North East & Yorkshire

Elland Road redevelopment nears its goal

A £7.5m redevelopment project at Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium is nearing completion.

The Leeds United East Stand – Phase 1 project has been designed to increase the size of the existing stand and will see the installation of over 20 new executive boxes as well as the creation of additional hospitality areas.  This will in turn increase the capacity of the stand and provide better match day facilities.

Redevelopment work at the 13,300 capacity stand began in March 2011 and the project is due to be completed in February 2012.

Works have included the creation of new executive boxes with increased concourse size for Leeds United fans.  This will be achieved through the reconfiguration of the upper tier to the existing East Stand in order to create a new Executive Box level.

New dining and kitchen facilities and a new general spectator upper concourse are also being constructed, as well as a new reception area and a brand new club museum.   The lounge areas will be accessed from a new central core where the main reception is located, whilst other internal works will include new finishes, bars, toilets and four passenger lifts.

Externally, there will be a revised turnstile arrangement and the existing stand will be extended to accommodate new floor slabs to the lounge areas and the new central core.

The redevelopment was designed by KSS Design Group and main contractors for the project are Caddick Construction Limited. Halcrow Yolles is the consultant for all structural, mechanical and electrical works.

Leeds United CEO, Shaun Harvey, said: “The new development increases our corporate and hospitality areas, which will not only benefit us on a match day, but will also strengthen our conference and events business.

“The new boxes will generate increased commercial income and the increased concourse sizes will benefit the fans that use the stand.”

As the work has taken place on an existing stand in the stadium, the upper tier seating area has remained closed throughout the construction phase.  However, fans have been able to access the lower tier. Special consideration has been made throughout the redevelopment so that there has been as little disruption to club events and match fixtures as possible.

Due to the noise of extensive demolition works, office staff at Leeds United Football Club were temporarily relocated to the South Stand.  In addition, alternative dining facilities were introduced until the kitchens were completed.  The Elland Road Superstore has remained open during the entire programme of the work.

Shaun said: “We’re delighted with the progress that has been made and the work that has taken place so far.

“What is important to remember is that it has taken place in difficult circumstances, with the club requiring use of the stand for home matches throughout much of the construction period.”

Work remaining on the redevelopment includes the creation of museum space, finishes to the reception area, final service commissioning and completion of the central entrance landscaping works.

 

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