.

She added that the project also included the regeneration of the entire northern area of the city.

The Official Emblem for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil was unveiled at the Convention Centre in Sandton, where Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Brazil 2014 Organising Committee and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter were in attendance, amongst a host of high profile guests.

The next major milestone on the road to the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the preliminary draw to be conducted in Brazil in July 2011.

CSU UPGRADES SCOREBOARDS AT MOBY ARENA

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Colorado State University has announced $1 million upgrade plans for Moby Arena.

CSU want to install a centre-court scoreboard with four-panel video screens, along with two auxiliary statistics panels at the arena.

The current scoreboards were installed in 1995 and are considered to be out of date when compared with modern sporting venues.

Paul Kowalczyk, CSU athletic director, said: "We are extremely pleased to be able to install this new video scoreboard system.

"It is a significant and long-overdue step for our program."

The project is expected to take two weeks and is scheduled to debut 16 October, when the Rams' volleyball team faces New Mexico.

Volleyball coach, Tom Hilbert, said: "Moby Arena is our house, and in our house we need a big-time TV entertainment system.

"We already had the best home volleyball court in the Mountain West. This makes it even better."

The scoreboards will have the capabilities of showing instant replay, highlights and digital statistics. The auxiliary statistic panels will show player numbers, points and fouls.

HANDOVER OF SPIREITES NEW STADIUM

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Chesterfield Football Club are set to move into their brand new £13million 10,300-seater b2net stadium on Monday 5 July 2010.

This handover means the Spireites can begin preparations for the final fit-out of the stadium in anticipation for the new season.

The club still need to install IT systems for data communications, ticketing, and retail tills, furniture for the offices, conference and banqueting suites, stocking out the club shop, plus dealing with any final snagging work.

Chesterfield FC’s chief executive, Carol Wilby, said: “This is another key milestone for the club and one which means everyone’s dream of moving into a new football stadium is about to be realised very soon.”

The club’s old ground at Saltergate will continue to be used for the foreseeable future by the Chesterfield FC Community Trust for its Saturday Morning Club and Summer Soccer Camp on the pitch during the school holidays.

Admission details for forthcoming games will be announced once the club is operational at the b2net stadium.

O2 CENTRE INSTALLS NEW SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The O2 Centre has installed a state of the art surveillance system to help monitor security at one of the most popular venues in UK.

The venue instructed Avigilon to deliver a High Definition Surveillance System to monitor traffic at Greenwich Peninsula, a new district in London surrounding the world-class music, sports, and entertainment complex.

The system has also been installed at indigO2, a 2,350 capacity live music venue inside The O2.

Gilbert Yule, facilities management consultant said: "With the new system installed, we are confident that we can achieve full coverage of the entire area surrounding The O2 and capture the image detail required for better overall public security at this world-class venue.

"Using the Avigilon HD Surveillance System, operators can easily manage images to review footage and pinpoint specific details for positive identification," he added.

Operators at The O2 Operational Control Room manage the new system which has HD cameras ranging from 1 to 16 megapixels around the exterior of the venue to monitor high-traffic areas and capture license plate and facial details, and at all entrances at indigO2 to identify incoming ticket holders.

A network video recorder can store up to 31 days of continuous surveillance video and additional workstations were set up at the Greenwich Peninsula Business Centre and the nearby Transport for London building.

Dr. Lou Marciani, director of the National Centre for Spectator Sports Safety and Security at the University of Southern Mississippi, said: "To be truly effective, surveillance video must deliver detailed images that provide the indisputable and primary evidence needed to identify and resolve incidents.

“The Avigilon HD Surveillance System will help improve public safety of this world-class music, sports, and entertainment complex."

The entire system is expandable and can grow as more entertainment and leisure venues are added throughout the development.

GOLD COAST STADIUM REDEVELOPMENT

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

MakMax has been awarded the fabric roofing contract for the $144.2 million Gold Coast Stadium Redevelopment at Carrara, Queensland.

The stadium will boast a glass fibre membrane roof that will span a total of 16,600 square metres providing cover for the East, West and Southern perimeter of the structure.

The 25,000-seater capacity stadium is expected to be completed in mid 2011.

The facility is being built to accommodate an AFL oval, ICC-compliant cricket oval, provision to allow future installation of IAAF Athletics field and FIFA World Cup soccer field including all the associated corporate, media and player facilities.

MakMax managing director, Bernie Neylan, said: “We’re involved in many large stadium projects around the world such as the $290 million Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in South Africa for the FIFA World Cup, as well as Ranchi Stadium in India.

“We’re installing the membrane roof at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.”

MakMax is a specialist tensile membrane design, fabrication and construction company.

Offering in house design, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities MakMax produces stadium structures for the world market.

MORECAMBE NEW STADIUM ON TRACK

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Morecambe Football Club is putting the finishing touches to their new Globe Arena home ready for its official unveiling on 25th July.

The new venue will have a capacity of just over 6,800 and includes a mixture of seating and terracing.

The Shrimps commercial director, Mark Dixon, said: "We've probably got more than 200 guys on site now.

"Three weeks on Saturday is when we open the doors to the fans."

The first row of seating is being installed and the club expect the Globe Arena to be fully functional in time to host Bolton Wanderers for the first ever match there on 28 July.

He added: "All the trades are here. The joiners, the painters and decorators. The guys are here to fit the seats and the terracing is almost there.

"Any major project like this takes a bit of getting used to. The guys are very confident, there is a big gang of lads here now and we're three weeks away."

The Globe Arena includes corporate facilities, bar, club shop, gym and function rooms.

There are also facilities for a full size seven-a-side and five-a-side football which can also be used for netball and hockey.

PATRIOT PLACE SHOWS POTENTIAL OF SOLAR ENERGY

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The New England Patriots 1.3-million square-foot stadium complex demonstrates the potential of solar energy in stadium management.

Patriot Place is a brand new shopping and entertainment complex adjacent to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

The photovoltaic system installation, which began in October 2009, will generate around 525 kilowatts of solar power or about one-third the electricity for the complex.

The system includes 2800 crystalline silicon solar panels (205 W each) from locally based, Evergreen Solar.

The panels have anti-reflective glass, which delivers around three per cent more electricity than panels with standard glass. In addition, the panels maintain up to four per cent higher output than most other crystalline silicon panels under hot conditions.

Constellation Energy's Projects & Services Group estimate the PV system will generate more than 12 million kilowatt hours of electricity over 20 years.

Read more here.

NEW DRAINAGE SYSTEM AT HERB PARKER STADIUM

A new drainage system is to be installed at Herb Parker Stadium at Minot State University, North Dakota.

The system is part of a $2.8 million upgrade which will also include new stadium lighting and plying surface.

Minot State University, director of facilities, Roger Kluck, believes the new system will improve the playing surface dramatically and revealed it has already been field tested thanks to the recent weather.

He said: "The whole field with this turf-type system is one big drain field, so when we had the big rain event, as we all know we had some places up to four inches of rain, even on the field here, and it collected the water and it drained it out the southwest corner, and it actually let the water into the city system.”

The new drainage system should be completed in the next few weeks, and then Field Turf installation will begin in early July 2010.

Read more here.

MAN CITY INSTALL NEW DIGITAL SIGNAGE

Manchester City Football Club has installed a brand new digital signage system within the superstore and administration offices.

The club hopes the new Unity system, provided by Digital Media Projects, will revolutionise the way it communicates with fans and employees.

Digital Media Projects CEO, Nicholas Fearnley, said: “We were not only able to meet the Clubs exacting requirements, but surpass them.

“With Unity, you can change what is being screened instantly, stream videos in high-definition, track sales and responses to promotions. It’s a very powerful marketing tool. It can also be operated from anywhere in the world, via a laptop or even an Iphone.”

Read more here.

WORK BEGINS ON LONDON 2012 LAST VENUE

Construction is underway on the final permanent venue for London 2012.

Initial ground work started in the spring and work is now underway on building the permanent sporting facilities, with the foundations due to be completed by the end of the summer.

It is encouraging news for Olympic officials as the prestigious event is set to begin in just two years.

John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), said: "The start of work on Eton Manor is a significant milestone, the start of construction on the last permanent venue on the Olympic Park.

"It will play a key role throughout the Games and leave behind a permanent facility that will benefit the local community for years to come.”

Read more here.

LATEST ROUNDUP OF STADIUM NEWS

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Here is a roundup of the latest stadium technology developments over the last few days:

NEW STADIUM LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY

Topanga Technologies has designed a plasma bulb that halves power and maintenance costs for stadium lighting.

The core technology revolves around using radio frequency waves to excite molecules trapped in a clear chamber, which is about as big as a breath mint and looks like something from a Christmas tree.

After thirty seconds, the small bulb emits enough light to illuminate several rooms. The bulbs operate under a supersized version of chemical excitation that animates fluorescent lights.

Read more here.

NEW PROGRAM TO HELP STADIUM DISASTER MANAGEMENT

A new breed of simulation software called SportEvac will help stadium officials plan for the worst.

It will be a boost for disaster management planning as it gives venue staff a virtual practice of what they can do to solve evacuation crises.

Lou Marciani of NCS4, the project’s lead investigator, said: “The SportEvac developers have involved first responders and stadium security personnel in all phases of development to make the tabletops as realistic as possible and, therefore, as useful as possible in training.

"SportEvac is in the alpha stage. We plan on doing three pilot tests — at the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Tennessee and the United States Military Academy."

Read more here.

BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR NEW STADIUM LIGHTS

The Homer-Center Wildcats has approved a contract with Plavchak Construction Company, to install new stadium lighting.

The contract will see new poles and light fixtures at the stadium costing $162,400 and is set to be completed by the end of August.

Read more here.

SPIREITE HAVEN IN BRAMPTON

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Fans of Chesterfield Football Club will soon be able to relax and enjoy a pint of real ale in their own little bit of Saltergate in the Brampton area of Chesterfield.

The Brampton Brewery owned Rose and Crown is refurbishing its secluded beer garden with memorabilia from the Recreation Ground.

The real ale pub situated on Old Road is laying turf from the Saltergate pitch, installing seats from the centre stand and providing access through matchday turnstiles.

Brampton Brewery managing director Chris Radford said: "It's a unique opportunity to recreate our own little tribute to the Recreation Ground and all the memories it holds for so many Chesterfield fans.

"It will give our real ale customers their very own Spireite haven in Brampton."

The club will be moving into their brand new b2net stadium for the start of the 2010/11 season.

BULLS NEW STAND GETS GO AHEAD

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hereford United Football Club has been given the green light by the local council to begin developments at Edgar Street.

Herefordshire Council has granted full planning for the new Blackfriars Stand and the club will now be pushing ahead with the rebuilding plan.

The stand which will cost around £1.3 million will seat just over 1,600 people and will bring the ground capacity to nearly 6,000.

Tenders for the demolition of the old stand are still being processed and the club's architects are now busy drawing up a schedule for the work at Edgar Street.

Bulls' vice-chairman, Tim Russon, said: "What with this news and the appointment of Simon Davey this is turning into a good news week."

JAPAN PLANS HIGH-TECH WORLD CUP 2022

Mon, 31 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Japan hopes to convince FIFA it should host the 2022 World Cup by proposing an elaborate high-tech bid.

The nation, which co-hosted the 2002 World Cup, plans to make use of 200 high definition cameras to film matches and transmit across the world to be shown on giant 3D screens.

The Japanese are also considering systems to project 3D representations of players onto empty pitches in other countries so that fans can enjoy a virtual football match.

Microphones will be installed under the pitch at the World Cup to ensure that the whole atmosphere is captured.

Jun Murai, professor at Keio University, said: "You may say the required technology is like a dream and smacks of a sci-fi movie,

"But it is important to see how technology will evolve within 12 years. I think it will be realised or become usable by around 2016."

Football fans will use digital tickets to get into matches and use GPS to find their way around stadiums.

In accordance with the global green trend, Japan also hopes to make use of the energy made by solar panels on the stadium roof and also from spectators, as cheering and stamping which will be used to partly power the communications system.

WEMBLEY PITCH CONSULTANTS RESIGN

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Wembley Stadium has announced the resignation of Sports Turf Research Institute after a controversial 13 months.

The company has been responsible for the playing surface since May 2009 and has been heavily criticised in recent months.

Wembley has brought in Desso Sports Systems to lay a new pitch for a trial period between major events this summer.

After a Green Day concert on June 19 there are no concerts at Wembley and officials believe the seasonal climatic conditions are optimal for embedding such a surface.

The new pitch will be used for the first time at The FA Community Shield match between Chelsea and Manchester United on Sunday 8 August.

Roger Maslin, Wembley managing director, said: "The pitch is at the heart of the stadium and football is our number one priority.‪

“However, Wembley Stadium is a multi-use venue and developing our event calendar with a range of football, rugby, sports and entertainment events is key to the success of our business plan.‪

"The crucial balance for us is to maintain a good quality playing surface for football, whilst at the same time fulfilling our business plan commitments and maintaining our heritage as a multi-event venue."

The Desso pitch will be in place from June throughout the 2010/11 football season, which concludes with the Football League Championship Final at Wembley.

Should England be successful in its bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the pitch will be used entirely for football in that calendar year through until the completion of the tournament.

SEAGULLS AGREE NAMING RIGHTS DEAL FOR NEW STADIUM

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club has announced a naming rights deal for their new stadium which is still under construction.

The long-awaited 22,500-capacity venue will be known as the American Express Community Stadium when it is due to open for the 2011/12 season.

Brighton chairman, Tony Bloom, told www.seagulls.co.uk: "This is a landmark deal. We are very proud of our fabulous new stadium and to have such a prestigious global brand prepared to put its name to it shows just how good it is."

The stadium will be used to promote community engagement in the local area, by enabling young people and adults to learn new skills and gain qualifications which will be of long-term benefit to the local community and economy.

Michael Edwards, American Express senior vice president, said: "We are delighted to be part of this collaboration with the Club on what will undoubtedly be a major destination for Brighton & Hove.

"As the city's largest private-sector employer, this partnership underscores our long term commitment to the area and builds upon our thirty-year heritage of supporting local community initiatives".

Construction of the stadium began in December 2008 and is due to complete at the end of May 2011, costing £95million.

FIFA TO VISIT BID NATIONS FOR 2018/2022 WORLD CUP

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A six strong team of FIFA delegates will begin touring bid nations for the 2018/2022 World Cup next month.

Aspiring host nations view the visit as a real opportunity to impress FIFA first hand and will look maximise the four day tour.

FIFA will kick off their visit in Japan on July 19, moving onto North Korea and then Australia. All three countries are only bidding for the 2022 World Cup.

The tour then returns back to Europe visiting co-host bid nations Belgium and Netherlands in August.

Delegates will then continue around visiting Russia, England and then other co-host bid nations Spain and Portugal.

September will see FIFA check out the bid proposal from USA.

The final aspect of the tour will end in Qatar on 17 September, who is only bidding for the 2022 competition.

Stadia directory will be reviewing each bid nation over the coming weeks.

The full itinerary of FIFA's delegation is below:

July 19-22: Japan (bidding for 2022 only)

July 22-25: Korea Republic (bidding for 2022 only)

July 26-29: Australia (bidding for 2022 only)

August 9-12: Belgium and Netherlands (bidding for 2018 and 2022)

August 16-19: Russia (bidding for 2018 and 2022)

August 23-26: England (bidding for 2018 and 2022)

August 30 - September 2: Spain and Portugal (bidding for 2018 and 2022)

September 6-9: United States of America (bidding for 2018 and 2022)

September 13-17: Qatar (bidding for 2022 only)

LATICS’ NEW-GROUND VERDICT

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Oldham Athletic Football Club look set to press on with a new stadium after being given another green light by Oldham Council.

The Latics received written confirmation from the Charity Commission that land in Failsworth is held on charitable trust giving a real boost to their plans.

Alan Hardy, Oldham Athletic Chief Executive said: "The club is pleased that the Charity Commission has made the ruling to register this land as a charitable trust.

"We are hopeful that Oldham Council can now reach agreement with local residents for a suitable alternative site and we now have some important meetings ourselves with the council to make progress with our stadium plans.

"The stadium development is vital to the long-term future of Oldham Athletic."

The Commission has been reviewing evidence produced by the Council concerning land to the North of the Lancaster Club, Failsworth, including the former Lower Memorial Park area.

Officers formally wrote to request that an application be processed to register this land as a charitable trust and this proposal has now been accepted.

The Council is consulting the public for its views on whether the charitable status should be retained on that land or whether the original intentions of the gift - to provide a recreational ground - would be more appropriate being transferred to an alternative site which is fit for purpose.

Officers have identified six potential replacement sites if a transfer is in the best interests of the trust.

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for regeneration and environment, said: "This is welcome news from the Charity Commission and we are pleased they have agreed to Oldham Council's request to register this plot of land as a charitable trust."

"This means our current public consultation is now all the more important - and I would urge residents to go along, have a look at the six proposed sites, and give us their opinions."

GOODISON PARK NOMINATED FOR STADIUM AWARD

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Everton Football Club has been nominated in the Stadium Business Awards 2010.

The Toffees’ stadium department are up for the 'unsung hero' award for their behind the scenes work at Goodison Park.

Head of stadium operations at Everton, Alan Bowen, said: "We are delighted to have been nominated for this prestigious award, which recognises the hard work undertaken by all the stadium staff at Goodison Park."

The new awards are the first to recognise achievements in the stadium industry, covering all aspects of the international stadium and sports venue sector including individual staff, events and venues.

The winners will be announced during the Stadium Business Summit at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin on 17th June 2010.

There were almost 1,000 nominations in all categories and Everton's stadium team will be up against Real Madrid groundsman Paul Burgess and Paula Street from caterers Lindley Group.

The eventual winners will be decided by an independent panel of industry figures.

SPIREITES MEMORABILIA AUCTION

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Chesterfield Football Club is to host a special auction of Saltergate memorabilia at the b2net Stadium.

139 years of memories will go under the hammer at an auction on the pitch this Sunday 13 June 2010 from 12 noon.

Items likely to be included are club signage, corner flags, goal posts, goal nets, dug outs, dressing room items, seats, turnstiles, signed shirts, even the boardroom table and much, much more.

Entry is by catalogue priced £3 available from the Spireites Club Shop and viewing is from 9.30am until 11.30am.

Chesterfield's director of marketing, Alan Stevenson, said: "This unique auction is a chance for supporters to be amongst the bidders to proudly own a bit of Saltergate history."

The auction is part of the final ceremony before the Spireites move into their new b2net stadium for the 2010/2011 season.

Their official opening match will be a friendly against local rivals Derby County on 24 July 2010.

SAO PAULO STADIUM DROPPED FOR BRAZIL 2014

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Brazil has dropped Sao Paulo's Morumbi Stadium as a venue for the 2014 FIFA World Cup because the city failed to provide financial guarantees.

The deadline set by the Local Organizing Committee was 14 May 2010 so the decision earlier today has not come as a real shock.

A FIFA statement said: “The Committee of the Cidty of São Paulo sent recently to the LOC a sixth project, which will not be examined as it has been received long after the deadline.

“Therefore, the Cicero Pompeu Toledo Stadium, commonly known as Morumbi, is excluded from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.”

The 50-year-old Morumbi Stadium was scheduled for a $135 million refurbishment to create a 68,000-seater venue for the tournament in four years time.

The ground was picked to host group stage and second-round games as well as a semi-final, but the project had been plagued by delays and criticized by FIFA.

Brazil won the bid to host the FIFA 2014 World Cup in October 2007 after FIFA declared the race open only to South American countries.

As it turned out Brazil was the only candidate, although it already was a strong favourite even before Colombia pulled out several months before the final selection decision.

VUVUZELAS WILL NOT BE BANNED FROM STADIUMS

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

World Cup organisers say they will not ban vuvuzelas from stadiums in South Africa, even though there have been numerous complaints.

Both players and fans have berated the sound of the plastic horn which has been compared to the buzz of a swarm of bees.

Despite the criticism a World Cup spokesman insisted vuvuzelas are "ingrained in the history of South Africa" and will remain throughout the tournament.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter also joined the debate on social networking site Twitter.

"I have always said that Africa has a different rhythm, a different sound.

"I don't see banning the music traditions of fans in their own country. Would you want to see a ban on the fan traditions in your country?"

The BBC on the other hand are considering removing the vuvuzela sound from its coverage of the World Cup to appease viewers as 545 people complained.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "If the vuvuzela continues to impact on audience enjoyment, we will look at what other options we can take to reduce the volume further.”

A recent survey found that the sound emitted by a vuvuzela was the equivalent to 127 decibels - louder than a drum's 122 decibels or a referee's whistle at 121.8 decibels.

16 PEOPLE INJURED IN SOUTH AFRICAN STADIUM

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Sixteen people, including two policemen, have been injured following a rush outside a South African ground holding a World Cup warm-up game.

Numerous supporters fell under a push of people outside the Makhulong Stadium in Johannesburg.

The World Cup warm-up friendly between Nigeria and North Korea was free to enter for fans with many more than the 10,000 capacity turning up.

Makhulong Stadium is not one of the eight World Cup venues but the tragedy has raised concerns over fan safety with the actual tournament starting on Friday.

The game itself finished 3-1 to Nigeria, with Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Victor Obinna Nsofor and Obafemi Martins scoring for the Super Eagles, while Jong Hyok Cha was on target for North Korea.

The spotlight will be firmly fixed upon the opening fixture between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City.

The incidents have provided the wrong sort of build-up to the World Cup that the South African authorities would have wanted.

FWP ARCHITECTS TO TRANSFORM COUNTY GROUND

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A firm of architects which led Preston North End’s stadium redevelopment has landed a deal to transform Swindon Town Football Club’s ground.

The Frank Whittle Partnership will use the Deepdale stadium as the blueprint to transform Swindon Town’s County Ground.

It has been hired by the League One club to draw up a business plan for the phased redevelopment of the stadium with all but one side being rebuilt.

FWP managing partner David Robinson, said: “You need 24-7 activity around a ground with other companies and organisations using it and rent being paid to the club.

“Quite rightly, Swindon Town do not want to saddle themselves with large debts through this redevelopment and so need an income of regular rent and we will help them find that.

The architect firm has been involved in a number of sporting stadiums including Doncaster Racecourse and Welford Road, the home of rugby club Leicester Tigers.

Swindon Town chief executive Nick Watkins said the firm’s experience in the field of sports stadia was pivotal in his club’s decision.

He said: “They were not the only people who had done that, but they had done it in a style which was akin to what we are thinking of doing here, this is a modest programme where cost is crucial.”

The Robins narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship after losing the League One Playoff Final to Millwall last month.

IMTECH TO PROVIDE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS IN EURO 2012 STADIA

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Imtech has been chosen to provide technology solutions for Wroclaw Stadium in an 18 million euro deal.

The stadium, which is currently being built in Poland, will host matches for the UEFA Euro 2012 Football Championships.

The European technical services provider has been involved with high-tech technical solutions in the Polish National Stadium in Warsaw and the Polish PGE Baltic Arena in Gdansk.

René van der Bruggen, CEO Imtech said: “Imtech will now be responsible for the technical solutions in the three most important Euro 2012 stadiums.

“In addition, we are also providing the sustainable technology in the Olympic Stadium now being built in London and the high-tech fire safety systems in Sweden’s new national football stadium, the Swedbank Arena, currently under construction in Stockholm.”

The company will provide a combination of information and communication technology, electrical and mechanical solutions.

Euro 2012 will take place in Poland and Ukraine as both nations co-host the tournament.

The 42,771-seater venue is expected to be completed in June 2011, costing a total of $218 million.

RICOH ARENA TO HOST FOOTBALL FOR LONDON 2012

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Ricoh Arena has been selected as the new Midlands venue to host football matches for the 2012 Olympics.

The 33,000-seater stadium is normally the home of Coventry City Football Club and was chosen by the London 2012 Organising Committee.

The decision means that all venues are now in place for the Olympics.

Seb Coe, LOCOG chair, said: “The City of Coventry Stadium is a great venue, and will be an excellent host for Football matches for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“It is ideally located in the centre of England and the city already has strong links with London 2012.

“I congratulate Coventry and extend my thanks to all the Midlands clubs who applied to be a venue. All were a very good standard, and this shows the excellent standards of football stadia in this country.”

The Stadium replaces Villa Park which was ruled out because of planned building development work.

Daniel Gidney, chief executive of the Ricoh Arena, said: “We are looking forward enormously to staging Olympic football in Coventry.

“This is a great honour and we are proud to be involved with the Games.

“We have worked hard over the last few months to prepare our bid and I would like to thank all our partners and organisations involved for their support.”

The venue will be temporarily re-named the City of Coventry Stadium for the London 2012 Olympic Games and all other branding will be removed at Games time.

STOKE CITY DELAY EXPANSION OF BRITANNIA STADIUM

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Stoke City Football Club has confirmed they will not start work to increase the capacity at the Britannia Stadium in the immediate future.

Potters’ director Richard Smith said: "We've made no secret of the fact that we've been looking into the feasibility of expanding the stadium.

"At the moment, we have no immediate plans to expand the stadium but we are giving it due consideration."

The Britannia Stadium has a capacity of 28,384 and was opened in 1997.

Following the club’s promotion to the Premier League in 2008, the total capacity has been reduced to 27,598 due to segregation rules.

Stoke also announced the development of the club's training ground is on schedule and should be complete by the start of the season in August.

Smith added: "We're progressing well since we had the cold winter weather earlier in the year," he said. "It's mainly the finishing inside the building that needs to be done.

"We plan to have an official opening later on in the year."

FRANCE TO HOST EURO 2016

Sat, 29 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

UEFA has named France as the hosts of the 2016 European Championship.

France picked up the most votes by UEFA's executive committee to host the prestigious tournament, ahead of Italy and narrowly beating Turkey.

EURO 2016 will be the first time in history to feature 24 countries, as an additional eight countries have been invited to compete for the illustrious trophy.

It will be the first time France has hosted a major tournament since the FIFA World Cup in 1998.

France beat Turkey by just a single vote after Italy were eliminated in the first round of voting.

President of the French Football Federation, Jean-Pierre Escalettes, said: "This is a beautiful day for us. It is a moment of intense emotion to know that in 2016 France will welcome European football and will fulfil its promises.

"What counts for us is to have the full confidence of UEFA and this trust will not be betrayed.

“We also understand the frustration of Italy and Turkey - particularly Turkey, who lost by a single vote after bidding for a third time."

