North West

Kicking off the new season in style

Greater Manchester Super League rugby club, the Salford City Reds, are currently celebrating the opening of a new £16 million premier sporting and community stadium.

The 70-acre Salford City Stadium is located just eight miles from Manchester City Centre and serves as a purpose-built, fully licensed sports and entertainment hub for the local community. In addition to a pitch and changing rooms for regular rugby matches, the development also includes office, retail and events facilities.

Boasting a capacity of 12,000 people, the stadium was completed in December 2011 under a joint venture between Salford City Council and Peel Holdings. Main contractor Buckingham Group Contracting constructed the stadium on derelict land, whilst the project also included a new access route via Liverpool Road and the construction of a new traffic light junction off the A57.

Salford City Council and Peel Holdings will now maintain management duties for the stadium and will licence the premises for use by the Salford rugby club. This successful partnership has already seen a number of games played at the stadium grounds, the first of which took place in January 2012.

Salford City Council Leader, Councillor John Merry, said:

“This development is another landmark in Salford’s regeneration, adding to an already impressive line-up nearby of The Lowry and MediaCityUK. The partnership approach that was adopted also means that the city will be part-owner of a major sporting and community asset.

“Sport is a big business these days and making suitable, state-of-the art facilities available for a successful club will bring economic benefits to the city. Our plan is about supporting sport in Salford.”

Salford City Council Deputy Leader, Councillor David Lancaster, added:

“The construction of the stadium has provided new opportunities to promote Salford locally, regionally and nationally. Local people and sports fans can get behind its use and in turn, this will help boost recognition for Salford as a great city to live, work and invest in.”

The new stadium has been built to Super League requirements and includes a 122m x 86m fibre based grass pitch with automated irrigation, 12 ten-person executive boxes and a 60-seat function room with additional outside seating.

A 750-seat banqueting suite with pitch side views will be located in the West Stand and will include a mobile LED dance floor, a state-of-the-art PA system and automatic blackout blinds.

Additional facilities include on-site parking for over 600 cars, two public lifts, three kitchens, a pressroom for up to forty journalists and Wi-Fi throughout the stadium.

Buckingham Group Director, Tim Brown, said:

“We are extremely delighted to have been awarded the Salford City Stadium construction. Not only does this exciting new development benefit the people of Salford, but it is a significant boost for the Salford City Reds and its fans as they begin their campaign for a new Super League licence.”

In addition to providing a home for the Salford City Reds, the new stadium also boasts a number of community sports facilities. These include a floodlit 3G artificial pitch that incorporates 3 seven-a-side pitches and a 118m x 86m recreational grass pitch. Four changing rooms for community use have also been created.

Salford City Council Leader, Councillor John Merry, said:

“This stadium is very much about the community in Salford. We wanted to create a set of facilities that would be accessible to everyone and really support local sport in the city.

“Even before it had opened, the stadium was named as one of the venues for the 2013 Rugby World Cup, which was great news for sport in the city. Having the Reds play at the stadium means more fans than ever will get to see their team play.”

Over the last decade, a substantial investment has been made in the regeneration of Salford. With Salford City Stadium now complete, the development joins Salford Quays and MediaCityUK in bringing greater economic prosperity to the region.

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