France will hope they can repeat the success the last time they hosted the European Championship, when they won the tournament in 1984, by a side captained by current UEFA president Michel Platini.

They are expected to renovate and increase the capacity of eight existing venues across the country and will also build four new stadiums to replace existing grounds to accommodate the extra eight teams.

WOLVES PLAN TO REDEVELOP MOLINEUX STADIUM

Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club has revealed plans to transform Molineux Stadium for the 2014/15 season.

The plans include complete revamp of the ground, taking capacity from 30,000 to 50,000.

In the first phase, over a three-year period, the North and East stands will be demolished and new two-tier stands created.

Later phases will see a new top-tier added to the South stand and a possible capacity increase in the West stand, bringing the stadium capacity to a total of 50,000.

Jez Moxey, Wolves chief executive, said: "These plans represent an exciting vision for the redevelopment of Molineux.

"Redeveloping Molineux will vastly improve supporters' facilities and provide a significant boost to the local economy at a time when the country is attempting to come out of a painful recession.

“By bringing fans much closer to the pitch they will not only get the most fantastic view of the football action but it will also dramatically boost the atmosphere which, we hope, will give the team a true home advantage when playing at Molineux.”

The design depicts a 21st Century Molineux that respects the club's heritage, including the gold and black colours.

During the rebuilding of Molineux its capacity will be significantly reduced.

Moxey added: "I do think we've got a special club and when you're rebuilding a stadium you have to have respect for the heritage of the club.

"I think we are doing that with the designs of the stadium whilst also contributing something which will be a great legacy for the club.

"We've got a wonderful stadium here but there is a need to develop it further.

"We need to grow as a club and it's a big commitment we are making but we have great confidence in our ability to develop."

Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers first moved to Molineux in 1889 from their original Dudley Road ground where they began playing in 1887.

The club will submit a more detailed planning application later in the summer.

LIVINGSTON RENAME STADIUM

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Livingston Football Club has announced a major new sponsorship deal, which has seen the club's Almondvale Stadium given a brand new name.

The 10,122-seater stadium will now be known as 'The Braidwood Motor Company Stadium' until the end of the 2012/13 season.

The new deal is worth a five-figure sum to Livingston over the three year period of the sponsorship.

Charles Burnett, Livingston FC's commercial director said: “Braidwood have been good friends of the club for a number of years now and we're delighted that they have chosen to strengthen their association with us through this new sponsorship.

“We are working hard to built relationships with West Lothian business, and as well as being an important deal from a financial perspective, we see it as a big vote of confidence from the local community as we look to build a successful and sustainable future.”

The Braidwood Motor Company is a family run business based in Pumpherston, on the outskirts of Livingston new town.

Braidwood's Neil Hogarth, a keen Livingston supporter, said: “We're very pleased to be putting our name to a stadium we have enjoyed visiting on many occasions in the past.

“From a commercial perspective, it's a great opportunity to raise awareness of our business at a local and national level and we wish Livingston good luck and continued success at The Braidwood Motor Company Stadium over the next three years.”

The stadium is not new to naming rights deals and the new deal will bring in much needed revenue to the Scottish Second Division club.

BLACKPOOL TO BEGIN WORK ON EAST STAND

Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Newly promoted Blackpool look set to begin construction on a new East Stand at Bloomfield Road.

The Seasiders are keen to cash in on their new Premier League status by boosting their current capacity of 12,555.

The club already have planning permission for 16,000-seater stadium but look unlikely to complete any redevelopment before the start of the season in less than three months.

Blackpool chairman, Karl Oyston, said "We'd like to build a permanent stand and have it completed by the end of the season.

"I've already had meetings with builders, architects and developers, but I don't think it's feasible to get a stand built before the start of the season.

"It's going to be a very challenging building project to implement in a living-working stadium. We will have a permanent/temporary mix, but building work will begin as soon as is realistically possible.”

Blackpool clinched promotion to the lucrative big time after beating Cardiff City at Wembley in the Championship play-off on Sunday.

Top league status means Blackpool will have to upgrade existing stadium facilities to meet strict guidelines set up by the Premier League.

Bloomfield Road will need to update medical and media facilities ahead of the new season.

The club were given the go ahead to revamp the stadium by Blackpool Council in 2001 but at present there is only a temporary stand on the east side of the ground.

SPURS AMEND NEW STADIUM PLANS

Thu, 20 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has been ordered to resubmit plans for their new stadium after failing to incorporate listed property.

The Premier League club’s plans were rejected by Haringey Council as they did not include the restoration of local historic buildings including grade II listed Warmington House.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: "We have looked again at the overall masterplan and design of buildings in the south, as well as the impact on Tottenham High Road.

“We have used this opportunity to make further design improvements to the scheme.

"Schemes of this magnitude involve much time and effort by many parties and we are extremely grateful to everyone who has taken part in the consultation process to date.

“There is undoubtedly huge support for the development and for retaining the Club in the Borough. Following the consultation period on these new plans we look forward to proceeding to a Haringey Council planning committee to determine the application shortly.”

Tottenham’s existing stadium has a capacity of 36,000 has remained unchanged for over a decade. The club has over 70,000 registered club members and a waiting list for season tickets of over 23,000 people.

The proposed new stadium will have a capacity of around 60,000 and has been included as a potential host venue for England’s 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid.

Bernie Kingsley, chairman of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust, said: "The new scheme looks impressive. The stadium is an exceptional building of which all Spurs fans would be rightly proud, and it is now surrounded by an even larger public square and cafes and bars.

“I am also especially pleased to see the Red House retained which has such a strong link with the Club's heritage. This is an exciting time and we look forward to moving into our new home."

Spurs still hope to move into their new stadium for the 2012/13 season.

OLYMPIC STADIUM BEGINS WORK ON FIELD

Sun, 23 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Olympic Stadium has begun work on the playing field marking a major landmark in the £537 million venue.

Construction of the structure is already completed and the focus has switched to laying the ground and track where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held.

Before any track and turf can be laid a complex system of ducts and drainage must be installed which is expected to be completed at the end of the year.

Olympic Delivery Authority chair John Armitt said: "Only two years ago, the stadium site was a flat piece of ground.

"A huge amount has been achieved since then, with the venue now structurally complete and at its full height.

"Work is progressing on covering the roof and the first seats will be fitted this summer. The continuing progress means the stadium is still on track to be completed a whole year before the 2012 Games."

With over 12,000 concrete seating terracing units in place, installation of the black and white seating will begin this summer at the East London stadium.

BAM CONSTRUCTION SET TO BUILD £55M LEEDS ARENA

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Leeds City Council has announced BAM Construction will build the £55m Leeds arena.

The 13,500 capacity arena was given initial planning permission last month, with work expected to begin later this year.

Detailed plans for the design of the building are now being considered.

The arena is expected to generate £25.5m per year to the city’s economy and create up to 500 jobs for the local community.

Councillor Andrew Carter, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “I am delighted to announce BAM as the preferred construction contractor to build the Leeds Arena.

“We received huge amounts of interest from contractors and the standards of submissions were extremely high. This shows the prestigious nature of this development and it is fantastic that we now have one of the very best contractors working on it.”

BAM Construction has been involved in a number of impressive projects including a pavilion at the Headingley Stadium in Leeds and also stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

James Wimpenny, Director of BAM in the North East, said: “This is a fabulous project for BAM to be building.

"We’ll be bringing the skills and expertise that has gone into building the stadium to host this year’s World Cup Final to the Arena, together with our local knowledge and track record in Leeds.

“We look forward to working with Leeds City Council, as we are on the prestigious and much-loved City Varieties, to make Leeds proud of this new signature building.”

The venue is expected to open in later months of 2012.

AAMI PARK ON TRACK TO OPEN IN MAY

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

AAMI Park looks set to finish on schedule after officials announced the pitch has been laid and over half of the stadium’s seats have been installed.

The $267.5 million rectangular stadium will have a 31,500 capacity and feature a cutting edge 'bio-frame' roof design providing extensive seat coverage and excellent spectator sight lines.

The impressive venue already boasts fully operational video boarding and is currently testing the new IT and ticketing systems.

Australian Sport and Recreation Minister James Merlino said: “Very soon, Melbourne will finally have its very own, purpose-built stadium to host these three great sporting codes.

“Each of these sports is experiencing growing interest and popularity and the new stadium will be a world-class stage for further success for soccer, union and league.”

AAMI Park will be home to Melbourne Storm and Melbourne Victory this year and will also host Melbourne Rebels in 2011.

The Brumby Government is confident the stadium will be finished before a rugby league Test between Australia and New Zealand on May 7.

DIZZEE RASCAL SET FOR WORLD CUP PARTY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Dizzee Rascal is set to play a Cape Town gig this summer in South Africa as part of the Cool Britannia World Cup 2010 parties in the city.

The 24-year old Londoner will be entertaining locals in the opening week of the prestigious football competition.

The Cool Britannia festivals will run for a whole month with various English, South African and International artists on show.

The 10,000-capacity parties will take place on the Victoria and Alfred waterfront in the city as the tournament takes place from June 11, with Dizzee set to perform on June 13.

TEXAS STADIUM DEMOLISHED BY 11-YEAR OLD BOY

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Over 20,000 people gathered together to watch the demolition of Texas Stadium yesterday.

The iconic stadium was home for the Dallas Cowboys for 38 seasons and soon came crashing down in an explosive finale detonated by an 11-year old competition winner.

Casey Rogers won an essay writing contest and was given the button linked to a ton of dynamite strategically placed around the historic venue which had been vacant for two years.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who bought the team in 1989 and won three Super Bowls during Texas Stadium's golden years, was emotional as he left the viewing site and said: "I think this reflects the meaningfulness of all the experiences in the different ways that we've had there.

"A lot of different perspectives, a lot of different people's positive time. I would say that stadium reflects positive times more than it reflects negative times.

"And the reality of seeing the roof go in and come down like that was not fun."

The Cowboys are by no means homeless as they moved to the new $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium in nearby Arlington after the 2008 season.

Since then Texas Stadium has been left empty and has seen other new stadiums open in the area leaving club officials no choice but to demolish the venue.

CRISIS MEETING TO DECIDE FUTURE OF WEMBLEY PITCH

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Wembley Stadium has organized a crisis meeting to decide the future of the playing surface after recent criticism.

The stadium has invited professional body the Institute of Groundsmanship to the talks this coming Monday in the hope of finding a finding a long-term solution.
If the decision is made to relay the surface it will be the stadium’s 11th pitch since 2007.

The proposed talks will be little consolation to Spurs’ Manager Harry Redknapp who saw his side crash out of the FA Cup semi-final to Portsmouth on Sunday.

Both sides struggled on the slippery surface which had cut badly during the other FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Aston Villa the previous day.

A spokesperson for the Institute of Groundsmanship said: “Clearly, it is not in the interests of anyone to see the national stadium’s playing surface under continued scrutiny and speculation. Wembley Stadium is an iconic football venue and therefore deserves the optimum playing surface.

“The industry itself suffers from the fact that whenever a match is played at Wembley, the first thing called into question is the standard of grounds management.”

Last year Wembley decided to sack head groundsman Steve Welch and replace him with consultants from the Sports Turf Research Institute.

The IOG spokesperson continued: “Many Premier League stadia serve as excellent examples of football surfaces. Their playing surfaces are clearly sacrosanct and non-football events are limited in scope and nature. Surfaces are not replaced regularly; they are managed and maintained year-round to a very high level.

“We would suggest that an independent enquiry would be in the best interests of everyone to understand the nature and cause of the ongoing issues concerning Wembley’s playing surface, and the IOG would be a willing partner in facilitating a possible solution.

“We would welcome the opportunity to lend our expertise to solve the problem.”

Wembley is set to host a rugby match between Saracens and Harlequins on Saturday and concerns have been raised over the effects upon the pitch condition for the FA Cup Final on 15 May and an England International against Mexico on 24 May.

CATALANS DRAGONS BEGIN £7M WORK ON GILBERT BRUTUS STADIUM

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Catalans Dragons have started £7 million renovation works on their Gilbert Brutus Stadium.

The long-awaited redevelopment has been held up following two-years of squabbling with local authorities which has left the project 12 months behind schedule.

The upgrading will include a new stand with a capacity of 2,500 seats, a new club shop, a bar and restaurant and also administrative offices.

Dragons’ General Manager Christophe Levy told www.catalansdragons.com : “Today, we welcome with great enthusiasm the start of the renovation of our stadium.

This work has been the subject of lengthy negotiations between our president Bernard Guasch and local authorities, but we finally managed to find agreement.

“Next year, the club can take a new twist with this new infrastructure. Next year we can take the club to another level with new facilities. These facilities will allow us to have additional income and we can finally compete with other professional clubs.”

The club hopes the improvements will boost their chances of gaining a license for the 2012-2014 Super League.

SUNIVA INSTALL INDIA’S FIRST ONE MEGAWATT SOLAR PANELS IN THYAGARAJ STADIUM

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Suniva have installed India’s first one-megawatt solar panels on the roof of Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi.

The Atlanta-based solar-cell manufacturer expected the panels to generate approximately 1.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.

CEO of Suniva, John Baumstark said: “The Thyagaraj project is a clear demonstration of Suniva’s prominence in the rapidly growing solar market in India.”

Thyagaraj Stadium has been built for the 2010 Commonwealth Games taking place in October later this year and is a major part of India’s vow to make the games carbon neutral.

India has pledged a series of green venue initiatives including rainwater harvesting, green waste management, sustainable public transport, eco-friendly construction materials and planting three city forests of trees.

It will be the first time India has ever hosted the Commonwealth Games which was first held in 1930. The 2010 event will be the 19th Games and will see 71 nations compete against each other.

BOMBINGS AT IPL CRICKET STADIUM

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Two bombs have exploded outside Chinaswamy Stadium shortly before the start of an Indian Premier League cricket match.

The blasts sparked terror amongst the 40,000 spectators getting into the stadium for the match between the Bangalore Royal Challengers and the Mumbai Indians.

At least eight people have been injured in the explosions with Police concerned over further terrorist attacks.

Police commissioner Shankar Bidari speaking at a news conference said: "It appears some sort of explosive material was hidden in the wall, some distance away from the stands.”

The match resumed after security staff carried out an inspection of the stadium which is located in the Southern Indian city of Bangalore.

It is more bad news for Indian officials as the 2009 Indian Premier League was switched to South Africa following concerns over safety fears.

The bombings have sparked further concerns over the security of the Commonwealth Games which India is set to host later this year.

WEMBLEY STADIUM SET FOR 11TH PITCH

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Wembley Stadium has announced it will relay the pitch for the 11th time since the new stadium opened in 2007.

The pitch at the £750million venue has been hugely criticized in recent weeks following poor playing surfaces for the FA Cup semi-finals.

A Wembley statement said: "We appreciate we have to improve the quality of the pitch and we are determined to do so.

"We've enjoyed constructive meetings with a number of industry consultants who support our strategy and we will continue to liaise with them.”

Wembley hosts a number of different sports and events including football, rugby and music concerts which all have had a negative effect on the quality of the pitch.

Due to ongoing loan repayments, to meet the cost of the £750m stadium, Wembley will remain multi-purpose at least until 2023 as each event offers much needed revenue.

There are growing concerns that the poor pitch could hinder England’s bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

A Wembley spokesperson said: “We will continue working with The Sports Turf Research Institute to install and maintain the new turf. The pitch will be the same type as was used in the latter part of last year.

“We will continue to refine the installation and maintenance regime to build on the formula that was successful during that period.

“Wembley and STRI feel confident that we will be able to deliver and sustain a good pitch at Wembley for our busy football schedule in May.”

The stadium is set to host the FA Cup final, The Football League Play-offs and England’s World Cup warm-up tie against Mexico in May.

OLYMPIC STADIUM SET TO HOST GERMAN CUP FINALS UNTIL 2015

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Berlin’s Olympic Stadium looks set to host the German Cup Finals until 2015.

The German Football Federation is expected to announce the five-year deal with the stadium on Wednesday.

Bernd Schultz, President of the Berlin Football Association said: "Due to its huge significance, the German Cup final has for many years been one of Berlin's sporting highlights.

"And like the FA Cup at London's Wembley Stadium, it is hard to imagine it taking place anywhere other than the capital."

The stadium was first built for the 1936 Olympic Games during the Nazi era and can hold a capacity of 74,500.

In 2002, construction workers found a World War II bomb buried beneath a section of seating. It was detonated outside the stadium by Berlin police.

The stadium was extensively refurbished at this time to host the FIFA World Cup final in 2006.

It hosted the 2009 World Athletics Championships which saw Jamaica's Usain Bolt break both the 100m and 200m world records.

Olympic Stadium is already set to stage the 2010 German Cup final between Bayern Munich and current holders Werder Bremen in May.

ROTHERHAM UNITED UNVEIL STADIUM PLANS

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Rotherham United Football Club has announced initial plans for a new multi-million pound stadium to be built in the heart of the South Yorkshire town.

In January, the Millers revealed that it had acquired Rotherham's former Guest and Chrimes Foundry site for the proposed 12,000-seat development.

The stadium is expected to cost around £20m and take two years to complete, but will have the option to increase capacity to 16,000.

Rotherham Chairman Tony Stewart said at the site acquisition: "We have been working hard on the new stadium project behind the scenes for over 18 months now and have gained tremendous knowledge of numerous stadia throughout the country.

"We have a good understanding of what is needed for it to be a success for both supporters and to work for us commercially to provide financial stability for Rotherham United Football Club for years to come."

The Coca-Cola League Two club left its former Millmoor home in 2008 and is now set for a return to Rotherham, after playing their home fixtures at the athletics venue, Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield.

The club is now calling on supporters to comment on the proposals which can be found on the club website.

CHELSEA ANNOUNCE 100% RECYCLING AT STADIUM

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Chelsea has announced a 100 per cent rate for recycling waste at Stamford Bridge and the Cobham training ground.

The Blues have teamed up with recycling specialists Powerday, meaning that even food and contaminated waste can now be processed at a recycling facility.
The deal means that none of the waste from Stamford Bridge or Cobham goes to landfill.

Chelsea Finance and Operations Director, Chris Alexander said: “We are delighted to be working with Powerday, who share our view that we must do all we can to help reduce our impact on the environment. Our commitment to this is something we take extremely seriously.

“We have a number of initiatives to get our staff and fans aware of their own impact on the environment as well as installing energy efficient systems at both Stamford Bridge and Cobham, which is one of the most environmentally-friendly training grounds in the world.”

Stamford Bridge has a match-day capacity of 41,841 which can generate huge waste including drinks bottles, food, packaging and also general office waste.

Mick Crossan, Powerday Managing Director said: “Powerday is proud of its association with Chelsea and commends the club's commitment to recycling.

“We are delighted to announce this new contract and look forward to continuing a relationship that benefits the club, Powerday and the environment.”

STADIUM SOUND LEVELS COULD PERMANENTLY DAMAGE HEARING

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

If you thought that the prawn sandwich brigade was killing the atmosphere in football stadiums then think again.

A study by a South African University has revealed sound levels in stadiums could lead to permanent hearing damage.

Researchers conducted tests at a soccer match with blaring vuvuzelas, a form of plastic trumpet used by crowds to generate support, and found the sound levels to be worrying high.

The study tested the hearing of 11 spectators before and after they attended a Premier Soccer League match with an attendance of just over 30,000.

During the game, participants wore personal sound exposure meters which found an average sound exposure of 100.5 decibels over the two hours in the stadium.

The maximum peak reached 144.2 decibels raising considerable concern for the author the study, Dr De Wet Swanepoel of the University of Pretoria.

He said: "Official match stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will house 90,000 spectators, three times more than the stadium used in this study.

"It is reasonable to suspect that sound intensity will be even higher in the larger official venues."

The eight venues set to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa all exceed a capacity of 40,000, with four stadiums able to seat over 60,000.

There have been calls to ban vuvuzelas from the tournament but FIFA are keen to retain the African custom and have so far resisted imposing sanctions.

It is good news for canny business entrepreneurs as one South African company is marketing foam earplugs specially designed for the World Cup.

VANCOUVER CANADIANS UNVEIL NEW HIGH-RES VIDEO BOARD

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club has unveiled a new state-of-the-art video board at Nat Bailey Stadium.

The high-resolution Daktronics videoboard is a massive 18ft by 28ft and will offer fans instant replays, additional statistics and an increased overall entertainment experience.

Vancouver Canadians owner Jake Kerr said: "This was the logical extension for us out at Nat Bailey Stadium as we work to help our fan's enjoy their experience out at the ballpark.

"Our fans will love Canadians Diamond Vision and our business partners will as well as we can showcase their product better than ever. It will be a first class production," adds Kerr.

The Canadians have been working in partnership with the Vancouver Park Board, City of Vancouver and BC Hydro to help make Nat Bailey Stadium to become more environmentally friendly.

This season, all of the stadium floodlights will be replaced by new energy-efficient lights which will help to reduce the energy needs at the ballpark by an estimated 66%.

An excited and proud, Kerr said: "The lighting at Nat Bailey Stadium had 1949 technology and this upgrade will help both our players and fans enjoy the ballgame with a clearer, crisper lighting system in place."

The ground was built in 1951 and was originally known as Capilano Stadium. It has recently undergone a number of renovations which has resulted in free wireless Internet access in the stands.

ABERDEEN ANNOUNCE STADIUM CONSULTATION DATES

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Aberdeen Football Club has announced dates for the public will to inspect proposals for a new state-of-the-art stadium.

Last month, the Dons revealed they had submitted a Proposal of Application Notice to Aberdeen City Council, Nigg Community Council and Cove & Altens Community Council as part of the process towards the construction of the long-awaited new stadium at Loirston Loch.

The new 21,000-seater stadium is expected to offer state of the art facilities including hospitality suites, parking and also a museum.

There will be a general public consultation exercise at the Thistle Altens Hotel on Sunday 9th May, between 1pm and 5pm and Monday 10th May, between 3pm and 8pm and also in the Richard Donald Suite at Pittodrie Stadium on Tuesday 11th May, between 3pm and 8pm.

Aberdeen have organised a special consultation evening for supporters on Thursday 13th May, where fans can view the initial proposals for the stadium, alongside club representatives who will be in attendance throughout the evening.

ICC PASSES SIR VIVIAN RICHARDS STADIUM TO HOST CRICKET AGAIN

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at Antigua has been given the green light to host international cricket after a 12-month suspension.

The International Cricket Council suspended the venue following England's Test match against the West Indies, which was abandoned after 10 balls in February last year because the outfield was considered unfit for play.

Over the past year, extensive work was carried out and monitored by the WICB and an inspection of the ground was carried out by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees.

ICC General Manager, David Richardson said: "We are content that the ground is now of sufficient standard to host international cricket again. The remedial work has been carried out and Mr Crowe has carried out a full inspection, during which he found the ground to be of a good standard.

"We are happy the situation has been remedied, we congratulate the ground staff on their hard work and we thank the WICB for their support and commitment in the process. This re-approval is effective immediately."

The stadium has only ever hosted two Test matches. The playing surface was relaid after its first Test between the West Indies and Australia in 2008 and the venue was subsequently suspended the following year after the abandoned Test.

SHREWSBURY LEAVE FANS TO DECIDE NEW STADIUM NAME

Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Shrewsbury Town Football Club has given fans the chance to name their new stadium.

The Shrew’s new sponsors have opened the ground naming rights and were urging supporters to vote for the Greenhous Stadium, Arena, Park, or Coliseum.

However after a reaction from diehard fans, they have also added the Greenhous Meadow - in memory of the ground the club left three years ago.

The naming rights are part of a new sponsorship package deal with the local car dealership. The company will also have their name on Town shirts, as they did 20 years ago.

Shrewsbury moved to their current ground in 2007, and it took on the name of their previous kit sponsors Prostar.

The new deal, sealed for an undisclosed sum, will also see Shrewsbury abandoning their blue and amber colours to revert to a more historical blue shirts with white shorts.

Shrewsbury commercial director, Ian Bebbington said: "We are striving for success here, and this will help us take the club to the next level.

"But for the fans to be able to choose the name emphasises we are a family and community club as well."

The club was founded in 1886 and is one of the oldest clubs in the Football League and next season their shirts will carry a special '125 years' logo on their anniversary shirts.

Supporters can register their vote for the name of the new stadium at the club or the Greenhous websites.

COLCHESTER UNITED IMPLEMENTS NEW HOSPITALITY AND RETAIL SYSTEMS

Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Colchester United Football Club has implemented a new hospitality and retail system in its stadium.

Stadium software specialists Agilysys secured the contract to install the new system at the club's Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The 10,064-seater stadium, opened in 2008 costing £14 million to build. This latest development is part of the club's long-term ambition for further growth.

The club expects the new sales system to not only generate extra income but also save money through efficiency, cutting down on waste.

United Chairman, Robbie Cowling said: “We wanted a proven, hospitality software partner with fantastic knowledge of how stadia and arena work in small and large environments, to accommodate our plans today and our strategy for the years to come.”

The club hope the new touch screen tills will deliver faster and more efficient sales leading to a higher spend per head within the stadium.

Agilysys has installed a total of 50 terminals throughout the venue, which will all offer specific reporting to help improve efficiency and overall service.

Tina Stehle, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Agilysys Hospitality Solutions Group said: “We were easily able to demonstrate our credentials to Colchester United FC.

“Our knowledge and experience in the stadia sector were key to them, and our proven POS solutions for hospitality and retail enabled them to select Agilysys with confidence.”

The new system is also expected to improve the conference and banqueting facilities which consists of restaurants, executive boxes and suites offering corporate hospitality for up to 600 guests.

RECREATION GROUND CLOSES AFTER 139 YEARS

Sun, 09 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Chesterfield Football Club played their final game at the stadium yesterday marking the end of a 139-year legacy.

The ground also known as Saltergate, has been home to the Spireites since 1871 and has had witnessed some fond memories along the way.

The all-time record attendance was 30,561, when Chesterfield hosted Tottenham Hostpur in the FA Cup in 1938 which ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw.

According to the record books, a total of 3,159 first team matches were played at the Recreation Ground, with 1,827 being league fixtures.

It was also used for cricket in the 19th century and there are records of six matches involving teams called Derbyshire or Chesterfield playing against the All-England Eleven from 1858 to 1872. The stadium was used to host rugby matches, concerts and community events.

In the 2009 film The Damned United, the ground stood in for Wembley Stadium, Carrow Road, Bloomfield Road and most prominently, Derby County's Baseball Ground which is now demolished.

The ground was chosen because it had not had any significant modifications since the 1970s,though some repainting work was done by the production team to differentiate the grounds from each other.

Saltergate will now host a series of final commemorative events before demolition as Chesterfield will switch to their new B2net Stadium for the 2010/2011 season.

NEW STADIUM FOR CORNWALL

Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Cornwall Council is taking a step forward in looking at the potential for creating a new sports and events stadium in Cornwall.

The new facility would provide a top quality venue for rugby and football teams as well as acting as a sports hub for the region and also a venue for major entertainment events.

The Council is consulting stadium specialists, Gardner and Theobald, to look at the benefits of various sites and set-ups to prepare a robust business case.

Carolyn Rule, Cornwall Council cabinet member for the Economy and Regeneration, said: “This could be a fantastic development for everyone in Cornwall.

“The Stadium would help to retain, nurture and develop talent to achieve the highest levels. Cornwall deserves a stadium on a scale that matches their achievements and aspirations.

“At the moment we do not have a facility in Cornwall for major events. We believe that there could be great opportunities for the Council to work with sports clubs and businesses to come up with the best solution for Cornwall.”

Initial plans suggest the new stadium would have a total capacity of over 10,000 of which at least 4,500 would be seats and be suitable for rugby and football.

Proposals include the provision to increase stadium capacity if required over time and will include a hotel, food and beverage units and leisure facilities.

The Council are expected to report their findings in autumn 2010.

WEST HAM SEEK DEAL WITH AEG TO REALISE OLYMPIC STADIUM DREAM

Wed, 12 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

West Ham United Football Club are reportedly holding talks with entertainment giant AEG about possible a joint bid to run the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 London Games.

The Hammers have been constantly linked to the new stadium over recent months, which is still under construction.

However previous attempts of any kind of deal have broken down following legislation which dictates that the stadium must be used for athletics.

The athletics track is a non-negotiable element of any redevelopment and has become a major stumbling block for future investors.

"We don't want a white elephant,” said a West Ham United spokesman.

“London wants the greatest Games and we want to help it provide the greatest legacy and create this centre of sport, education and culture that everyone is proud of and makes the best use of taxpayers' money.”

There are a number of high profile interested parties including rugby teams London Wasps and Saracens, three County Cricket Clubs, Leyton Orient Football Club and even a rumoured NFL Franchise in London.

The stadium is expected to be completed next year and cost a total of £489 million to build.

HIBS’ NEW STAND ON SCHEDULE

Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hibernian Football Club has announced their new East Stand is on schedule to complete.

Building work at Easter Road is gathering pace as the steelwork for the new stand can now be seen emerging from the foundations.

The new stand will add an extra 6,400 seats, increasing the stadium capacity to 20,250.

Hibs director and secretary, Garry O'Hagan said: "The new stand is coming out of the ground pretty quickly now, in fact so quickly staff are looking out of the window every couple of hours to discover it's moved on again.

"It's great for everyone to see things starting to take shape, we are bang on schedule. The weather has, in general, been great which helped greatly with the demolition of the old east terracing and the subsequent 'muck-shifting'.

"The contractors are working to a plan but hopefully the sun will continue to shine on us over the summer."

Work started immediately after the game against St Johnstone on 27th February as contractors began to demolish the old stand.

It also includes the widening of the pitch and redevelopment of under soil heating and drainage systems.

WORK BEGINS AT SALFORD STADIUM

Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

After 10 years of planning and a number of setbacks Saltford City Reds have begun the build of their long awaited stadium.

The new 15,000-seater stadium is expected to cost £26 million and ready to host rugby matches by December 2011.

Chairman of Salford City Reds, John Wilkinson OBE said: “Today is a landmark event in the history of the Salford Rugby Club and certainly one of the most momentous I can remember throughout my long involvement with the Reds.

“It is the beginning of the end of one of the toughest journeys the club has ever been on, and we are fortunate to have such fantastic partners as the city of Salford and Peel to provide a superb new stadium that will benefit all the people of the city, their Rugby Club and Super League – we look forward to working with them to ensure a successful new venue that everyone in Salford will be rightly proud of.”

The site is currently being cleared and prepared for the actual construction date in October later this year.

It is hoped the delivery date of December 2011 will boost the Reds’ bid for a new Super League licence earlier in the year – and to be ready for the 2012 Super League season.

MBOMBELA STADIUM OPENS ON WINNING START

Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Mbombela Stadium has been officially unveiled to the world after South Africa stormed to a 4 -0 victory over Thailand yesterday.

30,000 fans packed into the newly built venue in anticipation for the FIFA World Cup in less than a month.

Despite hosting its inaugural match the stadium is still yet to finish its press area, executive boxes and stadium environs but is expected to have everything operational for the World Cup.

Mbombela Municipality’s 2010 co-ordinator Differ Mogale told Fifa.com: “I was happy to see so many people come to the official opening of this venue.

"And, we are proud about the fact that our stadium was completed on time giving us enough time to concentrate on some other issues that need to be finalised before the kick-off.

“We are now looking forward to the first game that we will host here."

The stadium has had the pitch dug up twice in the last year and came under intense criticism as doubts grew as to whether South Africa was the right host nation for such an important football competition.

However, it was a case of third time lucky as the new pitch laid a few weeks ago germinated well and impressively handled a fast paced match.

The 43,589-seater arena required a total of 5.5million man-hours to complete, costing $140million to build and is set to host four World Cup Group Stage matches.

AVIVA STADIUM OFFICIALLY OPENS

Sat, 15 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The new Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, was officially unveiled to the world yesterday.

It will be the new home for Ireland’s international rugby and soccer teams and is a joint venture by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).

The state of the art 50,000-seater stadium took less than three years to build costing €410 million, well within budget.

John Delaney, chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland said: “I want to thank our loyal supporters who have followed our teams through thick and thin from the days of the old Lansdowne Road and I look forward to welcoming them to a new fortress for Irish football at Aviva Stadium.”

Planning permission for the new stadium was received in March 2007 with work on site beginning two months later in May with the demolition of the old Lansdowne Road Stadium.

President of the Irish Rugby Football Union, John Callaghan said: “This venue has been the home of Irish rugby since 1878 and rooted in those 132 years is the celebration and joy for the Irish rugby community that today we are back in our spiritual home.

“The unveiling of this magnificent new facility marks the dawning of an exciting new era on the Irish sporting landscape.

“Together we shared a dream in the common interest of sport. Today we have realised it!”

VIKINGS STEP UP CAMPAIGN FOR NEW STADIUM

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Minnesota Vikings have stepped up their campaign for a new stadium after relaunching their website designed to encourage fan support for the project.

The Vikings' currently play at the 64,111-seater Metrodome in Minneapolis and are keen to build a new venue that meets NFL program requirements and will help generate the revenue to keep the team competitive in the future.

The Metrodome was first opened in 1982, costing $55 million and also hosts Baseball team Minnesota Golden Gophers but is deemed insufficient to accommodate the Vikings long term ambitions.

Funding of the proposed $900 million new stadium appears to be the main stumbling block as the Vikings will provide 33 per cent of the budget but hope state funding will contribute the remainder.

The Viking's are campaigning the local communities to support the project, which could provide a huge boost to Minnesota economy.

It is expected to create 7,500 construction jobs and pour $700 million back into the local economy.

A Vikings' statement said: “Building a new stadium also retains the Vikings in Minnesota for at least the next 30 years. As the most popular team in the state, the Vikings are a part of the fabric of Minnesota.

“The team gives us a common bond, something to discuss at work and enjoy with our families. In 2009, nearly half of the state’s 5 million people watched, listened to or attended Vikings games on Sundays. The Vikings truly do impact Minnesota’s quality of life.”

If the stadium plans are unsuccessful there is a real chance the Vikings could relocate like many other NFL franchises in the past.

B2NET STADIUM TO CREATE NEW JOBS

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Chesterfield Football Club's new b2net stadium at Whittington Moor will create around 130 new full-time and part-time jobs when it opens in July.

The new £13 million venue will provide openings for matchday staff and catering professionals with a further 30 community related jobs likely in health, fitness and education, when the Midlands Co-operative Community Stand becomes fully operational in 2011.

The stadium, currently under construction, will include conference and banqueting suites and accommodating up to 300 guests for weddings, celebration parties, and a variety of corporate events.

Chesterfield FC Chief Executive Carol Wilby said: "We are aiming to make the b2net stadium the premier venue in North Derbyshire and we will be looking for highly motivated staff who will also share that vision."

On match-days, the venue will provide the Spireites with corporate hospitality facilities, as well as, full catering and bar services from airy concourses in each stand.

The 10,500-seater stadium will provide corporate hospitality facilities and will need additional match-day stewards, cleaners and bar and kiosk assistants.

After visiting the new stadium last week, Cllr Ray Russell, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council said: "The move from Saltergate to the new site will not just provide better facilities for the Club and fans but it will be a resource for the wider community to use and benefit from.

"The council's cabinet believes the football club promotes Chesterfield as a place to live and work as well as providing a strong local sporting focus."

Chesterfield MP Paul Holmes said: "The new b2net stadium is absolutely fantastic and I congratulate everyone involved in providing the town with such a wonderful new sporting and entertainment venue that is now also the source of new jobs in our community.”

The new stadium will open in July, in preparation for the new 2010/2011 season.

RED DEVILS LEAD THE FIELD WITH NEW CONCEPT BOXES

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Manchester United Football Club has launched the new East Stand seasonal hospitality boxes at Old Trafford.

The 75,957-seater stadium which recently celebrated its centenary year has unveiled the latest line of innovative and contemporary hospitality suites which are available now.

A club statement said: “With two different concepts to choose from – whether it be in one of the unique booths or a formal sit-down four-course dinner – these fantastic seasonal boxes are designed to offer a matchday experience like no other.”

United are offering the option to personalise each box with individual company logos, and also give the choice to either watch the game on a plasma TV or join the crowd on a private outdoor terrace.

Both box concepts will include waited service, a dedicated account manager, the chance to meet United legends on matchdays, a framed signed shirt on display and will also guarantee seats for every home game in the Barclays Premier League and UEFA Champions League.

JUDGE DISMISSES SANTA CLARA STADIUM LAWSUITS

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The San Francisco 49ers have moved a step closer to a new $937 million stadium after a judge rejected two lawsuits that could have derailed plans.

The lawsuit surrounded the ballot on whether the new stadium should receive state funding. It attempted to sue the city over the ballot language, stating it violated state election law and didn’t accurately describe the stadium plan's cost to taxpayers.

It argued the ballot language, among other things, didn't mention the proposed $114 million dollar public subsidy for the project.

However the case was thrown out on Monday paving the way for a final decision to be made in June.

A spokesperson for The Yes on J campaign supporting the new stadium said: “Filing frivolous lawsuits against the city and a group of community leaders is simply not the Santa Clara way.

“With this distraction behind us, we can get back to the important work of talking to Santa Clarans about how the stadium makes a great city even greater.

“It’s time to put Santa Clarans back to work, which is why we are confident Measure J will pass on June 8th.”

The proposed 68,500 capacity stadium is expected to be built in time for the 2014 NFL Season at Candlestick Point in San Francisco.

DURBAN'S ABSA STADIUM SET TO HOST TELKOM CUP FINAL

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

South Africa’s Premier Soccer League has announced Absa Stadium will host the final of the Telkom Knockout Cup on Saturday.

The 55,000 capacity stadium in Durban will host the prestigious match between Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs as the new venues for the FIFA 2010 World Cup are not yet ready.

Premier Soccer League CEO, Kjetil Siem, confirmed the host stadium shortly after the Telkom Knockout semi-final between Orlando Pirates and Chiefs on Monday and said: “We explored all our options before coming up with this venue.

“We would have loved to have taken the final to a World Cup venue, but due to maintenance on the pitches, this was proving to be a challenge.

“Nevertheless, Durban have always proven to be good hosts and we expect a great final.”

ABSA Stadium first opened in 1891 and is used for both ruby and football. It was extensively renovated in the 1990s but was not considered as a possible venue for the World Cup in June.

Nakedi Chiloane, Telkom Sponsorship Manager told the PSL website: “We are delighted that the 2010 Telkom Knockout has delivered such special moments, and that the finalists are worthy contenders for the title.

“Furthermore, playing the final in Durban, gives us an ideal platform to stage a truly memorable event.”

MAIN CONTRACTOR OF LVIV STADIUM SACKED

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The main construction contractor building the Lviv Stadium for the 2012 European Football Championship has been discharged following slow progress.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Boris Kolesnikov announced the decision on Tuesday and revealed an international consortium of Ukrainian, Croatian, Turkish and Macedonian companies will continue the stadium construction.

The redevelopment of the Olympic Stadium in the capital Kiev is already three months behind schedule and work has fallen behind on Ukraine's other venues.

However the impressive Donbass Arena, home to Shakhtar Donetsk, opened in August 2009 despite criticism for being behind schedule during construction.

Earlier this week, Uefa President Michel Platini expressed concerns over site delays, hinting Ukraine could lose the rights to host the tournament.

If UEFA decided to pull the plug on Ukraine, it would leave co-hosting nation Poland, either looking for additional footballing venues or seeking a new co-host from neighbouring Countries.

Both Ukraine and Poland must provide four stadiums each, hosting 31 matches in total for the prestigious tournament in summer 2012.

STADIUM OF LIGHT WINS HOSPITALITY AWARD

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Sunderland Football Club's Stadium of Light has received national recognition for excellence as a business and events facility.

The stadium received the honour at the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence held in Brighton.

It has been a successful year for the stadium management team, who reached the national finals after securing a coveted Business Tourism award in the North East Tourism awards in November.

The stadium gained a Silver award behind London's Excel Arena and is now also in the running for a separate international award at the Stadium Business Awards, which will be held in Dublin in June.

The arena's 2009 events calendar will face off against entries from Coventry City, Arsenal, Argentinean club River Plate and NFL giants the Dallas Cowboys in a special creativity category.

The Black Cats' Chief Executive Steve Walton told www.safc.com: "The club has had a very rewarding period both on and off the pitch recently and to continue challenging some big, big names as a business tourism venue is a real achievement in itself.

"We are heading into our fourth Barclays Premier League season on the field and there have been some really encouraging signs as we push on towards the top half of the table.

"As a business, we have continued to offer some of the highest quality hospitality space and event management in the UK and we have done so very imaginatively. It's fantastic credit to the staff across the club that we are continuing to be recognised for our quality."

The stadium has hosted a number of high profile concerts over the last 12 months, including Take That and Oasis.

It has had over 250,000 fans through the turnstiles in just eight weeks and will see US star Pink will kick off her UK tour at the Stadium of Light in June.

GOVERNMENT APPROVAL FOR NEW BRISTOL CITY STADIUM

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol City's dreams of a new stadium are even closer to becoming reality after the Secretary of State announced he will not intervene with the proposed plans.

The announcement means that the planning permission decision will remain with Bristol City Council, who have already announced they are 'minded to approve' the application.

Planning permission for the Ashton Vale site will now be granted subject to the completion of a legal agreement.

Bristol City Chief Executive Colin Sexstone is delighted to have reached this major milestone and told the club website: "This is great news and another major hurdle overcome. The decision by the Secretary of State to let Bristol City Council determine the application is a significant step forward.

"It has been the culmination of nearly two years of hard work to bring the project to this stage. Other important hurdles remain, and more hard work will be required from ourselves and other partners, but this is a huge milestone for us.

"Bristol is also a Candidate Host City in England's bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018, and so this decision is further evidence of our ability to produce a technical bid that exceeds FIFA's expectations.

"We do also understand the local sensitivity of the new stadium and are making determined efforts to engage with the local communities so there is greater understanding about the project and we can all move forward together."

The Robins hope to be in their new stadium for the 2012/13 season.

ROSE BOWL NEW STANDS BEHIND SCHEDULE

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hampshire County Cricket Club are struggling to complete the two new stands being built at the Rose Bowl following bad weather.

The club are in a race against time as England host Australia in a one-day international at the ground at the end of June.

The East and West stands are supposed to be ready by May but bad weather has caused significant delays.

Hampshire Chairman Rod Bransgrove told BBC Radio Solent: "We've had some pretty gross luck during the winter, but it's vital we now complete before June."

The new stands are part of £45 million plans to transform the 150 acres of The Rose Bowl site into one of the best International cricket and leisure venues in the world.

It will increase capacity from 20,000 to 25,000 boosting hopes of hosting further International cricket.

The plans include a new 4-star Resort Hotel built over-looking the playing area, with luxury spa and leisure facilities as well as major conferencing and media facilities.

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH ANNOUNCE NEW STADIUM PLANS

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Queen of the South plans for a new stadium took a positive step forward after a meeting between Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership and club officials.

The Doonhamers hope to build a £3 million, 6,000-seater stadium at Palmerston Park and have begun initial consultation.

The Scottish First Division club's existing stadium has a seating capacity of 3,509 which is under Scottish Premier League minimum regulations.

Proposed plans will also include large-scale office accommodation, scope for social and commercial opportunities, space for youth development on-site as well as new housing.

It is expected to take the Doonhamers three years to complete with the main focus for now being on attracting fresh funding towards some of the project.

John Potts, Chair of DGHP told the club website: "We are very excited about the future for DGHP, our tenants, Queen of the South and the wider community of Dumfries and Galloway.

"Although plans are still in the very early stages, we are extremely pleased to be taking the project forward further and look forward to working in partnership with the football club to provide these new, state-of-the-art facilities."

David Rae, Chairman of Queen of the South added: "We have had a very positive meeting with DGHP and are looking forward to further developing plans for everyone.

"As well as giving us a fit-for-purpose SPL compliant stadium with in excess of 6000 seats, the plans proposed here will be of huge benefit to Dumfries and the whole community."

A group is being formed to develop the multi-million pound plans in further detail and it is hoped the first meeting will begin in May.

ODA ANNOUNCE OLYMPIC STADIUM CONSTRUCTION LANDMARK

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Olympic Delivery Authority has announced Olympic Stadium is now at full height, marking a significant landmark in the construction process.

The flagship venue has installed 14 lighting towers, 60 metres above the playing field and is on track to be completed in summer 2011.

Each of the towers weighs 34 tonnes and were installed over a three-week period. The towers are designed with integrated walkways, access, power supplies, cabling and lighting.

They will illuminate the action in the arena helping to capture high-definition footage. The towers are located high above the stadium roof to ensure the best lighting angles, which avoid dazzling competitors, spectators and photographers.

John Armitt, ODA Chairman said: "The successful lift of the lighting towers takes the Olympic Stadium to its full height and makes it even more visible across east London's skyline.

"We still have big challenges over the coming year but hitting this important milestone ensures we remain on track to complete construction a year before the London 2012 Games begin."

The 80,000-seater stadium will host a number of Olympic events along with the opening and closing ceremonies in Summer 2012 and is expected to cost £469 million to complete.

GREENWICH PARK GRANTED PLANNING PERMISSION FOR 2012 OLYMPICS

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Greenwich Council’s Planning Committee has approved the temporary use of land for the London 2012 Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon events.

The planned area includes land at Greenwich Park, the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College and Blackheath Circus Field.

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee said: “We are delighted with the outcome of this democratic process and thank the Greenwich Planning Committee and all the people who came out to speak for and against this application.

“The message from tonight is loud and clear. This great Park is on loan to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the people of the world.

“We must return it to the residents of Greenwich, to Londoners and visitors from the UK and around the world in the same condition, or better, than it was loaned to us.

“We take this responsibility seriously and will continue to work with the park authorities, resident and park user groups and the people of Greenwich as we develop and implement our plans to stage an extraordinary event in 2012."

Once the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games have finishes, the whole site will be restored to its former use and condition in full accordance with a Site Reinstatement Plan to be agreed by Greenwich Council, in consultation with the Royal Parks and other statutory bodies.

An International Equestrian Federation (FEI) spokesperson said: "The FEI is thrilled by the decision of the Greenwich Council Planning Authority in regard to the planning application for Greenwich Park. Greenwich Park is a spectacular venue which places Equestrian sport right at the heart of the 2012 Olympic Games.

"With just over two years left until the Games open we are looking forward to working with LOCOG to showcase the sport to the world from this spectacular location in London."

FC UNITED REVEAL PLANS FOR A £3.5M NEW STADIUM

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

FC United of Manchester have revealed plans to build a £3.5 million new stadium in Newton Heath, Manchester.

The Red Rebels hope to build a 5,000 capacity stadium and renovate an existing sports centre and artificial football pitches.

Plans also include creating new investment in the area and opportunities for local people, providing state of the art facilities for a range of local community services.

Andy Walsh, Red Rebel's General Manager told the club's website: “The announcement will be a big boost to the club and we also want the development to be of benefit to Newton Heath, the discussions with the council have been very positive and we are grateful for their support.

“The significance of this location is historical while it will also showcase a new model of facility development, based on football supporter ownership and community involvement.”

The proposed site is the existing Ten Acres Lane sports centre, which is owned by Manchester City Council.

The club have been working closely with the local council over the last two years to develop the plans and consultation will now begin with local residents, community groups and FC United members who own the club.

SOUTHEND UNITED SET TO START ON NEW STADIUM IN JUNE

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Southend United Football Club have announced they will finally begin work on their new stadium at Fossettts Farm in June.

The Shrimpers’ chairman Ron Martin confirmed the start date during a special fans' forum on Monday night.

Plans for a new stadium were given the go-ahead in 2008 but have been delayed after the club experienced financial problems and were told to pay a £700,000 outstanding tax bill.

Martin, speaking after the go ahead, said: "I am also pleased for our many thousands of fans who have had to wait a very long time whilst this complex, and sometimes tedious, process has been conducted.

"As I have always said, the new stadium will take the Club to a new and sustainable level. All associated with Southend United should celebrate.”

The new stadium is expected to cost £50 million and will have a capacity of 22,000. However, the Shrimpers are currently sitting 22nd in League One, four points away from safety with only 10 games remaining.

Southend United are due in court on 14 April to face claims from HM Revenue and Customs that they owe an outstanding £183,000.

CSKA SOFIA BANNED FROM STADIUMS FOR THREE GAMES

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Bulgarian Football Union has ruled CSKA Sofia must play their next three games at a neutral venue after a pitch invasion during their league match at Lokomotiv Mezdra.

The club, nicknamed The Army Men have been fined 15,000 Lev for the trouble at the weekend.

Over 100 CSKA fans stormed the pitch soon after the home team took the lead midway through the second half, forcing the referee to abandon the match.

Home side Lokomotiv have also been given a one-match home ban for poor organisation and fined 2,000 Lev.

There were no police inside the stadium as Lokomotiv refused to pay the security taxes before the game.

The violent behaviour in Mezdra is the latest in a series of incidents to blight Bulgarian football in recent times.

A number of clubs, including CSKA, have been banned from stadiums in the last few seasons following crowd trouble.

WONDERING WHAT WE'RE TWITTERING ON ABOUT NOW?

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Fancy following events on Stadia Directory even when you away from your PC? Well now you can, thanks to Twitter.

We're trying to make it as easy as possible to keep in touch so we've signed up with the popular social networking website. Also you can look out for news on our facebook profile too!

WE'D LIKE TO BE YOUR FRIEND

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Your favourite stadium website has just signed up to Facebook so we now have a presence on the popular social networking website.

So if you want to keep abreast of everything that is happening on Stadia Directory but haven't had a chance to visit the website for whatever reason, we'll be doing our very best to keep you posted on Facebook.

B2NET SEASON TICKET DETAILS ANNOUNCED

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Chesterfield Football Club has announced existing season ticket holders have the chance to renew at the b2net stadium before they go on general sale.

The Spireites are keen to fill their new 10,388-seater stadium which opens for the first time for the 2010/11 season.

The club already has over 2,200 existing season ticket holders to cater for and hopes to increase this further to bring in more income.

A special season ticket hotline is being installed for the first time so that season ticket holders can book an appointment to view the seating plans and sign-up off plan. The club is also looking to accommodate those fans who want to continue sitting next to each other.

Spireites Chairman Barrie Hubbard said: "The hope is that it will not only provide a huge incentive for existing season ticket holders to renew, but will also encourage many more people of all ages to sign up for what has been called the dawn of a new age for Chesterfield FC."

Chesterfield announced earlier this year that there will be no price increases this year, meaning fans can enjoy the new £13 million b2net stadium without paying any more.

PARTICK THISTLE REVEALS Â£20 MILLION PLANS FOR STADIUM

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Partick Thistle has announced a £20 million plan to build more than 100 flats at Firhill Stadium.

More than 2,000 seats will be removed to make room for the complex, reducing the capacity to 8,000.

The First Division side are keen to maximise revenue to help prevent a repeat of last summer's £1 million emergency investment to halve the club's debt by lifelong supporters.

Jags' Director, David Beattie, who was part of the emergency investment said: “We are not Rangers, we are not Celtic, we are not Manchester United, so we have to do something different for the club. We have put our money where our mouth is.

“We are all Thistle fans and this has been done not just for the potential of the scheme but for the future of the club.”

Gavin Stewart, a former asset manager and a Partick Thistle fan since the 1960s, who also invested last summer said: “Yes it is a difficult time for property development – it is very, very quiet at the moment – but these flats will be ready two years down the line.

“The whole Maryhill area is being regenerated and we see this as part of that whole programme. We all want to see the club in a long-term position.”

The proposed development will form the fourth side of the stadium and is expected to be completed in 2012.

ICC REQUEST STADIUM SERVICES PROPOSALS FOR THE 2011 CRICKET WORLD CUP

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The International Cricket Council and the central organising committee are requesting proposals from companies to provide stadium signage services for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

The successful company or companies will be granted the rights and responsibilities to deliver signage requirements of the tournament, which is the third biggest sporting event in the world.

The contract would include supply and management of on-field and perimeter signage.

ICC Commercial General Manager, Campbell Jamieson said: “Signage is an extremely important function of the event from an ICC, sponsorship and broadcast perspective.

“The highest quality standards must be applied to achieve the desired result for all stakeholders. The ICC Cricket World Cup is the flagship event of the limited-overs game, the ultimate prize.

“It is critical the provision of signage services and equipment for the event are of similarly world-class nature.”

The One-Day International competition will be staged in the host nations of Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

In total, 14 nations will compete against each other to make it to the final at the 45,000-seater Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India.

SOUTH AFRICA TO TEST WORLD CUP STADIUM WITH INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CUP

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

South Africa is set to test their World Cup readiness next month in the Cape Town International Challenge.

The whole world will tune in to see how Newlands Stadium and the Cape Town Stadium, which will host eight matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, will cope with the youth tournament.

The four-nation tourney will see defending World Youth Champions Ghana, Brazil, the team they defeated in 2009 to lift the trophy in Egypt, Nigeria and hosts South Africa from 7-20 April.

The combined capacity of both stadiums is over 106,000 which will help simulate the demands of the World Cup in June.

Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson said: "This is another step in the evolution towards the World Cup. We have already had two test events-the soccer match (between Ajax and Santos) which hosted 20,000, a rugby match (between Western Province and Boland), which had 40,000 spectators.

"There will be a Christian prayer event on the 22nd March and the Cape Town International Challenge will be the fourth event and will host 65,000 people.

"This event will stretch us to the limit; it will ensure we are tested with a full stadium. Many of the eight World Cup games will be at night (as will the matches at the International Challenge), so it will provide us with an indicator of how we can cope with a full stadium at night time.”

Director of Sports and Recreation, Gert Bam said: "We have worked closely with SAFA Cape Town to get this event going. The City has deemed it fit as our final test because of the significance of the event and the competitors.

"We have made it affordable for people throughout the city to attend. It's going to be a wonderful experience and the people of Cape Town are in for a treat.

“SAFA Cape Town will be working closely with the 24 Local Football Associations to try and tap into the 100,000 amateur players in the region to ensure capacity crowds.”

RED BULL ARENA POSTPONE SOFT OPENING EVENT

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The soft opening at the Red Bull Arena has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions.

The brand new 25,189-seater cost $200 million to build was set to host the New York Red Bulls Under-18 Academy team and the United States Under-17 Men's National Team.

The match was cancelled due to heavy rainfall and extremely high winds but will be rescheduled at a later date.

Red Bull New York Managing Director Erik Stover said: "We are disappointed to postpone our Soft Opening event.

"However, with the severe weather conditions we are experiencing, our priority needs to be on the health of the players and the safety of our spectators."

The Red Bulls will play their final exhibition of the pre-season, when they host legendary Brazilian club, Santos FC, on 20th March at their new home in Harrison, New Jersey.

New York kicks off its 2010 Major League Soccer season at Red Bull Arena a week later, when it they host the Chicago Fire.

MBOMBELA STADIUM RELAYS PITCH FOR THIRD TIME

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Mbombela Stadium has relaid the playing surface for the third time fuelling further criticism from South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup sceptics.

The pitch was dug up twice last year following inadequate results but has been replaced using only rye grass and has germinated well, to the relief and delight of the city’s World Cup organisers.

Earlier this month, local and international journalists visited the Mbombela Stadium as part of the ‘100 Days to the 2010 FIFA World Cup’ countdown, were stunned to see a patch of dry sand - instead of a pitch - at the stadium that will host four first round FIFA World Cup matches in under three months time.

Nearly two weeks later, the new $140 million, 43,500-seater stadium is sporting lush green turf which has thrilled Mbombela Municipality's 2010 Co-ordinator Differ Mogale.

He told FIFA.com: “We laid the new pitch last Friday, using rye grass completely, and by Wednesday it was germinating well. We’ve had our challenges, but we’re delighted that we now have a great pitch, which come the tournament will be amongst the best in the world.”

Mogale praised the work of FIFA pitch consultant Richard Hayden, who personally oversaw the most recent efforts to iron out the stadium’s pitch problems.

He added: “In the past we relied on pitch consultants, but rather than simply making recommendations Richard Hayden and his team have been personally on-site with us every day over the last few weeks, getting onto tractors and showing our team just what needed to be done.

“We’re very happy with the results, with the province’s Premier (David Mabuza) even popping into the stadium this week to see the progress for himself. We’ll now give the pitch a few weeks to strengthen and while it should be fine to play on in the next six weeks, we will wait until after the first week of May to stage our first high-level test event at the stadium.”

Dr. Danny Jordaan, Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, was delighted that the Mbombela Municipality had been able to solve its pitch problems.

He said: “I am extremely happy with the effort made by everyone in Mbombela to overcome the pitch challenges and to ensure the stadium is ready for the FIFA World Cup. Credit must go to the Mbombela Municipality and its mayor Lassy Chiwayo.

“With its orange giraffe columns and black and white zebra seats, the Mbombela Stadium is one of the most distinctive and unique stadiums in FIFA World Cup history. We’re confident the stadium will now be ready in good time and that World Cup fans will be able to experience World Cup football in one of our country’s most picturesque and famous provinces.”

The Mbombela Stadium is just a few kilometres from the Kruger National Park tourist attraction.

It will host matches between Australia against Serbia, Korea DPR versus the Ivory Coast, Honduras against Chile and Italy versus New Zealand during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

100 DAYS UNTIL SOUTH AFRICA 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It is only 100 days until the first game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa kicks off.

The opening match between the hosts and Mexico will be played at the impressive Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg on Friday 11th June.

The imposing 94,700-seater venue cost $440 million and was completed in October 2009 despite concerns over missing deadlines.

Cape Town Stadium is the most expensive at $600 million and has a capacity of 69,070. It will host group matches for Italy, England and Holland, along with a quarter-final and semi-final.

The smallest stadium is Royal Bafokeng Stadium which will host England’s opening group game against U.S. on 12th June. The 42,000-seater venue opened in March last year and was home to four 2009 FIFA Confederation Cup games.

South Africa now has 10 top-class stadia for the World Cup with a combined capacity of 575,597.

Many of the venues were completed in 2009 which has somewhat spoiled the scepticism surrounding South Africa’s ability to host the tournament. But there have been a number of other worries ahead of the prestigious tournament as infrastructure and transport systems are under scrutiny.

However FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who has long championed an African World Cup, is celebrating the achievement of a long-time dream and said: "I am very happy and very proud that this love story is now becoming a real wedding party."

South Africa has also upgraded 14 other stadiums to meet FIFA specification as a lasting legacy of the World Cup.

It is clear that this tournament is much more important than a few games of football for South Africa, and arguably Africa as a whole. If successful it could set the precedent for further high profile sporting events to be staged on a continent that has for so long been pushed to the periphery of international sport.

BLACK CATS LOOK INTO STADIUM NAMING RIGHTS

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Sunderland has announced the club is considering selling the naming rights to the Stadium of Light.

A sponsorhip deal for the 49,000-seater stadium, which cost £23 million to build in 1997, would help bring in much needed revenue to the club which posted a pre-tax loss of £26 million last year.

Chief Executive Steve Walton told the club website: "The naming rights issue is an extremely emotive thing and it would only be done if it was completely right for the business.

"We'd only do it if it worked and didn't take anything away. There have been a couple of things in that kind of area we have been looking at.

"It doesn't necessarily carry the same emotion (as other clubs) because it's a relatively new stadium, it's only 12 years old. If it was, say, 'The Stadium of Light, powered by somebody or other', and the money was right, we might well do something like that."

Other English football clubs have looked to secure stadium naming rights deals to increase revenues in a difficult financial climate.

Newcastle United met strong fan opposition in the rebranding of St James’ Park earlier this season.

Chairman Niall Quinn also revealed that the club are looking to replace current sponsors Boylesports at the end of the season as they are unwilling to resign.

He said: "Their business has changed and they're going to go completely online with their advertising and PR. They're also feeling the pinch like the rest of Ireland.

"They've been a real good friend of ours and we have a timeframe where we'll know by the end of the season exactly where we're going."

LONDON SHORTLISTED FOR 2015 WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

London has been shortlisted to host the 2015 World Athletics Championships along with two other nations.

The International Association of Athletics Federations received bids from London, Beijing, the host city of the 2008 Olympics and the Polish city of Chorzow. The cities will present their bids in September before the final decision will be made in December.

London’s bid centres on The Olympic Stadium, which is currently being built in Stratford. The new £537million stadium will hold 80,000 for the 2012 Games and has been the focal point of a heated debate as the Olympic Park Legacy Company considers future tenders.

West Ham United has shown considerable interest looking to the venue as a future home to their football team. Yet this announcement could destroy hopes as the successful tender will now certainly have to incorporate a running track.

UK Athletics has constantly bemoaned a football stadium conversion, with Chairman Ed Warner preferring to see the stadium's capacity reduced to 28,000 and for it to be a recognized home for athletics.

Warner had also warned that the Hammers’ interest in the stadium could hinder London's probability of hosting the 2015 event.

The 2011 World Athletics Championships take place in Daegu, South Korea and in 2013 the Russian capital Moscow will host the event.

NEW STADIUM FOR SALFORD GIVEN GREEN LIGHT

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Salford City Reds plans for a new stadium have been given the green light by Council chiefs.

The £26million project will deliver a 15,000-seater stadium for the rugby league club which will completed in 2011.

Salford City Reds Chief Executive David Tarry told the club website: “This decision is a major boost not just for the club, but also for the City of Salford and Super League who are both totally committed to a desire for a strong, competitive franchise in our region.

“This announcement removes any lingering doubts surrounding the project, and confirms that Salford City Reds will be competing in a brand new stadium by the end of next year (2011) – a time frame which will fit in perfectly with our bid for a Super League licence for 2012-2015.”

It is crucial the new stadium is ready for December 2011 as it will meet the necessary deadlines for the Reds’ bid to renew their Super League licence from February 2012.

Tarry who is delighted with approval added: “This marks the end of a 12 year journey and the start of a bright new future for the Reds. Both the club and supporters have worked tirelessly together for this moment and we thank them for their endlessly loyal support throughout difficult times.

“The actual work starts here on the most important development in the club’s history and we look forward, together with our partners, to delivering a vibrant and successful new era for sport in the city.”

Preparation of the site is due to begin next month with the phased building development starting in October.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE'S COUNTY GROUND DEVELOPMENT PLANS GIVEN GO AHEAD

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol City Council has approved plans to redevelop Gloucestershire's County Ground to increase capacity to 20,000.

The redevelopment includes a world class media centre, improved conferencing and hospitality facilities and also 350 student accommodation units.

The County Ground currently has a capacity of 16,000, using permanent and temporary seating.

Rex Body Chairman of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club said: "It is difficult to stress the importance of the proposed developments to our long term future in Bristol, not only for the County team and the Club as a whole but also for our surrounding community.

“We are pro-actively seeking to expand our community links, including developing the current disability cricket programme, building on our existing links with local schools and strengthening the recreational club game including the creation of a "Gladiators" women's team.

“However, these ambitions will be severely curtailed without the improvements to the ground.”

The proposed development will meet new ECB criteria, enabling the ground to continue hosting International cricket which is a major source of income for the club.

The ECB have ruled that by 2011, any stadium that hosts International matches must have a minimum of 18,000 seats.

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club have played cricket at Nevil Road since 1889 and have hosted International games since 1999, becoming a regular venue for England One day International matches since 2003.

MIDLANDS CO-OP TO SPONSOR NEW STAND

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Chesterfield Football Club has announced a new sponsorship deal with Midlands Co-Operative for the b2net stadium, currently under construction.

The east stand will be known as the Midlands Co-Operative Community Stand and will host a family friendly environment as the club's official family area.

There are plans for innovative community facilities that will provide for a wide range of local community activities, including health, fitness and education.

Midlands Co-Operative Society's PR and Marketing Manager Stephen Beresford said: "We are delighted to be able to maintain our long established association with Chesterfield Football Club at what is a very exciting time for both the club and the town."

Spireites' Chairman Barrie Hubbard said: "We wish to thank the Midlands Co-Operative Society for its continuing valuable support of the club by sponsorship of the new community stand at the B2net stadium."

The b2net Stadium is expected to cost £13 million and have a capacity of 10,600. It will be completed in the coming months making it ready for the 2010/11 season.

£1 BILLION REDEVELOPMENT FOR MAN CITY STADIUM

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Manchester City Football Club has announced plans to redevelop the area around its stadium after signing a £1 billion agreement with the local council.

The regeneration plans will transform Eastlands, the current home of City, to a 60,000-seater stadium and a create world class sports and leisure complex.

It will make the stadium the fourth largest in England behind Wembley, Old Trafford and the Emirates.

The plans follow a 14 month exhaustive study of top sporting facilities around the World and include building a world-class training complex to rival AC Milan's Milanello.

It is the next step in Sheikh Mansour's transformation of the Blues who is eager for the club to establish themselves on the world stage.

Mansour, a member of Abu Dhabi's royal family bought the Premier League club in September 2008 and has already invested nearly £400 million mostly on players.

City has formed a unique partnership with the council and regeneration chiefs at New East Manchester to deliver the huge project, underlining the Sheikh's long-term commitment to the area.

Leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese said: “The collective strength of the Council and the Club, two very ambitious partners, will be the engine of economic growth and will build on the regeneration work already in evidence in the area.“

From the securing of the Metrolink tram system to the building of world class sporting facilities in and around Sportcity, there has already been real vision in creating a sustainable future for east Manchester.

“The City of Manchester Stadium has also been a credit to the city and this further investment will enable local people who can work to work, will give our young people the best possible start in life and will make east Manchester a place in which to work, invest, live and visit.”

The agreement builds on the sports legacy from the Commonwealth Games, which provided various arenas including the Velodrome, the City of Manchester Stadium and also the world’s first indoor BMX arena.

The Blues' Chief Executive, Garry Cook told the club website: “Manchester City has been and always will be at the heart of the community it serves in the City of Manchester. The longer term considerations for the area reflect the long term commitment of our owners to the club and the community it serves.”

PLYMOUTH PLAN TO SELL STADIUM TO EASE RISING DEBTS

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Plymouth Argyle Football Club has announced plans to sell their stadium to their holding company to help raise money to combat escalating debts.

The sale of Home Park will bring in much needed revenue as the club posted a £2.8million loss which was blamed on an unsustainable wage bill and a decrease in match attendances.

The club is proposing the sale to a new property company which is owned by Plymouth Argyle Football Company Holdings Limited.

In February the stadium was independently valued as being worth £7.5million.

The club is also issuing 90,000 ordinary shares at a price of £22.22 per share in an effort to raise an estimated £2million to help tackle their difficult financial position.

In a statement, a club spokesman said: "The trading position of Plymouth Argyle Football Club continues to be challenging, with revenues from gate receipts lower than planned and the cost-base higher as PAFC has not been able to transfer players that are required for the core squad.

"The board believes that these measures will significantly improve PAFC's balance-sheet by reducing its level of debt and will facilitate the partial reduction of its operating costs."

In December the Football League applied a transfer embargo on Plymouth Argyle was for outstanding debts which was lifted in January after satisfactory payment.

The club believes these changes could improve chances of raising finance for stadium development as many financial institutions are reluctant to lend directly to football clubs.

Plymouth Chairman, Sir Roy Gardner told the club website: "This is one small step in the overall plan to strengthen the club, not just on the field, but also the facilities the club uses and the balance-sheet of the club.

"We are hoping that shareholders will support this by subscribing for their allocations and passing the resolutions laid before the AGM. Shareholders should review thoroughly the documents being sent to them and seek appropriate advice.

"On the field, our priority is to win games and move ourselves out of the relegation zone. There are more than enough points available to achieve this."

NEW STADIUM FOR BRISTOL CITY A STEP CLOSER

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol City Football Club has taken another step towards the reality of a new stadium as Sainsbury’s submitted plans to build on the site of Ashton Gate.

The new store is a vital part of the club’s plans, as the sale proceeds of Ashton Gate will help finance a new 30,000-seater stadium at Ashton Vale.

All plans are subject to Bristol City Council granting planning permission for the supermarket, but there have been concerns raised over traffic congestion and effects on local businesses.

The new supermarket would be Sainsbury’s biggest store in the south west of England.

A club spokesperson said: "Realising the full value of Ashton Gate remains vital as far as the new stadium is concerned. These plans are an important part of the enabling development that is critical if the club is not to be burdened with debt in delivering the new stadium.

"Taken together, the development of both the new and the existing foodstore sites will be a major boost to the area delivering new employment, workspace and residential units. It is also an opportunity to inject much needed investment - and thus jobs - into the local economy.“

Bristol was named as a potential host city for England’s 2018 World Cup bid with the new stadium being a major factor within the bid.

The club spokesperson added: "As well as being a new home for Bristol City Football Club, the stadium will also be a new regional stadium for the whole of Bristol and the wider region, offering Bristol's biggest conference venue and the South West's biggest stadium concert venue.

"Bristol City Council planners have already voted to approve plans for the new regional stadium. These plans for the enabling development will provide for an exciting future for South Bristol and the city as a whole."

WEMBLEY PITCH TO BE RELAYED AGAIN

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Wembley Stadium is set to relay the pitch surface for the 10th time in three years.

Stadium officials have blamed the harsh winter weather as freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall have contributed to the poor playing surface.

The pitch had been widely criticised following the Carling Cup Final on Sunday and England’s friendly International match against Egypt on Wednesday.

A Wembley spokesperson said: "The ground staff did very well to stage the Carling Cup despite conditions in the build-up and employed the use of a canopy to shield the pitch from the rain on Saturday night and Sunday before kick-off.

"They worked round the clock and could not have done more. Conditions were better ahead of the England match but the pitch was still not good enough for our liking.”

Sir Alex Ferguson has blamed the pitch for the injury sustained by Manchester United striker Michael Owen that will see him miss the rest of the season.

The pitch will be replaced the weekend before the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final on 28th March.

The Wembley spokesperson added: "Ultimately, this pitch has not fared well through what has been an extremely harsh winter and it needs to be replaced.

"This will be the 10th pitch since opening but the stadium caters for football and non-football events so replacing the pitch more than once during the course of a year is a reality of a multi-purpose venue."

SPORTS REVOLUTION INSTALLS HDTV NETWORK IN FOOTBALL STADIA

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Sports Revolution has installed a new generation of high-definition television (HDTV) networks in football stadium across the UK.

The move follows its acquisition of the trading assets of Sports TV, which had networks in 45 grounds in the English leagues.

Boosted by a £2million investment in new audio-visual equipment, Sports Revolution is upgrading many of these grounds to HDTV systems. It is now the largest provider of match-day content to UK stadia, streaming material tailor-made for each club's advertisers and fans.

Sports Revolution has introduced the TV service to Anfield, home of Liverpool Football Club, with 200 42" BEKO HDTV screens, streaming club content on match days.

The network uses software to distribute news, statistics and live score data supplied by the Press Association throughout the ground.

Liverpool’s Commercial Director, Ian Ayre said: "For us, the most important thing is to offer a TV service that enhances the match day experience. We want it to add value for the fans, not only for the club commercially. The old model for this type of network tended to be a one-size-fits-all system, not sufficiently tailored to a particular club.

“The good thing about this solution is that Sports Revolution creates and streams content that engages our fans and fits it around our existing LFC TV channel.

“The result is a bespoke package that the fans enjoy and that advertisers and the club's commercial stakeholders want to buy into. It is an excellent addition to our media inventory, using state-of-the art technology."

The PC-based system allows content to be modified and targeted for all areas of the ground, allowing precise match-day marketing using the latest HD technology.

HDTV networks have installed at West Bromwich Albion's Hawthorns ground with Sheffield United also set to upgrade Bramall Lane.

Sports Revolution is already the largest media rights owner in UK football stadia, with 72 clubs across all the leagues, including 16 in the Premier League.

Sports Revolution Commercial Director, Vange Kourentis said: "Many business models have failed in this area before, so we have focused on delivering a service that is club and fan focused, ensuring that we deliver an engaging product that fans enjoy and that advertisers and the club's commercial stakeholders want to buy into.

"Clubs working with Sports Revolution have a lot to gain, not only in terms of new equipment, but new commercial opportunities surrounding a truly fan and club-centric model."

HEART ATTACK RISK WARNING AT STADIUMS

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Football fans should probably think twice about attending matches in Greece, Sweden and Serbia as it is where they are most likely to die from a heart attack.

The warning follows a study that ranked Europe’s football nations by the number of defibrillators they had in stadiums.

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, investigated 187 stadiums from 10 countries across Europe.

The study worryingly revealed that no grounds in Serbia had the life-saving machines. This was followed by Greece, with only 25 per cent of stadiums providing a defibrillator. Swedish venues were only marginally better with 38 per cent.

Norway and Italy topped the list with defibrillators at all major stadiums. This was followed by France, Spain and England.

Prof Mats Borjesson, the official medic for Swedish club GAIS and a member of the European Assoication of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation believes all stadiums should have access to the life saving machines.

“It is known that viewing and being emotionally engaged in a soccer game increases the likelihood of people suffering a heart attack so we think this should be a formal requirement.

“As football is the biggest and best resourced sport in Europe, the situation may be even worse elsewhere.”

BURNLEY FOOTBALL CLUB ANNOUNCE STADIUM PLANS

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Burnley Football Club has revealed ambitious plans to redevelop Turf Moor and also build England’s first football university.

The proposed new stand will be England’s first StadiArena, a facility to house exhibitions, rock concerts and conferences 365 days a year.

The club hope to build on promotion to the Premier League by ambitiously reinvesting in the local community.

The proposed university will be situated next to the stadium and offer courses based on the everyday running of the club, including commercial activities, catering and stadium design.

Burnley Chief Executive Paul Fletcher MBE said: “We have done research on this and we are convinced it would it work. We still have more to do, like speaking to existing universities and the new campus that has recently opened, but we think it is a great idea and is worth pursuing.”

The university would be built on the existing Burnley Cricket Club, adjacent to Turf Moor and would see the cricket club relocate to a new-state-of-the-art facility in Towneley Park.

Fletcher believes the university will be a unique facility offering unique studies and dismisses it as a centre for footballers to learn the beautiful game.

He said: “It is a university to study every face of the business side of the biggest sports industry in the world. The courses would cover just about everything that is nothing to do with kicking a ball!

“I am always being asked ‘how does my son become a commercial manager, a sponsorship executive or a stadium manager?’ This would hopefully answer those question and many more.”

Fletcher admits the plans could take up to three years to complete and added: “As a town we have to pull together to see if it can happen because it is a win-win situation.

“The cricket club gets a brand new ground and the opportunity to be a profitable club in a beautiful location. The football club gets a new stand that isn’t compromised and can be used seven days a week.

“The town wins because it gets a new university and the impact of that is massive.”

BRIGHT FUTURE FOR COUNTY GROUND

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Northampton County Cricket club began works on building six state-of-the-art floodlights this week.

The project will take eight weeks in total to complete with contractors, Musco Lighting, building foundations for the six 48-metre towers over the next six weeks.

The actual towers and lighting systems will only take two weeks to install leaving plenty of time to spare before the inaugural game.

The Steelbacks’s first match under the new floodlights will be the ECB 40 League tie against Derbyshire at 4.15pm on 7th May.

Mark Tagg, Chief Executive of NCCC said: “This is fantastic news for Northants Cricket. Our development plan is underway, with this the first stage of our vision to make the County Ground one of the best cricket venues in the world.

“All of our midweek games will be under these new floodlights enabling a later start time and making the games more accessible to all.

“Cricket played under lights will be more spectacular, far more entertaining and a boost to Northamptonshire’s sporting legacy.”

Seven games under lights have been confirmed for the 2010 season already.

The County Ground will host a Twenty20 tour match against world champions Pakistan, eight LV= County Championship games, five 40 League group matches and two ‘A’ one-day internationals.

MAJOR SOCCER LEAGUE EXPANSION COULD HELP USA WORLD CUP BID

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

2010 looks set to be an exciting year for Major League Soccer as it expands to 16 teams, bringing with it a host of impressive venues for the new campaign.

The MLS has long-term plans to expand to 20 teams, possibly as soon as 2012.

These expansion plans come at a time where American interest in football is reaching fever pitch as the country ups the ante in their bid for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The US hosted the tournament 15 years ago and despite widespread cynicism produced a very successful World Cup. The '94 FIFA World Cup still holds the record for the highest attendance in history, with an average draw of 69,000 fans per game and 3.6 million attendees overall.

In 2009, 101 top-flight matches took place in the US, including top European clubs like Barcelona, AC Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Stadium expansion and redevelopment are all high on the agenda as many clubs are looking to increase capacity and facilities.

New MLS club Philadelphia Union will move into PPL Park, their new 18,500-seater stadium in June to add to an already impressive array of MLS venues.

Gillette Stadium, in Massachusetts is the largest in MLS. It is home to New England Revolution and boasts a 68,756-seater capacity. Qwest Field has a normal capacity of 36,000 for the Seattle Sounders but can boost capacity 67,000 for special events.

RFK Stadium is a 45,596- seater stadium in Washington, one of the older venues in MLS, and was built in 1961. It is named after US Senator and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy.

Many of the MLS stadiums including Pizza Hut Park, Rio Tinto Stadium and Dick's Sporting Goods Park are relatively small in comparison with other bid nations.

Yet there are numerous large stadiums used for NFL, MLB and other sports which could be modified for football. There are 24 NFL stadiums that have a capacity of over 80,000, with five holding over 100,000.

FIFA will decide the winning bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup in December 2010.

It will consider 10 bids in total from a number of different countries, including Russia, England, Qatar, Japan and also a joint bid from Portugal and Spain.

PHILADELPHIA UNION AGREE NAMING RIGHTS DEAL FOR PPL PARK

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Major League Soccer club, Philadelphia Union has announced their new stadium will be called PPL Park after agreeing an 11-year naming rights partnership.

The $20million deal with Keystone Sports and Entertainment LLC and PPL EnergyPlus will help boost funding for the Chester side as construction of the stadium is still underway.

PPL EnergyPlus will also become the Zolos' exclusive energy provider meaning the stadium will use 100% renewable energy.

Nick Sakiewicz, CEO of Philadelphia Union told the club's website: “With our partners at PPL EnergyPlus providing us cost effective and environmentally friendly energy, they are enabling us to create a stadium that is efficient and supports ‘green and clean’ power sources.

“That’s a good formula for us and other businesses that want to work with PPL EnergyPlus to save money and be good to the environment at the same time.”

It will be the Zolos inaugural season in MLS which will kick off at Lincoln Financial Field as the $120million PPL Park will not be ready until 27th June.

The new 18,500-seater stadium will also host a number of different events including concerts, festivals and other sports.

LATICS POSTPONE NEW STADIUM PLANS

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Oldham Athletic Football Club's hopes of new stadium have taken a hit as they postponed the planned public exhibition and consultation.

Latics Managing Director Simon Corney told the club's website: “It is with regret that we have had to make the decision not to go ahead with the consultation, but, following legal advice, we have no alternative but to postpone it for the time being.

"There are wider issues relating to our plans that we have been waiting to discuss with Oldham Council and these remain unresolved.”

The club want to build a new 12,000-seater stadium in nearby Failsworth, with an estimated budget of £20million.

The new ground would have the potential to increase the capacity to 16,000.

Latics want to include the features of Oldham's mill-town heritage by making the main-stand fascia to be red brick with windows replicating those of the mills.

Unfortunately the club has reached a stumbling block as the status of the Failsworth site is unclear resulting in cancellation of the meeting.

Corney added: “We were hoping that a meeting could have been arranged prior to the public consultation but that has not occurred.

“As such, we feel unable to continue to promote our scheme and raise expectations at this time. This is a major disappointment to us and we apologise to local residents and fans for matters which are beyond our control.

"We hope to have these matters resolved with Oldham Council soon and to be able to reschedule the event in the near future.”

HIBS' NEW STAND BUILD SET TO START AFTER FINAL WHISTLE

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hibernian Football Club is set to begin work on a new 6,400 stand straight after the game against St Johnstone on Saturday.

The new development will increase Easter Road's capacity to 20,250 and will be completed for early next season.

The stand is expected to cost £4million to complete.

Hibs' chairman, Rod Petrie said: "Saturday's match against St Johnstone will be an emotional day for many supporters and all of us at the Club, as we say goodbye to the old East Terrace.

“Once the new stand is finished, Hibernian will have one of the finest football stadiums in Scotland and the largest, fully covered UEFA compliant football stadium outside Glasgow.”

Petrie also praised the club's financial strength in a challenging time for football and the economy as a whole.

Hibs have made a bottom line profit for five consecutive years and hope the extra capacity will continue to boost revenue.

Manager John Hughes was delighted with the news and said: "The completion of Easter Road Stadium will make it one of the finest footballing venues in the country, and I'm excited about the team playing in what will be a real fortress.

“Easter Road will only get louder with the new stand and we can't wait for it to be completed and opened."

WIGAN ATHLETIC SET TO REPLACE PITCH

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Wigan Athletic will relay the pitch at the DW Stadium at the end of the month following weeks of criticism by various players and coaches.

The playing surface has quickly deteriorated after a very harsh winter and the intense usage in a short period.

Latics manager, Roberto Martinez told Wigan’s official site: "It's clear that the surface at the DW has become a problem over the past few weeks.

“I would never use that as an excuse because it's the same for both teams, but we have to try and do what we can and I am delighted that we have been able to take this action swiftly as a club."

Ground staff will get to work straight after the rugby league game on 26th February with bulldozers working throughout the night to remove the surface and then get the new turf laid as quickly as possible over the weekend and into the following week.

A new fibre-reinforced lokturf will be laid on the entire surface which is hoped to increase longevity of the new pitch.

Head groundsman, Ian Forshaw explained: "The growing season is just a few weeks away and this new surface will quickly become established."

The club insist the new pitch will be ready in time for Latics' home game against Liverpool on 6th March.

OLD TRAFFORD CELEBRATES CENTENARY

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Old Trafford has come a long way since it first opened its gates for Manchester United Football Club on 19th Feb 1910.

Roll back eight years to 1902, United were known as Newton Heath, and played their football at North Road and then Bank Street in Clayton. Playing conditions at these grounds were particularly poor as the pitches varied from gravel to marsh, with Bank Street suffering smog clouds from local factories.

In 1909, after surviving near-bankruptcy and a subsequent renaming, the new chairman John Henry Davies decided that Bank Street was unsuitable for a team that just won the FA Cup and also the First Division the year before.

Davies donated £60,000 of his own money for the construction of a new ground, which was designed by Scottish architect Archibald Leitch, the mastermind behind Hampden Park. The stadium was completed by the end of 1909 and a few months later over 45,000 people packed in to witness United’s inaugural match, a seven-goal thriller with Liverpool that ended in a 4-3 defeat.

Over the course of the next 30 years, Old Trafford hosted a number of different events including Rugby Union and Rugby League. The stadium was also home to the FA Cup Final before Wembley was built in 1923.

Following the outbreak of World War Two, Old Trafford was requisitioned by the armed forces to be used as a military depot. United did continue to play at the stadium but a German bombing raid on 22nd December 1940 caused extensive damage resulting in a Christmas day fixture against Stockport County being switched to Stockport's ground.

United returned to Old Trafford on 8th March 1941, but another German raid, only three days later, destroyed much of the stadium, decimating the main stand (now the South Stand). After pressure from United chairman James W. Gibson, the War Damage Commission granted United £4,800 to remove the debris and £17,478 to reconstruct the ground.

During the rebuild of the stadium, United played at Maine Road, the home of their cross-town rivals, Manchester City. The arrangement cost £5,000 a year and took a percentage of gate receipts, leaving the club with debts of £15,000 a far cry from the club’s current financial situation.

Old Trafford was not reopened for nearly 10 years, with United's first game back at home being played on 24th August 1949, with 41,748 fans watching a 3–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers.

The ground experienced extensive redevelopment and improvements over the next 15 years. A roof was erected around the stadium and in 1957 the club spent £40,000 on proper floodlight installation.

The next stage of renovations was in anticipation of the 1966 FIFA World Cup. The North Stand’s old roof pillars were replaced in 1965 with modern-style cantilevering on top of the roof, allowing every spectator a completely unobstructed view. The stand was also expanded to hold 20,000 spectators costing £350,000 and housed the first private boxes at a British football ground.

Old Trafford hosted its third FA Cup Final, a replay between Chelsea and Leeds in 1970 with an attendance of 62,078. After the dramatic rise of football hooliganism in the 1970s, the club erected the country's first perimeter fence, preventing fans from entering on the pitch.

By the 1980s, the capacity had decreased from the original 80,000 to around 60,000. The capacity dropped further in 1990, following recommendations by the Taylor Report demanding all stadia used by First and Second Division clubs must be converted to all-seater.

The stadium helped stage the 1996 UEFA European Football Championships by hosting three group games, a quarter-final and a semi-final.

Following the demolition of the old Wembley Stadium, from 2003 to 2007 Old Trafford hosted 12 of England's 23 home matches, more than any other stadium. The ground also hosted the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final between AC Milan and Juventus with an attendance of 63,215.

Recent redevelopment has seen the capacity to rise to 75,957, the highest in British club football. However the club is keen to press on with further expansion to 95,000 which would eclipse the new Wembley Stadium and truly live up its name as the Theatre of Dreams.

SPIREITES ANNOUNCE PRICE FREEZE FOR B2NET

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Chesterfield Football Club has announced a freeze on ticket prices for their first season at the new £13 million b2net stadium.

The price freeze will be the sixth successive season since 2005 that adult season ticket prices have been kept at the same level.

At the club's AGM last night, the Spireites new majority shareholder Dave Allen said: "We're operating in a difficult economic climate and the leisure pound is being squeezed as costs of everything increase and people have to make tough choices. We've decided to freeze prices to try and get more people in and raise income that way.

"It's better to have a lower price per head and more people that have a higher price per head and less people. Offering the same prices as at Saltergate, to watch a good manager, play good football, with the benefit of super match day facilities, is what people want."

The new 10,338-seater stadium is set to open for the 2010/11 season and will have a multi-purpose sports and community room, sports injury clinic and a gym and healthy living resource for all ages.

Allen also revealed ambitions of getting more young supporters to the ground to keep prices down for the long term.

He added: "In addition, we'll have more income streams at the new ground by providing the best conference and banqueting facilities in the area, with the right people to run it. I'm looking for an extra £500,000 a year, which we can re-invest into the football side of the business.

"We have an ambition to get into the championship as soon as possible, a manager who plays good football, and we just want more people to come and enjoy it."

BASKETBALL RECORD ATTENDANCE FOR NBA ALL-STAR GAME

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A crowd of 108,713 filled Cowboys Stadium in Dallas to watch the 2010 NBA All-Star basketball game.

It is the biggest basketball match crowd on record and is more than double the previous attendance.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said: "It's meant to be a party. We say we're going to throw the biggest party like you've never seen before and that's exactly what it turned out to be."

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones met Cuban on court at the end of the third quarter to declare the record attendance. The record was approved by Guiness Book of World Records with some of the crowd already wearing T-shirts celebrating the mark.

A jubilant Cuban added: "Everybody's had a great time. ... You can just see people's eyes just bugging out of their head. It's crazy and I haven't heard a negative comment yet."

The last time an NBA All-Star game was played in the area was in 1986 with an attendance of 16,573 at Reunion Arena in downtown Dallas. That facility was demolished last year.

Cowboys Stadium is home to NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and cost $1.2billion to build. The impressive stadium opened in May 2009 and has already hosted a number of different sporting events and concerts.

It also has the world’s largest in-stadium HDTV screen that is just under 55 meters long and 22 meters tall, costing $43million.

There are more than 3,000 Sony LCD displays throughout the luxury suites, concourses and concession areas.

Cowboys stadium is set to host the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey in March 2010 and also Super Bowl XLV in 2011.

NG BAILEY AWARDED CONTRACT FOR NEW SEAGULLS STADIUM

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

NG Bailey has been awarded a £12million building contract for the new stadium for Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club.

The company will provide mechanical, electrical and information communication technology services for the development of the new state-of-the-art stadium.

NG Bailey’s acting chief executive, Chris Newton, said: “We are delighted to have been selected for the Brighton and Hove Albion development.

“We have solid credentials in this area, having delivered work at, amongst others, Cardiff City, Stadium:mk, Liberty and Old Trafford stadia. We are proud to have created many outstanding sporting environments in the past and look forward to bringing the skills and expertise we have gained to this development.”

The stadium will seat 22,500 fans and is being built adjacent to the existing University of Brighton campus. The complex includes a Club shop, corporate hospitality, conference facilities and also an education space for the club’s education partners.

NG Bailey will work in partnership with main contractor Buckingham Group, to deliver the new stadium by the end of May 2011.

NON-LEAGUE AFC FYLDE ANNOUNCES AMBITIOUS PLANS OF NEW HOME

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Non-league AFC Fylde has unveiled ambitious plans for a new £15m state-of-the-art sports facility including a new stadium.

The plans include a sports and recreational village, with a new 1,400-seater football stadium, a full-sized indoor football pitch, as well as four junior outdoor football pitches, a community hall and crèche.

AFC Fylde president David Haythornthwaite said: “The community is really at the very heart of these plans so I'm keen to hear their views. I've got three children of my own and think it will be fantastic to have somewhere young people can go to get off the streets.

"There is really very little for children to do in this area and childhood obesity has become a major issue so there are many benefits.”

Dai Davies, chairman of AFC Fylde said: "If this plan gets the green light the club will obviously benefit from real top-drawer facilities.

"It will be fantastic for the whole community too. It would be great to have a whole range of activities to encourage the sports people of the future."

Last season AFC Fylde clinched promotion to the Unibond League North after winning the Vodkat Premier Division Championship on the last day of the season on goal difference.

A club record attendance of 1217 witnessed an impressive 5-0 win over New Mills, who were three points clear going into the final game.

The club are keen to build upon recent success and have ambitiously targeted reaching the Football League by 2022.

STADIUM PLANS APPROVED FOR BRISTOL CITY

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Revised plans for Bristol City Football Club's new 30,000 all-seater stadium have been given the green light from Bristol City Council.

Following a refusal three months ago, the Coca-Cola Championship club had to resubmit their plans at the latest meeting which was a success with councillors voting 8:1 in favour of the amended plans.

The site at Ashton Vale on which the £92 million stadium is planned to be built is on greenbelt land which means the next hurdle will be for the club to take their plans to the local government authorities for approval.

Despite the plans needing approval from the local authorities Colin Sexstone, the Chief Executive at Bristol City Football Club, was delighted with the latest developments to come from the meeting.

“This is very good news,” Sexstone said. “It’s a big hurdle to go through but we realise there are more hurdles to go.

“The club remains absolutely passionate and committed to this vitally important project.

“In my opinion, it is a beacon of economic light at a time of unending gloom and provides real hope for our young people.

“It’s a unique opportunity to create a facility for the whole area, to provide pride and lasting benefits.”

MORECAMBE ANNOUNCE NEW STADIUM NAME

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Morecambe Football Club has announced their new £12million stadium will be called the Globe Arena after sealing a £250,000 sponsorship deal.

Globe Construction, who are building the new ground at Westgate, have agreed to sponsor the club for five years.

The 6,000 capacity stadium will include a full-size FA standard artificial training pitch as well as other community facilities for five-a-side, netball and hockey.

The Shrimps will move from Christie Park to their new ground for the 2010/2011 season.

Morecambe Football Club Chairman, Peter McGuigan, said: “We are delighted to announce that our new development will be named the ‘Globe Arena’. It is a historic day for both Morecambe Football Club and Globe Construction and the beginning of what we believe will be a very successful partnership between us.

“The new development, when completed, will offer not only a fantastic stadium worthy of our status as a Football League club but also act as a high-quality sporting and social venue for the local community.

“Additionally we hope to attract the business community from both a local and national abse to our outstanding conference facilities. We are an ambitious football club and the opening of the ‘Globe Arena’ in July this year will give us the financial stability necessary to ensure the long-term well-being of Morecambe Football Club.”

Globe’s design director, Kevin Hargreaves, said: “We are delighted to have formed such a close working relationship with Morecambe and this five-year sponsorship deal is proof of our wish to be aligned with the club and its aspirations and ethos for the long term.

“We hope our commitment to the club radiates to the wider community as the Globe Arena becomes not only a fantastic new home for the Shrimps but also a significant and high-quality sporting and social venue for local people.”

VICTORY OVER WALES ON CENTENARY DAY AT TWICKENHAM

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The first ever rugby union match at Twickenham was held back in January 1910 when Wales were the visitors to England's famous home of rugby.

100 years on and it was Wales who were the visitors once again at Twickenham and Martin Johnson's team did not disappoint the home fans in the stadium's centenary year as they won 30-17.

Yesterday's opening game of the RBS 6 Nations Championship marked 100 years of international rugby and it was fitting that England would repeat the same result a century later.

The England team wore a special kit, which was similar to the one worn in 1910, to commemorate the centenary.

Twickenham, which is owned and operated by the Rugby Football Union first opened on 2nd October 1909 when a club match between Harlequins and Richmond took place. Shortly after in January 2010 the first international rugby fixture was played at the stadium with England winning 11-6 in front of 20,000 spectators.

The stadium has seen many changes in its 100 years including redevelopments and alterations which give it its structural presence today to accommodate 82,000 fans on match day.

With 2010 being the centenary of Twickenham Stadium the RFU will be hoping for another 100 years of great rugby in the future.

BURNLEY CONSIDER STADIUM REDEVELOPMENTS

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Premier League side Burnley have unveiled plans for a new ground redevelopment at their current home, Turf Moor which could also include the first University for football.

The project, known as the 'Premier Plan' is being lead by Burnley's chief Executive Paul Fletcher and will be supported by the the Prince's Charities and Burnley Borough Council.

Along with ground redevelopment, which will see the David Fishwick Stand transformed into a 'StadiArena', the adjacent Burnley Cricket ground will be developed into the country's very first 'Football University'.

“If you dare to dream, dream big,” Fletcher said. “And this is not just about Burnley Football Club, this is about the whole town of Burnley and potentially leaving a massive legacy brought on by promotion to the Premier League.”

Fletcher explained the vision and ambition behind the latest plans for redevelopment at Turf Moor.

“On the basis of one idea involving the building of a new stand at the football club, this could become a much bigger idea shared by all parties,” he added.

“The name of Burnley is now right around the world because of our standing in the biggest league in world football. Our games are beamed around the world and they all now know where we are.

“The trick now is getting people here. The university would do that and allow students from across the world to learn about every facet of the business side of the biggest sports industry in the world.

“Burnley Cricket Club are another important partner and the plans, which we have discussed with them, offer the chance to become self-sufficient at a brand new state-of-the-art facility.

“This really is a win-win situation for everyone. The cricket club gets a brand new ground and the opportunity to be a profitable club in a beautiful location.”

FUNDS CRUCIAL FOR YORK'S NEW COMMUNITY STADIUM

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Development plans for York's new community stadium have hit a snag after it was revealed that the funding for the project could be jeopardised by time-scales.

The project team behind the new stadium development, which would see both York City FC and York City Knights RLC ground sharing, have not ruled out options to build the new venue on the ground of either Bootham Crescent or Huntingdon Stadium.

Tim Atkins, Project Manager is confident that the developments will go ahead after a a time-scale is agreed with local authorities and funding is in place.

The cost of the project could range from £8 million to £32 million depending on the time-scale but Atkins insists that funding from sport’s national governing bodies, Yorkshire Forward and Sport England are available.

“It is currently too early in the project to either make bids or secure funding,” Atkins said.

“Many of the potential funds identified run to specific time frames which do not align with the current timetable.

“The feasibility work has identified an opportunity to lever-in significant funds from commercial development.

“This may provide the funding required to deliver the stadium, the wider community benefits and the future of the city’s professional sports clubs.”

OLDHAM ATHLETIC STADIUM PLANS UNVEILED

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The latest plans for Oldham Athletic Football Club's new stadium were unveiled to more than 200 fans at a recent event to showcase the proposed new stadium at Broadway, Failsworth.

Four new stands will be built in phase one of the project giving the Latics a ground capacity of 12,000 and then the capacity will be increased to 16,000 once the corners are filled in during the completion of phase two.

The club are hopeful that if partners are willing to get involved in the project that phase two will be included in the first phase.

Keeping in tradition with Oldham's mill-town history the main stand facia will be built with a red brick finish to resemble the look of the mills.

Alan Hardy, the Chief Executive at Oldham Football Club, is keen for the developments to get under way.

"It would be nice to get to the stage when we can fill the ground to its 12,000 capacity.” he explained.

“If that happens, that would enable the corners to be filled in sooner rather than later.”

Before the final decision on the plans for the project are submitted the club are calling for fans views and opinions ahead of the final round of consultations at the end of this month.

DEMOLITION ON GIANTS STADIUM GETS UNDER WAY

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Demolition of the Giants Stadium got under way yesterday to make way for the new Meadowlands Stadium which is scheduled to be completed by April 2010.

The Giants Stadium, which was the home of NFL teams, the Giants and the Jets from 1976 and 1984 respectively, will be be replaced by a state-of-the-art 82,500 all-seater stadium.

At a capacity of 80,200 the Giants Stadium opened in 1976 and for over 30 years provided the setting for some very memorable NFL matches and College Football games.

The stadium was only used for American football though, and during the FIFA World Cup in 1994 it was used as a venue for seven games during the tournament including the Semi-Final between Italy and Bulgaria.

European soccer has played its part in using the stadium in the past with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Glasgow Rangers, Celtic, Barcelona, Juventus and AC Milan all staging games during pre-season tours.

The record attendance at the Giants Stadium was set at 84,472 fans when rock legends U2 performed at the stadium in 2009.

Other music concerts to have been put on at the stadium include Bon Jovi, Elton John, Metallica, Guns N 'Roses, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones and the Jackson 5.

Demolition of the Giants Stadium is expected to be completed in March 2010.

CARDIFF CITY SELL LAND AROUND STADIUM TO EASE DEBTS

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Cardiff City Football Club is to sell two sites of land around the stadium to raise money to pay off escalating debts.

The proposal has been approved by the city council as the club faces a winding up order for a £2.7million tax bill.

The deal will allow the club to sell land at Leckwith to major Bluebirds shareholder Paul Guy’s company Capital Retail Partnership for £1.8m.

It was agreed that the council would defer 40% of monies owed from the sale - £750,000 – until 2015 which must be paid with interest within five years.

It is troubling times for the Bluebirds, who are facing a winding up order in the High Court and also an estimated £7million debt for their new Leckwith stadium that opened in July 2009.

Steve Borley, a long-term director of the club, believes that the arrangement would help ease Cardiff City’s finances. He said: “It’s a fantastic decision and it will go a long way into breathing life into the situation.

“It is part of a series of measures they are taking to improve the club’s finances.”

Keith Morgan, of the Supporters Trust, said: “It’s all good news that the sale has gone through. They’ve got the season ticket money and this money and can use it to pay down debt.

“It is short-term good news but what still hasn’t been explained is how the club deals with the medium to long-term debt.”

ARSENAL NOW IN DRIVING SEAT

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Arsenal Football Club have installed new luxurious dug-out seating at the Emirates courtesy of Citroen, the team's official car supplier.

The 40 red leather seats were designed by Loughborough-based Auto-kit International and each depict the Gunner's club badge and Citroen's new logo on the head rests.

Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, said: “We are delighted with the new Citroen dugout seats, which are a real improvement and very much in keeping with the overall stadium design.”

The Emirates Stadium opened in July 2006, costing £390million and has a capacity of 60,355.

Andy Mangat, managing director of Auto-Kit said: “We’re proud that Arsène Wenger and the players are now able to watch the game in comfort and style.”

STIRLING ALBION FACE EVICTION FROM HOME STADIUM

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Stirling Albion are facing eviction from their home ground over unpaid rent and rates now totalling £100,000.

Stirling Council have run out of patience with Albion owner Peter McKenzie and are poised to terminate the lease agreement at Forthbank Stadium.

This is the second time the council have been to court to recoup money owed by the Scottish Second Division club.

A statement from Stirling Council said: "The council has an obligation to the taxpayers to recover all money due to them. The council wishes to emphasise they are not taking any steps to place Stirling Albion into administration."

The Bino's have reported debts of £1.5m and have survived two winding-up orders in recent months.

In an attempt to increase revenue, Albion planned to sell naming rights for £50,000 a year but this was rejected by the Scottish Football Association last month.

The club has been up for sale since June, after McKenzie announced plans to step down.

Paul Goodwin, spokesman for the Buy Stirling Albion campaign said: "Despite assurances from the chairman that there is no threat to the future of the club each time a story of this nature surfaces, this latest situation justifies our long-held view that there is an urgent need for radical changes to the structure of the club before it's too late.

"We want to sit down with Sterling Council, Peter McKenzie and Gordon Mackay (who last December noted interest in buying the club) to try and sort out a deal to safeguard the future of the club."

WORK BEGINS ON NEW BRIGHTON STADIUM

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Work on Brighton and Hove Albion's new stadium began last month with CA Roofing Services and the Buckingham Group kicking off the construction.

The Coca-Cola League 1 club are hopeful that their new 22,250 seater Community Stadium will be finished and ready for the start of the 2011/12 season.

At a cost of £93 million the stadium will be a state-of-the-art venue to host mainly football matches but is also designed to accommodate music concerts, exhibitions and conferences.

The main feature of the stadium will be its curved designed cladding which will be finished with aluminium panelling and glazing.

Oran McCloskey, the design Manager for Buckingham Group, is delighted to be working alongside their partners CA Roofing Services for the stadium design and construction.

"Buckingham Group has worked with CA Roofing Services on a number of projects in the past," McCloskey said. "And we're pleased to be working alongside them on the new Stadium.

"CA Roofing Services was involved during the design phase, helping us to achieve cost savings without compromising the design of the project."

EVERTON RECONSIDER GOODISON PARK REDEVELOPMENT AND NEW STADIUM PLANS

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Everton Football Club have announced they are investigating potential redevelopment of their existing ground Goodison Park as well as a new stadium.

Everton chief executive, Robert Elstone revealed that he has met with a number of developers and land owners and also commissioned a “fresh look” at Goodison Park.

Hopes of a new home were dashed in November, last year, as the government rejected a £400million proposal to build a 50,000-seater stadium in Kirkby.

The rejection came as communities secretary John Denham raised concerns over the possible harmful effects on the local communities as part of the complex contained a Tesco superstore and other shops.

Elstone hasn't given up hope of a new stadium and said: “There are many examples of Council-led or partnered stadium developments in football over the course of the past decade.

“We hope, between us, we can create a scheme which, in the first instances passes our basic test of ‘affordability' and, ultimately, becomes a reality.”

He revealed that several sites had been identified but realises the current financial climate is potentially problematic: "The economy, in all respects, changes from day to day and we have to refresh our conclusions and look for new opportunities. I hope we are able to report progress in the near future."

EMIRATES TO BEAM LIVE MATCH COVERAGE TO FANS

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Arsenal fans can now watch matches live on a Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) and even watch goal replays in slow motion.

The Arsenal TV Matchday app will be available to download from Arsenal's official site soon and will be driven by the Emirates’ extensive WiFi network.

It will offer teamsheets, player profiles and even live match statistics, including a live league table revealing to fans inside the stadium what the current result means.

Unfortunately for Gunners’ fans there will not be any video replays of refereeing decisions or penalty appeals.

The popular handheld games console has sold over 3.2 million in the United Kingdom since its release in April 2005.

Mark Grinyer, head of sports at Sony Professional, believes that the new service will not have a negative effect on the atmosphere within the stadium.

He said: "No one would deny that the live experience is the ultimate way to watch sport. What this new service offers is an even more immersive experience for fans.

"Sony is constantly looking at ways in which technology can benefit both the fan and the Club. Our work with Arsenal is truly a world first and we believe that it will set the standard for live event experiences."

NEW BADMINTON STADIUM FOR 2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

A new squash an badminton stadium is expected to be completed by March 2010 ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India later this year.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), are currently constructing a new badminton and squash stadium for the 2010 Commonwealth Games later this year.

Situated in India's capital Delhi, the stadium is expected to be completed by the end of March 2010 and will be a part of the Siri Fort Sports Complex in the City.

At a cost of nearly £45 million the venue was designed by Australian based architects Peddle and Thorp which will feature 11 indoor squash courts and eight indoor badminton courts as well as accommodating just under 10,000 spectators for both sports.

The main feature of the stadium will be the VIP and athlete's entrance which is shaped like an arc.

United Kingdom company, Kingspan are providing the structure with the façade whilst the roof will be made from lightweight steel which has been designed and made by Tata Bluescope.

The glass squash courts will be imported from German company ASB and will be put in place next month along with the flooring which will be a coating of Maplewood.

Other features of the stadium include delegate offices for use during the games and also a media centre, security centre and an athlete's rooms.

NEW STADIUM FOR WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Women's Professional Soccer team Atlanta Beat have announced that their new purpose built stadium will be completed and ready to open in May 2010.

Atlanta Beat, who play in the Women's Professional Soccer league will be the first women's soccer/football team in the world to have a purpose built stadium for their home matches.

The stadium, which is still under construction, is situated near Kennesaw in the state of Georgia and will become the home of the Atlanta Beat and also the Kennesaw State University Owl soccer team.

Atlanta Beat have confirmed that the stadium will be open to the public on Sunday 9th May 2010 and the team will make their début in their new stadium during a National Television Game on Fox Soccer Channel.

Construction and design of the stadium has been credited to Fitz Johnson along with the vision from officials at Atlanta Beat.

Atlanta Beat General Manager, Shawn McGee gave his reaction to the soon to be opened 8,300 capacity stadium.

“The opening of the world’s first women’s soccer-specific stadium of this magnitude means a great deal for both soccer in the Southeast and women’s sports on a national scale,” he said.

CYCLING GOLD MEDALIST OVERLOOKS VELODROME COMPLETION

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Velodrome for the 2012 London Olympics is one step further to completion after the last stage of the steel structure was completed last week.

Olympic gold medallist Jamie Staff overlooked the completed steel structure of the Velodrome which is set to host the Olympic and Paralympic track cycling events in the 2012 Olympic games.

The Velodrome, which will be apart of the VeloPark, is set to be one of the first venues to be completed in 2011 ahead of the games the following summer.

David Higgins, the ODA Chief Executive is pleased with the progress made so far on the Velodrome build.

“The completion of the Velodrome steel structure gives us an exciting glimpse of what will not only be a world-class venue for the Games and legacy, but another striking piece of architecture for the Olympic Park,” Higgins said.

“The Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre are already firm fixtures on the east London skyline but the Velodrome taking shape has created a new focal point in the north of the Olympic Park. This year will be the toughest so far across the site, and we now turn our attentions to the lifting of the huge cable-net roof of the Velodrome, a key engineering challenge, which will help crown this spectacular venue.”

After looking around the new cycling venue Staff is confident that the facilities will give Team GB the best chance of claiming as many track gold medals as possible.

‘It was great to visit the London 2012 Velodrome site and I was hugely impressed by the progress being made,” he said.

“It was good to see at first hand how the venue is being designed and built to create a great crowd atmosphere and deliver the best possible conditions for track cyclists. I’m sure this will be a perfect venue for Team GB to continue to hit gold in 2012.”

FERENCVAROS TO UNVEIL NEW STADIUM PLANS FOR 2012

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hungarian football club Ferencváros have announced plans for a new 22,000 all-seater stadium to be built in Budapest.

Plans are in place for an initial £26 million stadium to be constructed and completed by 2012 but also with further plans to develop the surrounding area of the stadia with a £250 million construction of leisure facilities, a 250-room hotel, commercial space and retail park.

The new stadium will be the new home of Ferencváros who currently play at the Stadion Albert Florian which is also on the same site of the new venue.

Capita Symonds will take charge of the project which is to be completed for the start of the 2012/13 season and executive director Mark Norris keen to highlight how the project will have a positive effect on the local area.

"The development is highly significant both for Hungarian football and the city of Budapest,” Norris explained.

"We are of course delighted to be involved with Ferencvaros both as sponsor and as development consultant with responsibility for the design and delivery of the stadium and associated commercial space.

"Fradi has a long and distinguished footballing history and it will be fantastic to see the new facility playing its part in the future fortunes of the club.”

ROTHERHAM UNITED SET TO RETURN HOME TO THE CITY

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Rotherham United look set to return to playing in the city after the club acquired land for their proposed new stadium.

Chairman Tony Stewart confirmed that the new 12,000-seater stadium would be built at the old Guest & Chrimes foundry site, near the River Don in the town centre.

The League 2 club have played their home matches in Sheffield at the Don Valley athletics stadium since 2008, when they were forced to leave Millmoor, their home of 101 years, after falling into financial difficulties.

A jubilant Stewart said: "This is an ideal site for our new home back in Rotherham, it will also provide significant regeneration benefits and leave a legacy for the future, not just for the Football Club, but for our town. The Council have played a pivotal role in making this happen, and we are very grateful for all their continued help and support.

"We have been working hard on the new stadium project behind the scenes for over 18 months now and have gained tremendous knowledge of numerous stadia throughout the country, and we have a good understanding what is needed for it to be a success for both supporters and to work for us commercially to provide financial stability for Rotherham United Football Club for years to come."

The Millers' who have now secured their finances, acquired the land at a meeting with the local council yesterday and hope to commence work when planning permission is granted.

The stadium, which will be owned by the club, is expected to be opened in 2012, costing £20million, with the possibility of expanding the capacity to 16,000.

Millers' chief, Stewart added: "Our town needs a Football Club to be proud of, playing in a stadium to be proud of, providing facilities for our community to be proud of.

"Make no mistake this is a significant day in Rotherham United's history and to say I am delighted for everyone concerned is an absolute understatement."

GROUND IMPROVEMENT UPDATE FROM HEREFORD CHAIRMAN

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hereford United Chairman Graham Turner has updated Bulls' supporters on planned redevelopments at Edgar Street.

With the Coca-Cola League 2 side looking to improve the facilities for the future the owner gave his reaction to the latest ongoing meetings with local authorities.

“Earlier this month we had a good meeting with the Richardson Developers,” Turner said. “We need their permission to redevelop the Blackfriars End.

“Our respective architects have been trying to find enough common ground to satisfy all parties involved, the Council who are the freeholders of our ground, the Richardson's who are the tenants and ourselves who are sub tenants.

"To complicate matters further there are two leases on the ground one which has ten years to run which is for the majority of the land, the other which is for the strip of land containing the Merton Stand has forty-seven years to run.

"Having poured over different plans and legal documents over the past few months I know that the whole issue has been fraught with difficulties, however maybe the solution is finally in sight.

The future status of the club depends on the lease for Edgar Street being extended by Hereford City Council which is Turner's main objective in the near future.

"The Council have indicated that they are willing to ensure the long term future of the Club is made a little more secure by providing new long term leases, that is appreciated,” he added.

“We have further meetings scheduled for the next three weeks when all the issues should be resolved.

"One piece of good news which may not seem that important but has been of vital importance to us is that all the crush barriers on the Meadow End have passed the strict strength test.

"The results have met the criteria laid down in the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds. Having forwarded all the information to the FLA and now expect the License to be granted for the remainder of the season.

"We then have the Safety Group who grant a Safety Certificate, this covers all aspects of safety at the ground including calculating capacities. With the strength test results being positive we will expect in the near future a recalculation of the capacity of some areas and a small increase in the total capacity of the ground."

GOVERNMENT CONCERNS HALT NEW STADIUM PLANS FOR SPURS

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Concerns over Tottenham Hotspurs's new stadium plans have been issued by the government's architectural watchdog as they have decided not to fully support the Premier League club's plans which were submitted by the Northumberland Development Project.

Proposals within the project plan have been criticised by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Cabe) which may have an impact on planning permission.

The report by Cabe has concerns over the proposed plans for a public square, supermarket and housing within the grounds of the new 56,250 all-seater stadium build.

The design reviewer at Cabe said: "For these reasons, although we support the design of the stadium, regrettably we cannot support the planning application as a whole.

"We are concerned that an overall master plan for the site is not evident: the three components – the stadium, supermarket, and housing – feel like very separate projects without convincing spatial relationships between them."

The plans from the Premier League club were submitted back in October of last year and are hoping that this new report will not stand in the way of the new stadium being built which is also on the list as a potential venue for the FIFA World Cup in 2018 if England were to be successful with their bid.

TURNER LOOKING TO SECURE FUTURE FOR HEREFORD

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Hereford United Chairman Graham Turner is positive that plans submitted to the local council will be accepted before a committee so that ground developments came be started and finished in time for the 2010/11 season to commence.

“We've got to have a scheme that supplies us with all the football facilities that we want,” Turner explains. “That's new toilets, canteen, even a bar canteen behind the stand. We need to get all the disabled facilities in. Coming around we need new office space, we need shop space.

“We had a long meeting on site recently and as far as we're concerned the stand design is satisfactory. I think as far as the Richardsons are concerned the plans are satisfactory.

"It's been a long drawn out saga, but this is a massive period for the club.

"It would mean the long term future of the football club would be secured. The club would own a long lease on the football facilities. That would be a further move to insure the security of the club and the future prosperity of the club.

"It will be an agreement between the club and the Richardsons to go to the council and say 'this is what we've agreed can you now draw up the leases?'. Our's will be the football facility lease, the Richardsons' will be for the commercial side of things.

"We've worked long and hard on the project. It has been a very intense couple of weeks, but I am still optimistic that it will all go through before the start of the season.

"If we get a long, long lease on a 7,000 stadium, with some income streams from commercial activities, with better facilities for supporters then it will be a job well done."

NEW ZEALAND'S AMI STADIUM OFFICIALLY OPENED AFTER REDEVELOPMENT

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

New Zealand's AMI Stadium was officially unveiled yesterday after a $60 million redevelopment for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The stadium was blessed by Ngai Tahu and Ngai Tuahuriri representatives just after 5.30am in an event attended by sporting, political and business figures.

With over 200 guests including Rugby World Cup 2011 chief and former test cricketer Martin Snedden, New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive, Steve Tew and chairman Jock Hobbs and former All Black, Crusaders coach and current Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

The new stadium will host five qualifying group matches and two quarter-final games in the World Cup next year.

The World Cup will be the biggest sporting event ever held in New Zealand.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said: "There will be a billion eyeballs on Christchurch and New Zealand next year."

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said the city should be proud that it had provided the first New Zealand stadium to be ready for the 2011 event.

"This is a great moment for Christchurch," he said. "We are absolutely ready for Rugby World Cup 2011. Bring it on."

The redevelopment began in June 2008 as the Eastern Stands were demolished and then replaced with the new Deans Stand. It has increased the total capacity to almost 45,000, making it the second largest stadium in New Zealand after Eden Park.

AMI Stadium's first sports event will be the Wellington Phoenix A-league soccer match against Adelaide United on January 30th.

NEW DELHI'S STADIUM LOSES BATTLE TO HOST INTERNATIONAL CRICKET

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Feroz Shah Kotla has been banned from hosting any international matches until the end of 2010 after the abandonment of a one-day international between India and Sri Lanka on 27th December.

The match was called off after 23.3 overs during which Sri Lankan players received several blows due to severely varying bounce.

The International Cricket Council's report stated that the pitch was "dangerous" and should be classified "unfit" but the ICC has not ruled out a return to Kotla for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Dave Richardson, the ICC's General Manager of Cricket said: "The frequency of the misbehaving deliveries and the excessive degree of variation - had the potential to inflict serious injury to the batsmen.

“Therefore the pitch that was prepared for the above match was 'dangerous' and should therefore be classified as 'unfit'."

Richardson also pointed out that this was the first time the Feroz Shah Kotla pitch had been rated as unfit and that the ground has a long successful history of hosting international cricket.

The Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) welcomed the decision as the Kotla was not scheduled to host any international matches till December 2010.

Chetan Chauhan, the DDCA Vice President and former India Test player, said: "Venkat Sundaram is already working on getting the tracked fixed for the IPL and then after the event gets over we will get assistance from ICC's pitch consultant in further improving the pitch's condition so that we will be ready for the World Cup."

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat insists that the venue will be ready for the World Cup and said: "This ground is one of the world's iconic venues and it's imperative it stages matches [at] the game's biggest tournament."

The stadium is set to host four games at the 2011 World Cup, from 19th February to 2nd April.

DOLPHINS' STADIUM RENAMED IN TIME FOR SUPERBOWL

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Miami Dolphins have agreed a five-year naming rights deal for their home to be called the Sun Life Stadium just in time for next week's Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl on 7th February.

The $7.5 million-a-year agreement will bring in much needed revenue to help bolster the Dolphin's chances of a successful future campaign.

Dolphins CEO Mike Dee announced the deal at a special ceremony and said: "This is the first naming rights deal done of significance in the post-recession period and we weren't out in the marketplace very long. A bigger priority was finding the right partner, so if that hadn't happened we were prepared to move forward under an old name. I think from our point of view it wasn't when, it was who.

"For Sun Life to share so many of the common core values that we share, we were able to accommodate the timing that was in play because the discussions were moved along fairly quickly, and we wanted a partner for the long haul. It's an initial five-year agreement but there are a lot of mutual understandings to talk about a much longer agreement from there."

Interestingly, this will now be the eighth name for the stadium that first opened as Joe Robbie Stadium in 1987. It will be the third name of 2010 as it was known as Land Shark Stadium up until January 5th changing to Dolphin Stadium up until yesterday.

The issues of naming rights have caused a storm of controversy in the footballing world as Newcastle and Chelsea have both explored the potential revenue streams despite heavy criticism from supporters.

The Dolphins will no doubt benefit from the partnership as Sun Life Financial group has assets of over $385.3 billion under management and services over 20 million clients.

GOLD AND SULLIVAN LOOK TO OLYMPIC STADIUM

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

West Ham United Football Club's new owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, are keen to move away from Upton Park in an attempt to compete with the top four in the Premier League and to allow more Hammers' fans to enjoy watching the team play.

The new owners are keen to move to the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 London Olympics have finished allowing them to increase funding due to match day gate receipts.

Gold is looking to the future for the East London club and is determined to get the club back into the European arena.

The former Birmingham City owner Gold explained: “We have a seven-year plan to get them into the Champions League and turn them into a big club.

"We hope we can persuade the government to let us move to the Olympic stadium which is in the same borough. It's a natural home for West Ham United."

NEW OWNERSHIP NEEDED BEFORE NEW STADIUM BUILD

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

According to Managing Director, Christian Purslow at Liverpool Football Club, it seems that the Premier League club will have to seek new ownership before banks will lend the club money to build a new stadium.

It has been well documented that the Reds are wanting to move away from Anfield with a new stadium at Stanley Park the likely destination, but the news that the club will need new or part owners in place before funds will be ready has put development plans on the back burner for now.

Purslow said: "Late last year, the bank market was essentially shut. It's now very much open for business and a number of banks are very interested in financing our new stadium.

“However, a condition of all those banks' interest is that in the first instance, we have brought new investment into the club.

“So I see it as a two step process; new investment in the next couple of months which reduces our existing debt to a very low level, to enable us then to push on with discussions with banks about financing the stadium."

Purslow believes it is imperative that the club seeks new owners to take the football club forward from this point.

"It's that stadium which holds the key to us transforming our fortunes both economically and in football terms," he added.

"The stadium is absolutely central to the club's strategic development because with a new stadium comes a transformation in the financial resources of Liverpool that can be ploughed back into the core of our activity - which is our playing squad."

NATIONAL HOCKEY STADIUM GETS DEMOLISHED

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The former National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes is being demolished to make room for Network Rail's new headquarters.

Demolition on the stadium began in December and is expected to be completed at the beginning of February with ground-work for the new Network Rail building starting soon after.

The stadium was built and opened in 1995 and was used by the men's and women's national hockey teams up until 2003 when Milton Keynes Dons bought the lease on the stadium, transforming the synthetic pitch into grass and also increasing the seated capacity to 9,000 from the original 4,000.

Most of the materials that are to be demolished will be recycled and used at other sporting clubs across the local area.

John Lewis, the Chief Executive of Milton Keynes Partnership is excited about the new opportunities that the former stadium area will provide for the local community.

Lewis said: “Whilst the Hockey Stadium has been a fantastic facility for Milton Keynes we must now look to the future as Network Rail's planned National Centre will bring many benefits including new jobs and business opportunities.

“As well as giving us a state of the art building that will revitalise an important part of the city.”

POSH GROUND NOW OWNED BY COUNCIL

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It has been confirmed that Peterborough United's ground on London Road is now under new ownership.

An announcement before their recent home game against Derby County confirmed that Peterborough City Council are now the owners of the stadium and the surrounding area of land around the stadium.

Peterborough United Holdings Limited previously owned London Road but have now been given £8 million by the local council for the stadium and land.

Marco Cereste, Council leader for Peterborough City Council, is pleased with the new deal which strengthens the future of football in the area.

"I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to buy the stadium and surrounding land,” Cereste said.

"This land is the key to enabling us to unlock the future potential of Peterborough's riverside which is one of our city's assets.

"Now we can make real strides forward in redeveloping a new Riverside quarter which could include new community facilities, homes, shops, businesses and a school to benefit all of Peterborough's residents."

NFL RETURN TO WEMBLEY

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

American Football is set to return to Wembley Stadium in 2010 as the San Francisco 49ers will face the Denver Broncos on Sunday 31st October.

The match is part of the NFL’s International Series of competitive, regular-season games which has been a huge success since the NFL decided to stage outside of the US.

In 2005, the Arizona Cardinals beat the San Francisco 49ers, 31-14 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, drawing the NFL's highest match attendance at the time with 103,467 fans.

The NFL opted to bring regular-season games to England in 2007, with Miami Dolphins facing New York Giants in the inaugural game, that saw 40,000 tickets being sold in the first 90 minutes.

“For the past three years we have seen the extraordinary passion that exists for NFL football in the UK,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We want to continue to build on that passion by strengthening our ties to our existing UK fans and creating new ones.”

Roger Maslin, Managing Director of Wembley Stadium said: “It is fantastic news that the NFL are to return to Wembley for the fourth consecutive year.

“It is clear that there is a huge appetite for NFL in the UK and the Wembley game is without doubt one of the most popular events on our calendar. We are delighted by this news and look forward to working with the NFL again this year and putting on a spectacular event for the 49ers and the Broncos and all the NFL fans.”

There have been rumours of a second game returning to the United Kingdom this season, but this has yet to be confirmed by the NFL.

NEW CHARGERS STADIUM CLOSES IN ON PLANNING PERMISSION

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The San Diego Chargers are one step closer to approved plans for their new $800 million purpose built stadium on downtown San Diego.

Fred Mass, Chairman of the Centre City Development Corp., reacted to the recent vote in favour of the proposal for the new development: “It's the equivalent of asking our doctor if we may start the arduous process of training for a marathon.”

The next step for development lies in the hands of the San Diego City Council, four government entities, the state of Finance and Housing Community Development.

If the plans are passed with those organisations, the stadium plans will also need to be passed through by San Diego Unified School District, San Diego County Office of Education and the San Diego Community College District.

LEASE EXTENSION FOR PROMOTION PUSHING HATTERS

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Luton Borough Council have confirmed that they will endeavour to help Luton Town Football Club off the pitch by agreeing to extend the current lease at Kenilworth Road if they gain promotion back to the Football League.

The Blue Square Premier side's lease on the stadium runs out in 1018 but the Council have given them added incentive to get promoted by saying they will extend the lease by a further 10 years if they get back into League Two by 2014.

Managing Director at Luton Town Football Club, Gary Sweet, gave his response to the council's continued support for the Hatters.

“We are delighted to have the council's continued support which allows us to continue to follow our football ambitions for the club,” Sweet explained. “And our ambitions to provide excellent services to the local community.”

Councillor Hazel Simmons, leader of Luton Borough Council approved the request to extend the lease and she is pleased to be able to support the local football club.

“Luton Town FC have aspirations to secure promotion to the Football League,” Simmons said. “A pre-requisite of whhich includes having an interest in their ground for at least 10 years.

“Luton Borough Council is delighted to be able to support the Hatters in this ambition.”

HEALTHY STADIA NETWORK INVITE FOR CARDIFF CITY

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Cardiff City Stadium has become the first ground in Wales to be invited to join the Healthy Stadia Network.

The home of Cardiff City Football Club was formally introduced into the Healthy Stadia programme at the latest World Health Organization (WHO) Healthy Cities event in Cardiff.

The Community Foundation team at Cardiff City, Compass Group UK and Ireland's Sport, Leisure and Hospitality have all been working together with the application to join the Healthy Stadia Network which has seen the stadium provide healthier food options on match day for the public.

Assistant Manager of the Community Foundation at Cardiff City Marc Cahill, was pleased with their inclusion into the network.

Cahill said: "After a great deal of hard work I am delighted that we have been invited onto the Healthy Stadia programme. Our stadium is the first Welsh stadium and one of very few in the UK.

“I would like to thank all the staff who has helped in this process, in particular, Jane Cook from Compass who has worked alongside me from start to finish to make this possible."

Cook, the General Manager of Compass Group at Cardiff City, added: “It is a great honour that Cardiff City Stadium's commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle has been recognised and to be the first Welsh stadium to be accepted into this programme makes us extremely proud.”

TALKS FOR NEW EVERTON STADIUM GATHERS MOMENTUM

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Everton Football Club and Liverpool City Council are again locked in talks over a possible location for the proposed new build of a stadium for the Premier League club.

An application for a 50,000 all-seater stadium in Kirkby, Merseyside was refused by the city council last year but now officials at Everton are confident a new proposal will be agreed.

The recent negotiations between the two parties were said to be 'positive' according to a joint statement.

Currently Goodison Park has a capacity of 40,100 which the club states to be 'a huge financial disadvantage to overcome'.

The need to relocate and to build a new larger stadium is in the forefront of the club's ambitions to try and break into the top four of the Premier League.

DELIA SMITH: CARROW ROAD IS NOT FOR SALE

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Following the announcements of a £5 million loss last year, Norwich City's majority shareholder Delia Smith has confirmed the sale of Carrow Road is not an option to try and recover funds to pay off a £23 million debt.

Talking to BBC Radio Norfolk, the celebrity chef insists Carrow Road will not be put up for sale.

"We're not going to sell our ground,” Smith said. “We have a wonderful asset, but absolutely not."

EDGBASTON REDEVELOPMENT EDGES CLOSER TO START DATE

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The £24million redevelopment of Edgbaston Cricket Ground looks set to go ahead as construction group, Galliford Try plc has been appointed preferred bidder on the project.

Galliford Try will provide the design and construction of the redevelopment of the stadium at the Edgbaston Road End to provide world class player and media facilities.

The new section will seat 8,250 spectators and replaces the existing member's area, which had a capacity of just under 5,000. The stadium will remain in continuous use throughout the construction process.

Edgbaston was host to the third Ashes Test in 2009 which ended in a hard fought draw between England and Australia. England went on to win the series 2-1 overall, spectacularly reclaiming the Ashes in the final Test.

Greg Fitzgerald, Galliford Try Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to have secured another significant contract in the sports facilities sector.

“This follows Galliford Try’s successful completion of the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s Centre Court redevelopment at Wimbledon and more recently the completion of the Caterpillar Stand at Leicester Tigers Rugby Club’s Welford Road stadium - the UK’s largest dedicated club rugby stadium.

“This latest contract to build first class facilities fit for International cricket further demonstrates our market position in this sector.”

Warwickshire's Chief Executive, Colin Povey said: “We were very impressed by the professional approach of Galliford Try and look forward to working with the company to provide world class cricket facilities.”

Building work on site is set to start in March 2010 and is expected to be completed in July 2011.

STADIUM WEBSITE UNVEILED FOR MORECAMBE

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Morecambe Football Club have unveiled a website about their new planned stadium build.

The Coca-Cola League 2 club will move into their new home at the end of the current season as they say goodbye to their current home ground at Christie Park.

Photos and news will be updated regularly on the site regarding the development of the ground on Westgate.

A statement on the new website explained what information they will provide for Morecambe fans throughout the development right up until the opening of the stadium later this year.

“Good progress continues to be made on site and we remain on target to start the 2010 /11 season from our new home on Westgate.

“Even at this early stage it is clear that the new stadium will be a significant feature of the local area and something we will be proud to be associated with.

“Over the past 12 months the Directors of the club have continued to develop our plans for the club's future. As ever we are determined to take the club forward in a manner which is sensible, affordable and sustainable.

“We have re-examined our business plan and made some prudent changes to the design of the stadium. We have sought to provide new 'income streams' which will be used to support and improve team resources as we progress in the Football League.

“Our objective in creating the new facility is to ensure the sustainability and success of the club now and for future generations of supporters.

“This website will offer you some guidance on what new facilities we are providing and will keep you updated with weekly updates from site including pictures of the work under construction.

“I hope you find the site informative and that it stimulates your appetite to become a member of the Football Club and a regular user of the facilities.”

HOPES OF NEW STAND FOR NORTHAMPTON SAINTS GIVEN BOOST

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Conservative group of Northampton Borough Council have backed Northampton Saints for their proposed deal with ASDA to secure financing for a new North Stand at Franklin's Gardens.

Saints’ Chairman Keith Barwell revealed that Councillor David Palethorpe, who leads the Conservative group on Northampton Borough Council, is supporting the idea of a new supermarket at Franklin's Gardens.

Cllr Palethorpe said: “Over recent months I have made various statements in the press explaining that it is both practicable and desirable for there to be limited out of town retail development around Northampton, and that the Borough Council's stubborn adherence to their "town centre first" policy is strangling the economic development of this town.

“I recognise of course that the development of the town centre is of great significance to the future prosperity of Northampton, and that we must focus on supporting existing businesses as well as attracting new ones, but I firmly believe that a parallel approach of town centre and out of town development would send the right message to potential investors and ultimately be of benefit to everyone.”The deal between the Saints and ASDA, was announced in May 2009, and would allow the club to continue its financial independence.

The Saints' set up is quite unique to the majority of Guinness Premiership clubs with over 2,000 individual shareholders, rather than one single benefactor.

The new £7 million North Stand will have over 3,000 new seats, 10 corporate boxes, a large public bar, function room and various food and beverage outlets. There will be an improved, state-of-the-art stadium control room, as well as significantly improved disabled facilities, toilets and first aid.

It will increase capacity from 13,500 to 17,000 will also secure potential future revenues meeting as strict European Rugby Cup guidelines state that Heineken Cup knock-out matches must take place in a stadium that holds a minimum of 15,000.

2018 WORLD CUP STARS TO USE B2NET STADIUM

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Chesterfield Football Club’s new b2net Stadium could be used as a training base for one of the World Cup teams if England stage the finals tournament in 2018.

Use of the new £13m stadium, currently being built at Whittington Moor, formed part of Sheffield's successful bid to be a host city as part of England's bid.

Sheffield is one of the twelve English cities chosen as bases for qualifying group matches, with the Owl's ground chosen as the main local venue. The teams playing at Hillsborough will be given training venues, of which Chesterfield's b2net stadium would be one.

Spireites’ Chairman Barrie Hubbard said: "We were part of Sheffield and Derby's bid to be host cities.

"Derby missed out but Sheffield is still in the running and if FIFA decides its England's turn in 2018, a team which has qualified for the World Cup could use the b2net Stadium as its training base."

"We are delighted to be involved and hope it helps to enhance the chances of Sheffield's bid."

FIFA will announce the name of the country, along with host cities, awarded the 2018 World Cup Finals in December 2010.

GATESHEAD LOOK FOR PROGRESSION WITH NEW STADIUM

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There are plans in place for Gateshead Football Club to build a new stadium in the next few years as local entrepreneurs Graham Wood and Brian Waites look to take the Blue Square Premier club into the Football League.

It's been 50 years Gateshead have been in the League which is something Wood and Waites want to change.

The Chairman, Graham Wood and his Vice-Chairman Brian Waites are keen to take the club forward by building a purpose-built stadium next to the Civic Centre.

Wood, who has been a fan of the Tynesiders since he was a boy has ploughed over £1 million into the club over the years and wants to make the club a sustainable football club in the near future.

“Since 2002 I’ve bankrolled the club to the tune of £1.25m,” Woods explained. “But what we want to do here is create something that will be financially viable and secure long term.

“The problem with the way football clubs are run at the present is that it’s either boom or bust.

“We see philanthropists come along, put money in, lose interest and then the club struggles. That’s not a sensible way to run a football club.

“I want to help build that something while I am alive, something that will be here when I am gone. I get great pleasure from being involved in Gateshead and I want to be able to create something that will give future generations great pleasure too.”

Plans for a new stadium will be submitted in February with Wood and Waites hopeful that the proposed plans will be accepted and planning permission will be granted by May.

The stadium will accommodate 2,000 seated fans and 7,000 standing, giving it a total capacity of 9,000 with the Chairman believing that the new stadium will bring a brighter future for the current Conference club.

Wood added: “This stadium development and hopefully the return of Gateshead to the Football League will be my legacy to the club and the town.

“I believe we can create something that will be sustainable for at least the next 50 years.”

PLANS FOR NEW BATH STADIUM GAIN MOMENTUM

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bath Rugby Football Club are close to unveiling plans for a new stadium located away from their historic Recreation Ground.

The Guinness Premiership side are keen to accommodate more supporters with a new ground location now on the horizon according to Bath's Chief Executive, Nick Blofeld.

Blofeld explained: “Fundamentally, we need to develop a stadium that is fit and proper for a leading European rugby brand in the 21st century. I am not sure that is deliverable at the Rec.

“The solution needs to be right long-term and if we keep it in the heart of the city, we can overcome some of those challenges about wanting to keep it at the Rec.

"There are alternative uses for the Rec which can help pull the club and the city together. It is sensitive but if we can’t build what we need for the long term, we would be naive to keep pushing.

"If you are building a £30-£50 million stadium, you have to make it work in other ways; a restaurant on a match day could be used for conference and banqueting on a non-match day and in an ideal scenario have a hotel nearby or, better still, be integrated. You want to make it a venue that works primarily for rugby, but also works for the rest of the year.

“A lot of people recognise that this is a sleeping giant. You can’t just flick a switch, but gradually we can build that brand up, increase the revenue streams and create a stadium and a team that international brands will want to be part of. We want to look onwards and upwards.”

Bath Rugby Football Club look to relocate from their historic ground in an attempt to progress as a European giant in rugby.

A LOOK AHEAD TO SOUTH AFRICA

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Following a satisfying World Cup 2010 draw, England fans can be forgiven for once again reigniting their often ridiculed optimism. An opener with USA, followed by showdowns with Algeria and Slovenia would provoke hope of glory in South Africa for even the most despondent of Englishmen.

However such excitement and anticipation has not always been felt since FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced South Africa as the 2010 World Cup host country in May 2004.

Constant rumours of huge problems throughout the project increased fears that South Africa would fail to provide adequate facilities and infrastructure to host the prestigious tournament.

Reports of workers’ strikes and funding troubles hit the headlines, sparking further rumours of a possible alternative host nation. This was flatly rejected by FIFA and rightly so as the ten venues South Africa will provide are extremely impressive.

The 94,700-seater, Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, will host the first and final matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The distinctive brown dome was built in 1987 and is inspired by the iconic African pot known as the ‘calabash’. The stadium hosted the first mass rally of Nelson Mandela after his release from prison in 1990.

Ellis Park, also in Johannesburg, has a capacity of 62,000 and was first built in 1928 as a rugby union stadium. It was rebuilt in 1982 and has since become the home of Orlando Pirates Football Club. Following recent upgrades it will provide state-of-the-art media facilities, team whirlpools, top-class VIP areas for dignitaries and a top-notch audio-visual setup.

Rustenburg’s 42,000-seater, Royal Bafokeng Stadium will host England’s opening match against USA on June 12. The newly-built, 46,000-seater Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, enjoys a close proximity to various game parks, allowing fans the opportunity to see the wildlife during rest days.

The most northern venue, newly-built 45,000-seater, Peter Mokaba Stadium is situated approximately 5km from Polokwane city centre, will be completed in 2010. Loftus Versfeld Stadium, in Pretoria, is one of the oldest stadiums in South Africa, first built in 1903 and following modern upgrades will hold 50,000. Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium is home to some of the country's most fanatical groups of supporters and with a capacity of 48,000 is likely to be the centre of attention. The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, in Port Elizabeth will host the 3rd and 4th playoff final. The newly-built stadium was completed a year early and has an eye-catching, unique roof-structure with a spectacular view, overlooking the North End Lake.

Cape Town’s newly built, Green Point Stadium has an exterior that is covered with noise-reducing cladding and will have a capacity of 70,000 following completion in December 2009. Fans will be a stone's throw from the ocean and the mountains of Cape Town will also provide the backdrop for matches. Durban’s newly-built, 70,000-seater, Moses Mabhida Stadium, takes its design inspiration from the South African flag and will have a similar grand arch to Wembley. The two legs of the arch on one side of the stadium come together to form a single footing on the northern side, which symbolises the new unity of a once-divided country.

The first World Cup to be staged in Africa could well be the most exciting as the huge impressive stadiums will offer electrifying atmospheres and an outstanding platform to stage the greatest show on earth.

2009: A LOOK AT ENGLISH YEAR IN STADIUMS

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

2009 has been another difficult year for football clubs as the effects of the global financial crisis have taken a significant toll on clubs up and down the country. Off-the-field events have dominated the news as many clubs, large and small are facing financial meltdown following the collapse of television money and advertising revenue.

Bold redevelopment and investment plans have been shelved as clubs have struggled to meet standard operational running costs causing many sleepless nights for fans, chairmen and even players alike.

As early as March, Portsmouth had to scrap plans of a new £600million, 45,000-seater stadium due to lack of available funds and have since shelved plans for small-scale redevelopments of their existing ground Fratton Park. The financial difficulties experienced by Watford have dashed any hopes of redeveloping Vicarage Road for the foreseeable future as they need to find an extra £5.5m to cover cash flow requirements to the end of June 2010.

Struggling Newcastle United and even mega-rich Chelsea are actively investigating the potential for additional revenue from selling the naming rights to their respective stadiums much to the disdain of countless fans.

However it is not all doom and gloom as many clubs are still keen to press on with stadium expansion in search of potential lucrative revenues. Cardiff City opened their striking new 27,000-seater stadium in July at a credit-crunch beating cost of £45million.

In July, Bristol City announced plans for a new 30,000-seater stadium. The £65million venue will comprise of four separate stands and have the potential to expand its capacity to 42,000 – the number of seats required to host World Cup matches if England is successful in its bid to stage the competition in 2018.

Spurs have also submitted their bid and plans to build a new 56,000-seater stadium and hope to be in their new home for 2012. The state of the art stadium will boast an impressive 63 row single-tier stand in an effort to create the most atmospheric stadium in Europe.

Other prospective host cities have tabled plans to redevelop their facilities but have not met much success. Everton’s ambition of moving to a new home in Kirkby appear to be over after the government rejected a planned £400million stadium and retail development in November. To make matters worse Liverpool flatly rejected any possibility of sharing a new ground with their neighbours and rivals despite struggling to find backers for their own new stadium which has been put on hold indefinitely.

Hopefully, 2010 should be a more encouraging year for off-field developments as the supposed green shoots of recovery begin to sprout in the investment market and trickle down to football clubs across the country.

CONSTRUCTION ON RED'S NEW STADIUM TO START IN 2010

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Building on Liverpool's new stadium is set to commence in 2010 according to Councillor Warren Bradley of Liverpool City Council who has been in talks with Liverpool Managing Director, Christian Purslow.

“Liverpool's Christian Purslow has told us that the club in the first quarter of next year should be able to move forward with the stadium, we have told them it’s time to move on now, it’s gone on too long,” explained Bradley.

“I honestly believe Christian Purslow has been open and honest with us. Hopefully in the first quarter of next year we will see some movement. Without doubt it’s not before time.”

If England win the rights to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the new Anfield will be one of the stadiums used for the tournament.

AZERBAIJAN TO GET NEW 60,000 SEATER STADIUM

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Youth and Sports Minister in Azerbaijan, Azad Rahimov has announced that a new 60,000 all-seater stadium will be built to allow more profile events to be staged in the country.

The stadium will be built in the Boyuk Shor settlement in the area of Baku and the construction costs will be financed by the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).

Baku will also boast a swimming pool complex which will have three pools meeting international standards to allow world class competitions to take place.

NEW GENERATION OF STADIA FOR 2022 SOUTH KOREA WORLD CUP

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

South Korea's World Cup bid committee are proposing they will ensure brand new state-of-the-art stadiums for the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

Secretary General of Korea’s World Cup bidding committee, Dae-Won Suh explains how the country will use existing stadiums from the 2002 World Cup, which they co-hosted with Japan, to help in the bid for the 2022 Finals:

“We have already got world-class infrastructure. In addition to that, if we have the right to host the 2022 World Cup then already several cities are offering to build the brand new and state-of-the-art stadiums with capacities in excess of 80,000 or 85,000.

"So we would have the brand new and best infrastructure in addition to the world-class infrastructures that are already in place.”

With a solid base from the previous World Cup tournament to build from Dae-Won Suh has stated South Korea are more than capable of staging the biggest football tournament on the planet.

“We believe that we can provide the best organized World Cup in 2022 for the following reasons,” he added.

“We have world-class infrastructure, we have world-class stadiums already in place and we have the best transportation system. All corners of the country and all stadiums are reachable in one hour by air and within two-and-a-half hours by high speed trains and highways and subways.

“We have the cutting-edge IT technology, which is symbolized by ‘Digital Korea’ and we can offer the best broadcast capabilities. In addition to this there is enormous passion for football on behalf of Korean football fans. We are prepared to stage the most exciting football event in 2022.”

WASPS CONFIRM NEW STADIUM PLANS IN HIGH WYCOMBE

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Wasps' future in Rugby Union looks bright away from Adams Park as the club announce that a new 20,000 all-seater purpose built stadium will be built in High Wycombe.

The new stadium build will double the current capacity of 10,000 at Adams Park giving the Guinness Premiership side extra funding which has been a problem for the club in recent times.

Wasps Chairman Mark Rigby is confident that the plans for the new build will be approved in the near future to allow the club to set a date for their move away from Adams Park. He also explained the significance of the project as a positive for the future of the club's status in the top-flight.

"The move is now very much on the cards and represents a key part of the jigsaw," said Rigby.

"We had another very productive meeting with Wycombe Council this morning and are close to agreeing terms. We'd hope to be up-and-running in time for the start of the 2014-15 season.

"Adams Park is a lovely setting but it has its limitations. We have always been confident about punching our weight on the field and this project will enable us to deliver relative to our competitors off-the-field.'

"The sponsorship uplift has brought alive our stadium ambitions, the club has probably never undergone as much change as it has over the last six months and we're delighted."

STADIUMS SELECTED FOR TURKEY'S EURO 2016 BID

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) have announced the selection of nine stadiums in eight host cities for their bid to hold the European Championships in 2016.

Six new stadiums are set to be built if Turkey's bid to host the tournament is successful. The new build sites will include; Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Eskisehir, Izmir and Konya.

Three existing stadiums; the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Seyrantepe Turk Telekom Arena, which is currently undergoing construction and Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri.

The TFF will face strong competition from France and Italy in securing the bid to host EURO 2016 with the host country decision coming in May next year.

EDEN PARK TO RECEIVE ROYAL APPROVAL

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Prince William will view the progress of development at Aukland's Eden Park stadium when he visits New Zealand at the beginning of the New Year.

The Prince William of Wales is set to visit New Zealand in January and will be joined by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, World Cup Minister Murray McCully and Rugby New Zealand CEO Martin Snedden to oversee the progress of the new renovations ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

The Chief Executive of RNZ is delighted to have the Prince in attendance at Eden Park for the development update.

"This is a great opportunity for us to showcase the developments being made to our top Rugby stadium,” Snedden explaind.

“I am sure that, with his keen interest in Rugby, Prince William will be impressed with the progress that has been made so far and we hope he will be able to return in 2011 to join in the RWC 2011 celebrations and watch some outstanding Rugby.”

Eden Park's capacity will increase to 60,000 with the redevelopment and renovation to the stadium will also include a new South Stand which will seat 21,500 and also accommodate 50 corporate boxes.

The completion date for the facelift is set to be in October 2010 and will cost approximately $190,000.

STADIUMS SELECTED FOR WORLD CUP BID

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Seven stadiums in Belgium have been selected for the Holland-Belgium World Cup bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The seven Belgian stadium sites which are to be included in the bid book to FIFA include: Petroleum Zuid - Antwerp, Chartreuse - Bruges, King Baudouin Stadium - Brussels, Marchienne – Charleroi, Artevelde Stadium – Ghent, Arena Stadium – Genk, Sclessin – Liège.

The proposed selection will see a new national stadium built in Brussels which will seat 70,000 spectators, an increase of 5,000 from the current stadium.

There are also plans in place for Antwerp, Bruges, Charleroi, Ghent and Liège to all have new stadiums with the Cristalarena Stadium in Genk being renovated to meet standards.

The announcement for the Belgium stadia came following a meeting in December led by the Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme and Minister for Finance Didier Reynders, who received the sports representatives of the candidate regions.

Ambassador of the Belgian government for the 2018/2022 World Cup bid, Alain Courtois, was also in attendance at the meeting.

PLANS FOR NEW WAKEFIELD TRINITY STADIUM UNVEILED

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

With a potential single Super League licence up for grabs, there could be a fight on between local rivals Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats as the later unveils plans for a new £19 million stadium.

The Rugby Football League have warned the two sides that their status in the top-flight after the 2011 season could be at risk if neither make considerable progress towards ground improvements.

Both sides are proposing to build stadiums on the same site of disused collieries at junction 30 and 32 of the M62 near Normanton and Pontefract, but Castleford have already gained planning permission for the a new stadium adjacent to the Xscape ski building in Glasshoughton.

Wakefield's former Chairman Sir Rodney Walker has announced plans for Trinity Wildcats to build a new community-owned ground near Stanley.

With funding a major stumbling block for both clubs Walker is expecting money to be ready available only if planning permission is granted for a commercial development which would include sports facilities, offices and a large hotel on a 100-acre-site.

"It's a complex jigsaw," Walker explained. "The stadium is but a small part of a 100-acre development and, if that development is successful, I can say with absolute certainty that the stadium is fully funded. As we sit here today I'm confident that the whole vision for the site will materialise."

"The primary motivation for all of this is Wakefield's desire to stay in Super League and having a stadium that is compliant with the needs of modern-day spectators.

"We need to demonstrate to the Rugby Football League that we will have a new state-of-the-art stadium to play at when the time comes for the new franchises to be awarded."

STADIUMS WILL BE READY FOR AFCON

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Officials and organisers for the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola have pledged that the four new stadium builds will be ready for the tournament when it commences in January 2010.

Antonio Mangueira, Organising Committee Chief has has guaranteed that the stadiums for the AFCON will be ready in time:

"All the speculation you are hearing that the stadiums will not be ready, you should replace with information from the government that the stadiums will be ready,” Mangueira explained.

"Maybe you'll not see trees or grass outside and it will not be ideal in terms of a nice view outside, but the football functions are there and the stadium will be ready."
Angola have spent almost $1 billion on the tournament which has seen the country improve and renovate the war-torn infrastructure.

NOTTINGHAM RESIDENTS UNHAPPY WITH WORLD CUP PLANS

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Residents from Gamston in Nottinghamshire are petitioning against the proposed developments for a new 45,000 all-seater stadium on nearby greenbelt land.

Nottingham is one of 12 cities to be nominated as a host city for England's 2018 FIFA World Cup bid and part of their inclusion is on the basis that the City construct a new stadium for hosting World Cup group stage matches.

The proposed plans will also include a further 4,500 new houses being built on the greenbelt area, but resident remain hopeful that Rushcliffe Borough Council reject planning permission for the new stadium.

Currently there are mixed views on the situation with Nottinghamshire County Council against the plans and Nottingham City Council backing the new developments whilst Rushcliffe Borough Council are sitting on the fence.

Football fans across the region are in general agreement and will welcome such plans for a new stadium with Nottingham City Council leader, Councillor Jon Collins explaining the benefits of the development.

He said: “The planning issues will be a challenge. I'm confident with everybody pulling in the right direction we can deliver on the commitments that we've given the FA.

"I hope we can take the politics out of this. The bottom line is that bringing world cup football to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire would be fantastic. It will bring real benefits."

CHESTERFIELD'S B2NET STADIUM ON TARGET

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The £13m development of Chesterfield Football Club’s new b2net stadium at Whittingham Moor continues to remain on target for opening in July 2010.

The project has reached another milestone with a special topping out ceremony to mark the completion of all the structural steelwork and concrete terracing.

As a result the large cranes have now moved off site and, after the roofing and cladding of the stands has been completed, the focus will be on making the stadium waterproof before commencement of the internal fitting out.

Despite the recent weather, work is still ahead of programme.

Another key stage in 2010 will be the erection of the floodlight pylons, plus levelling and installation of drainage before the laying of the pitch commences on 1st March.

Although one of the last jobs will be the installation of the seats, around 1,000 seats will be installed in the main HTM Stand in January for visiting parties and potential season ticket holders to view. A visitor centre is due to be operational on site towards the end of February.

GB Building Solutions stadium project director John Currie said: "I couldn't be more happy about where we are with the building programme at the minute."

"We now have a good basis for next year to get the project finished and get some football played the pitch."

KC STADIUM EXPANSION IN DOUBT

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The recent decision not to include Hull City's KC Stadium as one of the host city venues for the 2018 FIFA World Cup bid has affected the chances of further expansion to the 25,000 all-seater stadium in the future.

If the Premier League club had been selected to host World Cup games, albeit if England were successful in their bid, they would have expanded the stadium from a 25,000 all-seater to the required capacity of 44,000.

The Chairman of the selection panel, and outgoing Football League Chairman, Lord Mawhinney revealed that Hull joined by Leicester and Derby would not be included in the World Cup bid, should England be successful.

Tigers' Chairman Adam Pearson reflected on the decision by the selection panel not to include Hull as a host city for England's World Cup bid.

Pearson explained: “Ground development is severely affected by this decision. We hope the capacity will be increased at some stage but those hopes have been dented.

“I can't put a time-line on things but the decision has made things extremely difficult to improve on our current capacity of 25,000.

“I was hoping three under-21 internationals, four Test matches and all the concerts we've done here would help us get this, but they've gone with Bristol which has never had those sort of events so good luck to them.

“All we can hope is that our sporting clubs can go on to greater things. We hope to maintain Premier League football which is key to raising the profile of the city and to do that we need a bigger stadium, hotels and accommodation and infrastructure - and we need help to do that.”

MARACANA SET FOR REVAMP

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro will undergo a $280 million facelift for the FIFA World Cup in 2014.

First opened for the 1950 World Cup, the stadium will be closed in 2010 for renovation to commence to give the stadium a new look ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

The stadium, which once catered for 200,000 fans will be reduced from its current capacity of 87,000 to 82,000 which was a recommendation of FIFA.

The five-storey structure will also have a roof added to its structure for the very first time with completion of the construction set for completion in December 2012.

VIKINGS' NEW STADIUM TO COST $870 MILLION

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

According to the owners at the Metrodome the cost to build a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings at the current site is expected to reach as much as $870 million.

Due to lower construction and material costs, this latest price-tag is slightly less than the original $954 million according to Executive Director of Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC), Bill Lester.

Looking for developments to commence, Vikings' officials called the recent report “an important contribution” in the search for a new venue.

"Given the MSFC's recent attempt to delay a stadium discussion for two years, we are moving forward with those leaders who want to resolve this issue in 2010," the Minnesota Vikings said in a written statement.

The Vikings' lease is due to expire at the end of the 2011 season which is why they are keen to get things moving forward promptly. Currently the Vikings have the lowest annual revenue in the NFL and with a new stadium in place their revenue per year will increase by at least $20 million.

SIXFIELDS TO STAGE UNIVERSITIES AMERICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE FINAL

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The British Universities American Football League will move to a new home venue in 2010.

Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium will be host to the top teams from the Northern and Southern Conferences in the climax to the 2009/10 BUAFL National Championships.

There are over 45 teams from different universities across the UK all hoping of a successful campaign which will climax in an appearance at Sixfield's Stadium.

"We are very pleased that Sixfields will serve as the venue for the Championship's pinnacle event," said Andy Fuller, BAFA Director for Student Football Development.

"We believe this venue offers the players and fans a great game day experience and reflects the growing stature of our Championship Game."

Fuller continued: "It is my hope that this event proves a tremendous success and that the BUAFL can call the Sixfields Stadium home for many seasons to come!"

Avril Spraggon, Stadium Manager at Northampton Town, welcomed the agreement and said: "We are delighted and honoured to welcome the BUAFL to Sixfields.

"We are determined to give them the venue that is fitting for their BUAFL National Championship game and we hope this will the start of a long and successful partnership."

The BUAFL National Championship Game will kick-off at 4pm on Sunday 9th May.

TOTENHAM'S NEW STADIUM SELECTED FOR 2018 WORLD CUP BID

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium in Haringey will be joined by Wembley Stadium, Emirates Stadium and the Olympic Stadium as the London venues for the proposed FIFA World Cup bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

Spurs' Chairman Daniel Levy gave his reaction to the latest news concerning their new stadium build.

“This is great news for us and Haringey that we are a proposed World Cup venue,” Levy said.

“The new stadium scheme is designed to deliver substantial benefits to our supporters and the local community.

“Now it also includes the opportunity to host one of the greatest sporting spectacles in the world and to place Tottenham on the international stage.”

News of the latest announcement has pleased local officials who think the area will benefit greatly from the selection for the proposed World Cup bids.

MP for Tottenham David Lammy added: "This is absolutely brilliant news, not just for Spurs, but for the whole of Tottenham. I wasn't old enough to experience '66, but I know it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our community to share in the magic of the World Cup.”

Claire Kober, Council Leader backed the bid to host Tottenham's new stadium also added her comments about the latest news.

“This is great news for Spurs and Haringey,” she said. “The World Cup is arguably the greatest sporting event there is and bringing games to Tottenham would make for an unforgettable occasion and bring with it huge economic benefits for local people and businesses.”

SAINTS SET FOR NEW STADIUM MOVE IN 2011

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Officials at St Helens Rugby League Football Club have announced that the club will move into their new stadium during the 2011 Super League season.

The club is expected to stage a host of fans' forums next month to showcase the new stadium plans.

This announcement means the Saints will have to find an alternate venue for their home matches at the start of the 2011 campaign with the possibility of playing matches outside of Merseyside which St Helens Chief Executive Tony Colquitt explains:

"It looks in all probability that we may have to play a few games of the 2011 season on the road.

"We have already had discussions with the Rugby Football League who are fully supportive and we will announce more details at the season-ticket holders' forums in February.

"It's been an incredibly complex process, accentuated by the wider economic climate. We will be moving into the new stadium in 2011 and consequently 2010 will be our last season at Knowsley Road.

"While it's exciting times, we also acknowledge that it's only fitting that we celebrate 120 years at Knowsley Road. We will announce a whole series of events early in the new year that will allow all our fans to participate."

PROPOSED £50,000 GRANT FOR NEW WISBECH STADIUM

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Eastern Counties League Premier Division side Wisbech Town are set to receive a cash injection of around £50,000 to help cover the costs of construction for their newly proposed stadium.

The Football Stadia Improvement Fund are behind the grant given to the Cambridgeshire outfit which and with the money the Fenmen are hopeful their new stadium off Lynn Road will be ready for the beginning of the 2010/11 season.

Wisbech Town Football Club website editor, Spencer Larham is pleased with the grant from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund and believes the money will go a long way to improving the clubs foundations to progress.

“It will make a big impact and it means the club will be able to create a stadium to the standard that we want it to be,” Larham said.

"The club has had to delay things until we knew what was happening with this grant. Securing this funding is essentially the green light to allow us to push through with plans for the stadium and I expect things will pick up quite rapidly now."

Work on Wisbech's new stadium started at Lynn Road in August 2009 and once completed the final total of the project will cost around £135,000.

ALTITUDE MEANS HIGHER DEMANDS FOR WORLD CUP

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A new study by Adidas has found altitude could have up to five percent impact on the ball's speed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

According to the study, a free kick from 20 yards at the Soccer City stadium, in high-altitude Johannesburg, will reach the goal line five percent faster than it would at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in sea-level Port Elizabeth.

David Beckham once smashed home a 97.9mph effort against Chelsea in the Premier League in February 1997. If he managed a repeat at one of South Africa's high altitude venues the ball would be pushing 103mph.

However it's not all bad news for goalkeepers, as a goal clearance that travels 60m in Port Elizabeth will go 63m in Johannesburg. Interestingly, free-kick specialists will lose out as spin on the ball will reduce as the thin air offers lesser grip to change course.

South Africa has five stadiums above 1000m, including Johannesburg at 1694m, Bloemfontein at 1351m, Pretoria at 1330m, Polokwane at 1230m and Rustenburg at 1153m. The remaining three stadiums are in Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town which are all at sea level.

The effects of altitude have always been a long standing bone for contention in world sport. The 42,000-seater stadium, Estadio Hernando Siles, in Bolivia stands at 3637m above sea level and has regularly courted controversy.

In May 2007, FIFA declared a ban on World Cup Qualifying matches at stadiums above 2500m above sea level. However after a month long Bolivian dispute, FIFA raised the limit to 3000m and granted the Estadio Hernando Siles stadium a special exemption.

Since then, Bolivia have further exposed the effects of altitude, inflicting Argentina's worst defeat in 60 years, thrashing them 6-1 in April 2009 and more recently beating Brazil 2-1.

AVIVA STADIUM TO OBTAIN NEW ENVIRONMENTAL-FRIENDLY CERTIFICATION

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Aviva Stadium, the new home for Ireland's national rugby and football team will open in Dublin in May 2010 with the latest environmental certificate.

The stadium will be the first venue in Ireland to be BS8901-certified. Many major clients such as the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) and the Greater London Authority are seeking to gain the new accreditation.

The new BS8901 certificate dictates strict rules over using environmentally friendly and recyclable materials in stadium construction and management. It has been designed to help those who deliver events to rethink their practices and to create a more sustainable way of doing things.

Aviva Stadium is built from cement recycled from the former Lansdown Road Stadium and will use recycled stationary and rainwater to help limit the environmental impact. The stadium will also use electronic communication rather than print and use local food suppliers for catering and biodegradable food packaging.

Sales and Marketing Manager, Cailin Keaney said: "As opposed to carbon-offsetting, we are encouraging guests to minimise their waste. For all events held at Aviva Stadium, we will be able to advise clients on the sustainability of their event through an online tool."

Keaney believes that the BS8901 certification would enhance Aviva Stadium's appeal to large companies and said: "Lots of multi-national companies have strong CSR requirements of venues and our venue will be able to tick all the boxes."

BULLS CONFIDENT OF STADIUM GREEN LIGHT

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Bradford Bulls' hopes of a new stadium were given a massive boost as Chairman Peter Hood confirmed council support at a shareholders meeting last night.

Hood said: "We've never been more hopeful and there are more reasons to think it ought to go through this time.

“The council are 100 per cent behind this and our partners are the same. Everyone needs this to happen for the benefit of the city."

The Odsal Sporting Village project is a £75 million development that will include an 18,000-seater stadium, a 120-bed hotel and a community sports facility.

Although the plans are well underway, the final decision will be made by the executive committee of Bradford Council in January.

If successful the Bulls hope the planning process will start early next year, meaning a move away from Odsal at the end of the current 2010 campaign.

The club would prefer to use Bradford City's Valley Parade for any temporary move until the proposed OSV completion date of 2012.

Hood was also delighted by the news that the club had broken even despite the difficult financial climate and thrilled with season ticket sales: "They are bang on where they were last year.

"Despite 2009 being a more difficult year than 2008, we are at least in the same position as we were last year and I would like to think we would end up in a better position."

MUBADALA PLANS NEW ABU DHABI STADIUM

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Mubadala Development, an investment arm of the United Arab Emirates has announced preliminary plans to build a 60,000-seater stadium, located in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi.

The proposed Khalifa Bin Zayed National Stadium is set to have a retractable roof and include a large, covered area around the facility for various events, earmarked to open in 2013.

The new stadium would surpass Zayed Sports City, which can hold 50,000 spectators and will eventually become the home of the UAE football team.

As spending wanes elsewhere in the region due to the recession, Abu Dhabi continues to invest heavily in transport systems, sporting facilities, universities and hospitals as it seeks to modernise the capital under its 2030 plan.

“It is good to know these sorts of opportunities are available in Abu Dhabi,” said Nigel Harvey, the general manager of the construction company Murray and Roberts of South Africa.

Harvey believes the firm, which has built similar stadiums in South Africa for the 2010 football World Cup and in Doha for the 2006 Asian Games, would bid for the project with its local partner Al Habtoor Leighton Group. Murray and Roberts has also built university projects in the capital as part of Abu Dhabi’s focus on “social infrastructure”.

The new stadium would complement Abu Dhabi’s efforts to secure the capital as a leading sporting destination, already the site of tennis and golf events that draw top-ranking players.

In October, the capital drew 50,000 motor racing fans for the inaugural 2009 Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and hosted the FIFA Club World Cup in December 2009 after financing a multimillion-dollar upgrade of its football stadiums.

STADIA IMPROVEMENTS FOR EURO 2016 BID

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Frédéric Thiriez, the President of the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) has issued proposed plans to build new and renovate existing Ligue 1 club stadiums as part of their bid proposal for the European Championships in 2016.

France are hoping that the the stadium plans will aid them in their bid to host EURO 2016 with new stadiums being built at Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon and Nice with renovation occurring at Lens, Marseille, Nancy, Paris, Saint-Etienne and Strasbourg to make them suitable for the Championships.

The project, which will get a £150 million cash injection from the French government, will provide 15,000 jobs.

NEWCASTLE UNITED RENAME ST JAMES' PARK FOR EXTRA FUNDING

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Newcastle United have confirmed that St James' Park has been renamed in a deal that will run until the end of the 2009/10 season.

The ground in the North East of England, which has the biggest capacity of all the grounds in the Football League, will be called the 'sportsdirect.com@StJames'ParkStadium' after Newcastle owner Mike Ashley choose to rename the stadium in an attempt to lure business to make extra funds available to the club in the future.

Managing Director at Newcastle United Derek Llambias is hopeful of attracting potential business partners as a result.

"We will showcase Sports Direct until the end of the season. I'm sure we're going to get a sponsor in for next season,” he told the BBC.

“With the renaming it was always going to be whatever brand it was, at St James' Park,” he added.

“For the remainder of this season, we already have sportsdirect.com on the Gallowgate so we'd like to take that branding through the rest of the stadium."

"If this brings in a good chunk of money to the club, that goes straight to the team, so it's a revenue we should look at."

WEMBLEY STADIUM HIT WITH PRE-TAX LOSS OF £31 MILLION

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Wembley Stadium may be forced to borrow money from the Football Association to help keep up with repayments with banks following the latest pre-tax loss of £31.1 million.

The national stadium of England's football team will face defaults on bank loan agreements if the repayments are not met leaving the stadium, which was completed in 2007, to seek help from the FA to meet deadline payments.

The recession may have contributed to the annual loss as VIP seats and Club Wembley seats look to have gone down in sales. With two thirds of Wembley's annual income coming through these sales it will be badly hit if renewals fall next term.

Wembley is not expected to make a profit until after the 2014 season as it continues to repay the £326 million bank loan which funded the majority of the construction cost. With loan repayments reaching approximately £23 million per year, Wembley is set to settle the agreement in 2023.

A Wembley stadium accounts statement certified that officials had approached the FA:

“A significant reduction in Club Wembley renewals or a delay in season fee payments could put the company in default of its banking covenants.

“This specific uncertainty has been discussed with the FA and the directors are confident additional support is available should this be required.”

David Bernstein, Wembley National Stadium Limited Chairman also added: “We are not immune from the global economic slowdown, but we believe Wembley's facilities will reduce any downside in the next 12 months.”

FIRST PODCAST LAUNCHED ON iTUNES

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Stadia Directory is pleased to announce the launch of our new podcast. The show has been produced to complement the website by rounding up all the news of the week and in the first show, a 15 minute special, we’ll also expand on where we are now with things and our future plans for the site.

Future shows are more likely to be nearer to five minutes rather than 15 minutes but we hope our first show gives you a chance to get to know Jon and Chris who are the ones making things happen behind the scenes with the site.

The StadiaTech Podcast is available to download for free now.

A podcast is a digital audio file which you can listen to on your portable MP3 player or via your computer so anyone can listen. If you have never listened to a podcast before why not make the StadiaTech Podcast the first one you try

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes just by clicking here.

This may open up a page in your internet browser that serves to open up iTunes and take you directly to the page where you can subscribe. Afterwards you can close the internet browser window when prompted.

You can download the latest version of iTunes from Apple's website or alternatively, you can subscribe via an alternative player to iTunes, or via the RSS feed directly, please use the following URL:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/stadiatech

Once you’ve had a listen, please let us know what we think (see an email to info@stadiadirectory.com) because we’re keen to develop the podcast in line with your requirements.

We hope that it will be a useful addition to what we’re trying to achieve with StadiaDirectory.com.

HOUSTON DYNAMO BREAK GROUND FOR NEW HOME

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Houston Dynamo has taken a step closer towards their new soccer-specific stadium after an impressive ground breaking ceremony.

It means construction is now underway on the 22,000-seater downtown stadium in Houston, Texas.

The Major League Soccer club is set to spend $110 million on the venue which is expected to be completed by April 2012.

"Now, our dream is coming true, and with this moment, our very own stadium will soon be a reality. We couldn’t be more excited and thrilled," said Dynamo president Chris Canetti.

The Dynamo moved from San Jose just over five years ago in an attempt to find a more suitable stadium. During that time, they’ve used the Robertson Stadium sharing with the University of Houston football team.

A delighted Dominic Kinnear, club coach, said: "It’s one of the main reasons why we came here a little over five years ago, so we’ve all been on the outside of it waiting for it to happen."

The new stadium means the Dynamo are poised to become the 15th MLS team to play in a soccer specific stadium leaving just three other clubs in the league without their own venue.

GLOUCESTER SUBMIT PLANNING FOR NEW STADIUM

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Gloucester City Football Club will submit a planning application for a new stadium within the next two weeks.

The Blue Square Bet North club plan to build within the boundaries of their former ground Meadow Park. City have been without a home since the floods of the summer of 2007, having played one season at New Lawn, two seasons at The Corinium Stadium and the current season at Whaddon Road.

City chairman Nigel Hughes said: "After almost four years of uncertainty about the club’s future, and having to play our fixtures away from our city, I am delighted at this news.

"I am especially pleased for our supporters, who have throughout this very difficult time, been wonderfully supportive and extremely patient with us. There is still much work to be done but this gives us all a big lift and is something to work towards," he added.

The planning application will be submitted during the week commencing February 28 and will be the beginning of a long project to building a new home as club spokesman Mike Dunstan explained. "This is fantastic news not just because it’s the next step in the journey to bring the club back to the city.

"But also because we believe the scheme will bring significant benefits to our immediate neighbours and to the wider community, something that has been important to us as we have moved towards this point."

Despite being without a permanent stadium since 2007, City successfully achieved promotion to the Blue Square Bet North last season and believe a new home could help push the club towards the Football League.

BRISTOL CITY DISAPPOINTED WITH STADIUM REPORT

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol City Football Club hopes of building a new stadium at Ashton Vale took a big blow after planners recommended a new supermarket be refused permission.

Sainsbury’s want to build on City’s current ground at Ashton Gate which is part of an enabling development that will help provide funds for their new stadium. Bristol City chief executive Colin Sexstone told bcfc.co.uk: "The club is disappointed with the officers' recommendation. It fails to recognise the many benefits this development will bring to the wider area.

"It's important to remember that this is one of three major projects in south Bristol, along with the new stadium and regeneration of the Winterstoke Road site, which between them will bring over £100 million of private sector investment and thousands of jobs to the area," he added.

A decision will be made by the development control committee on Wednesday 2 March at Bristol City Council House. The meeting is open to the public and the club is urging as many supporters as possible to attend and show support.

"This combined development will help the local economy grow which in turn means that any potential impact on local shops will be far outweighed by the substantial positive economic impact of the major developments. This is a once in a life time opportunity that cannot be overlooked in today's economic climate!" Sexton added.

WEST HAM APPROVED OLYMPIC STADIUM TENANT

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

West Ham United and Newham Council's joint bid to take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games has been formally approved.

The Government and Mayor of London confirmed the Olympic Park Legacy Company's decision to recommend the club as the preferred bidders for the £537m venue. The Hammers plan to reduce the capacity to 60,000 in time for the 2014/2015 season.

Club vice-chairman Karren Brady said: "I'm grateful for their support and the clear recognition of the strengths of a financially strong, community-based bid that will do much for the regeneration of east London. We’ve been entrusted with a great responsibility and the OPLC's unanimous backing will only inspire us further to make good on our legacy promises.

"In many ways, the hard work starts now. The starting gun has been fired and we are off and running. This will be an Olympic Stadium to make everyone proud, a multi-sports, multi-event arena that will be both a spectacular local and global attraction. We will not let anyone down," she added.

After London 2012 the stadium will undergo a £95m conversion turning the 80,000-seater stadium to a 60,000-seater arena for football, athletics and cricket. Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales said: "We’re pleased the Government has recognised the strength of our bid, which is focused on guaranteeing community benefits for our residents and contributing to a meaningful legacy for east London, the capital and the country.

"We are working with our partners West Ham United on the commercial aspects of our joint bid and look forward to a handover of contracts later this year with the Olympic Park Legacy Company," he added.

CASTLEFORD TIGERS PLAN NEW STADIUM

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Castleford Tigers Rugby Club has announced it will leave its current home in a £50m deal that will see the land become a supermarket.

The club is preparing a move to a 20-acre site at Glasshoughton after agreing a deal to sell its current Wheldon Road stadium. The cash gained will be used to fund a move to a new stadium by 2013.

Tigers' chief executive, Richard Wright, said: "We’re in a very fortunate position to own the land at our current facility. It's our largest single financial asset and our business plan has always been to identify the sale and future usage that would provide the greatest financial return to fund the new stadium development."

The club is finalising its 2012 Super League licence application and is trying to secure its future in the top flight of rugby league. "I fully appreciate the fans will be disappointed that our move to Glasshoughton will be delayed," added Wright.

"However we anticipate our current facilities at the PROBIZ Stadium will be reviewed favourably, and will be complemented by our advanced plans to move to a new stadium within the next (Super League) licensing period. We're diligently putting the final touches to our licence application that we strongly believe will ensure Castleford Tigers remains a dominant force in Super League for many years to come."

POOLE STADIUM PLANS APPROVED

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Poole Town Football Club has received planning permission to build a new football stadium.

Members of the Borough of Poole planning committee voted unanimously to grant the club's application. It was approved despite being recommended for refusal by planning officers.

The new complex will feature two playing pitches, a 150-seater stand and pavilion, flood lighting and a 156-space car park. It will replace their current home at Tatnam Stadium.

Stephen Thorne, head of planning and regeneration services at the council, told the BBC: "Members of the planning committee considered the application and weighed up all the issues. We concluded that this was an exceptional application for a number of reasons.

"Members also made it clear that the remainder of the land should be safeguarded for future employment use in accordance with the council's core strategy," he added.

AFC BOURNEMOUTH IN DEAN COURT NAMING RIGHTS DEAL

Sun, 08 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

AFC Bournemouth has agreed a three year naming rights deal with Seward Motor Group to name their stadium.

In one of the club’s biggest ever commercial agreements, Dean Court will be known as Seward Stadium from July 1. The six figure deal was formally announced in front of one of the biggest crowds of the season prior to the final League 1 match against Rochdale before Bournemouth embarks on the Playoffs.

Seward chairman John Saunders told club website: "Our objective for the sponsorship, over and above genuine support for the club, is to generate front of mind awareness of our brand across a family market in the region. We are seeing this as an active partnership; part of our package includes some of our sales' profits reinvested back into the club."

As the Cherries head into the Play-Offs, this commercial injection sends out waves of positivity to a performing team hoping for its next phase of achievement. Chairman Eddie Mitchell is proud of both the club's results and commercial success.

"To see a good local family brand commit on this level is a testament indeed to the hard work which has gone into the club," he said. "The fans have never been so supportive and to have the backing of such strong commercial partnerships is reassurance to all that we are an ambitious Club with long term goals."

AFC Bournemouth is one of the only clubs in League 1 to achieve a naming rights deal.

ASHTON VALE DECISION WITHIN A MONTH

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Bristol City Football Club has welcomed the news that a decision on their proposed new stadium at Ashton Vale will be made within a month.

At a meeting yesterday following the local elections, the Council said it will now have to make a final decision based on the Town and Village Green report in the next month. The club granted planning permission for a new 30,000-seater stadium in October 2009 but local residents submitted an application for the site to become a town green earlier that month.

Since then talks, meetings and even mediation has failed to reach an amicable conclusion leaving the council to make the final decision. If the council decides to back the application for a town green it would effectively over-ride the planning permission and mean the football club could not build on Ashton Vale.

Reacting to the news, club executive director Guy Price told bcfc.co.uk: "It is Bristol City Council who has to make the final decision on whether the land that is earmarked for a new regional stadium. So it is encouraging to hear that they will make a decision soon. I welcome their commitment to make a decision, as that will at least give us and other investors certainty and enable us to plan accordingly."

The next full council meeting is on 21 June but it is thought they may convene earlier to reach a decision.

"Bristol cannot afford to miss out on the massive injection of confidence and belief that the stadium project will deliver - jobs, investment, community benefits, apprenticeships, reputation, increased visitor numbers, all of which are at a premium at this current time," added Price. "We, along with many other potential investors in the city, will watch and await the Council's decision with interest."

Whatever the final ruling the losing side has the chance to challenge the decision through a judicial review in the High Court which could see the episode drag on further leaving the club to extend its current home stay at Ashton Gate.

HEARTS CONSIDER TYNECASTLE REDEVELOPMENT

Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Heart of Midlothian Football Club has begun a joint study with Edinburgh Council to consider future stadium options.

Both parties are reviewing potential redevelopment of Tynecastle Stadium but also the possibility of building a new stadium at a different location. The club has seen recent plans for improving Tynecastle hit by health and safety regulations and building restrictions.

Hearts has launched an extensive consultation with supporter groups to find out what fans feel about the move. A club spokesman said: "The club believes that the commercial viability of redevelopment of Tynecastle should be measured against all available relocation options in order to deliver the best long term on and off field solution."

Findings from the report will be brought back to the Council's Economic Development Committee along with recommendations on how to take things forward. Tynecastle currently holds 17,420 but the club is keen to increase capacity to help boost finances in a push for further success on field.

NO GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION AT ASHTON GATE

Sat, 28 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Secretary of State will not intervene in Bristol City Council's decision to grant planning permission for a supermarket to be built at Ashton Gate.

It comes as good news to Bristol City Football Club as the works are a key part in the funding for a new regional stadium at Ashton Vale. The club plans to sell the site to Sainsbury’s to raise capital for a 30,000-seater venue to replace their current home at Ashton Gate.

Guy Price, who becomes the club's chief executive on June 1, said: "It's good to hear that, for the third time, the Secretary of State has decided that there is no need for him to call a Bristol City Council stadium planning decision in for him to determine centrally. He will only have made this decision on the grounds that it is right for Bristol to make this decision himself, and that he doesn't need to get involved.

"With the City Council due to make a decision on the Village Green issue shortly, the momentum behind the stadium plans is growing," he added. "If the Village Green application is rejected, which we hope will be the case, the final hurdle will be out of the way and we would look to make a start on the site quickly. That would be a huge relief and massive boost to the whole city."

The city council announced a decision over the new stadium could be made on 16 June. The Public Rights of Way Committee will meet to discuss an independent inspector's recommendation that the area should be made a town green.

If councillors back the recommendation it would stop the club’s plans to build the new stadium. Councillors could also refer the plans to full council which next meets on 21 June.

WEMBLEY TO HOST 2013 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Wembley Stadium has been chosen to host the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final.

The decision was announced at a UEFA press conference following an executive committee meeting and follows the success of last month’s Champions League Final at Wembley between Barcelona and Manchester United Football Club.

Wembley Stadium chairman Melvin Benn said: “It is an honour that Wembley has been chosen by UEFA to host the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final. It was always our aim to deliver the best ever Champions League Final in May to maximise our chances of getting it back.

"The fact that this announcement has come so soon after the success of the 2011 final shows just how impressed UEFA was with our stadium and with our team," he said. "Wembley is a world class stadium and was built to stage the very biggest and best events. We will now look forward to working with UEFA and putting on a spectacular final in 2013."

This will be the venue’s seventh European Cup Final after hosting the event in 1963, 1968, 1971, 1978, 1992 and most recently in May of 2011. It is also the first time the same stadium will stage the showpiece final twice in three seasons.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: "I am truly delighted that London will once again welcome Europe's footballing giants in 2013. There couldn't be a better fit. We are home to some of the very best of Europe's clubs, grounds and players. This is the contest of contests; and just a year after the Olympics, this couldn't be better."

Previously the record for the shortest gap at the same venue was four years – a record shared by the Prater Stadium in Vienna which hosted the final in 1987 and 1990 and Wembley for hosting the final in 1968 and 1971.

OLYMPIC STADIUM JUDICIAL REVIEW REJECTED

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The High Court has rejected bids by Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient Football Club for a judicial review into the future of the Olympic Stadium.

The two London clubs were trying to block the Olympic Park Legacy Company's verdict that West Ham and Newham Council should be the future occupants of the £537m venue. But Mr Justice Davis rejected their application to seek a judicial review, yet both clubs could still make another legal challenge.

A Spurs statement said they would consider the options over the next few days. The statement on the club's website added: "The club continues to hold discussions with both local and national government bodies in order to seek to determine a feasible stadium solution."

It is a different story for the Olympic Park Legacy Company and West Ham United as the ongoing saga over the venue’s future has brought widespread speculation. An OPLC spokesman told BBC News: "We are pleased with the ruling and continue to make good progress in our negotiations with the preferred bidder in order to be in a position to agree the final terms for the stadium's lease."

Recently relegated West Ham United was chosen as the future occupant and plans to reduce the stadium's capacity from 80,000 to 60,000 seats after the Olympics. It will stay as a multipurpose venue and retain the running track.

MAN CITY PLAN INCREASED CAPACITY

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Manchester City Football Club look set to become even noisier neighbours for rivals United as the club plans to transform their stadium.

City hope to transform the Etihad Stadium into a venue that contends with a 76,000-seater Old Trafford conducting various feasibility studies on stadium expansion. One of the most ambitious plans includes lifting the roof off and adding a whole new tier which would allow a capacity over 70,000 and massively increase potential match-day income.

The current capacity at the Etihad Stadium is 47,805 but many Premier League rivals are sounding out possible relocations or ground improvements to help compete off the field with Manchester United. The Red Devils have discussed an expansion which could take them to a whopping 95,000 seats which is causing City to rethink their options.

City are currently working on the completion of an academy project next to the stadium but are awaiting planning permission at the end of December. If approved, construction will begin on the campus, which is expected to take three years to build.

MK DONS STADIUM EXPANSION

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

MK Dons Football Club has announced plans to complete the second phase of their stadium by the start of next season.

The development is being funded by a new £56m retail development on the site and means capacity at Stadium:mk will increase from 22,000 to 32,000. The venue has been a work in progress since it was opened in 2007.

"It's something we've worked so hard for over the last few years," Dons chairman Pete Winkelman told BBC Three Counties Radio. "Being able to secure these kinds of deals in this kind of economic climate is a great green light for growth in Milton Keynes."

Despite attracting average attendances of 8,111 this season the League 1 side is not put off by lack of fans. Their biggest crowd so far this campaign, 10,554, against Scunthorpe in October which is more than 21,000 seats short of the ground's proposed capacity.

But Stadium:mk has managed to attract larger crowds through other events. Rugby union team Northampton Saints played Heineken Cup games in front of crowds of 21,309 and 18,231 against Ulster and Perpignan respectively. The venue also hosted England Under-21s against Bulgaria in a European Championship qualifier in November 2007 with a crowd of 20,222.

"It's not about the capacity for the football in the short term,” Winkelman added. “It's about the cultural infrastructure of Milton Keynes.

"We set our stall out that we would go and build a UEFA standard stadium. It's already brought us international games and of course the Saints games last year. So it's really about all the things we can do if we get the stadium finished."

The work on the stadium will focus on putting seats in the currently unused second tier. Initial plans for the project included the possibility of adding a third tier and taking the capacity to 45,000.

The retail park, which will be called MK1, will include spaces for four major retailers.

BASINGTOKE ANNOUNCE NEW PLANS STADIUM

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Basingstoke Town Football Club has announced plans to relocate to a new £10m stadium.

The 5,000-capacity ground west of the Hilton Basingstoke hotel would meet npower League 1 criteria. The project would be funded by replacing the existing Camrose stadium with a 90,000 sq ft retail development.

Club chairman Rafi Razzak said “Camrose has been a fantastic home for us for well over 60 years and it has seen many great sporting moments. But now it is in such need of modernising that it threatens to become a major obstacle to realising the club’s dreams.”

The historic venue has been the club's home since 1946 and the new plans clearly indicate the ambition of the Conference South side.

"The club doesn’t have the financial reserves to fund a redevelopment to the required level, so the only real solution is for us to sell the land and use the proceeds to secure our future,” added Razzak. “I’m excited by these plans and to be able to realise such ambitions in the current economic environment is remarkable.

"They are exactly what a community-minded club Basingstoke should be doing: working to support its community and local youngsters and give everyone a facility they can be proud of."

AMEX STADIUM CAPACITY TO INCREASE

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club has confirmed its planning application for an extra 8,000 seats has been submitted to the council.

The Seagulls moved into their new home £93m stadium in July, ending 14 years of a nomadic existence. The club said an application for a new training ground at New Monk's Farm, Lancing, had also been prepared.

Chief executive Martin Perry said the applications would be registered in the New Year and then consultation with interested parties would begin. "We intend to make this information available via the local media, via our various media and offer the public the opportunity to come and view plans - at the Amex and we are looking at the possibility of taking a roadshow to Lancing with regard to the training ground application," he added.

The Amex Stadium currently has a capacity of 22,500 seats.

NEW MULTI-SPORT ARENA FOR DERBY

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Derby City Council have submitted plans for a brand new £20m multi sports arena in the city.

The futuristic 14,500m2 venue is to be built next to Pride Park Stadium and will include a 250 metre indoor cycling track and 1.5km outdoor closed cycle circuit. There will also be fitness and wellbeing facilities, a large sports infield plus catering and hospitality facilities.

“We have designed an iconic building which will compliment Pride Park Stadium, but will also function as a stand-alone facility” explains Mace project director, David Grose. “The sculptured form will be very striking, exhibiting fluidity and movement to reflect the activities taking place inside”

As well as offering a wide range of sports, the arena has been designed with an audience capacity of 5,000 which will allow Derby to stage cultural events, exhibitions and conferences.

Claire Davenport, director of leisure and culture said: “The multi-sport arena will provide the city with fantastic modern facilities to be proud of and will form part of our lasting Olympic legacy for the people of Derby. Our commitment to transforming Derby’s leisure facilities will play a key role in the future economic growth of the city not to mention benefitting generations to come.”

The arena will sit on the existing park and ride facility, so around 600 new spaces will be built between the arena and football stadium to replace those lost and to provide additional capacity.