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#1 · (Edited)
British Stadiums - 15 Largest Countdown!

A summary of the UK's largest (though not necessarily best!) stadia. Note - Have included those currently under construction, but not those still in the planning stages. Also please note that they are not in order of what I think is 'best', but purely in order of capacity... Enjoy!


Britain's Top 15 Stadiums in terms of size:

1) Wembley Stadium, London: English national football stadium.
Capacity - 90,000
(Under Construction - opens 2006)







2) Twickenham Stadium, London: English national rugby stadium.
Capacity – 83,000
(Currently being expanded from 75-83,000)







3) Old Trafford, Manchester: Home of Manchester United F.C.
Capacity – 75,000
(Currently being expanded from 68-75,000)







4) Millennium Stadium, Cardiff: Welsh national football and rugby stadium.
Capacity – 73,000







5) Murrayfield, Edinburgh: Scottish national rugby stadium.
Capacity – 67,000







6) New Anfield, Liverpool: New home of Liverpool F.C.
Capacity – 61,000
(Groundwork just begun – Opens 2007/2008)







7) Celtic Park, Glasgow: Home of Celtic F.C.
Capacity – 61,000







8) Emirates Stadium, London: New home of Arsenal F.C.
Capacity – 60,000
(Under Construction – opens 2006)







9) Hampden Park, Glasgow: Scottish national football stadium.
Capacity - 53,000







10) St. James' Park, Newcastle: Home of Newcastle United F.C.
Capacity – 53,000







11) Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow: Home of Rangers F.C.
Capacity – 51,000







12) Stadium of Light, Sunderland: Home of Sunderland A.F.C.
Capacity – 49,000







13) City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester: Home of Manchester City F.C.
Capacity – 48,000







14) Villa Park, Birmingham: Home of Aston Villa F.C.
Capacity – 44,000







15) Stamford Bridge, London: Home of Chelsea F.C.
Capacity – 43,000



 
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#5,208 ·
So, as FC United end their legal battle, Cambridge United's fight for a new stadium is about to start. :|

Campaigners are battling plans for a new community stadium south of Cambridge with united opposition amid fears about the impact on Grantchester Meadows.

Four residents’ associations and two parish councils have signed a letter which warns construction of an 8,000-seater ground for Cambridge United plus 400 homes near Trumpington would be a disaster.

They are concerned about the loss of green belt land and the merging of the city with nearby villages, plus traffic and parking.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/New...dges-new-community-stadium-20130320100006.htm
 
#5,209 ·
Good grief, yet another potential new stadium (Slough Town F.C.) legal battle. :eek:hno:



Council chiefs vow to fight government order to give up stadium site for free school

COUNCIL chiefs have pledged they will take their fight against a government order to give a site to a free school to the courts.

Slough Borough Council chiefs have accused the Department for Education of making a 'shocking' and 'ill-informed' U-turn after officials sent a letter to the council ordering them to give the old Arbour Vale School site to the trust behind a new Sikh free school.

Council chief executive Ruth Bagley responded to the letter today, stating the council would lose £8m if its plans for the site - including a new football stadium for Slough Town, community sports facilities and housing - had to be scrapped.

She also vowed to push for a judicial review if the Government enforces legislation which could force the council to flog the land.
https://www.google.com/url?q=http:/...ds-cse&usg=AFQjCNH_-FdV8E3zJh5spN1zW37jCyeizw
 
#5,211 ·
West Ham get Olympic Stadium after government ups funding

West Ham will be anchor tenants for the Olympic Stadium after the government agreed to put in an extra £25m towards the costs of converting the venue.

The additional money takes the Treasury's contribution to around £60m.

Adapting the stadium could cost between £150m and £190m.

Under conversion plans, the roof will be extended and the seating capacity reduced from 80,000 to 60,000, with a retractable system allowing the venue to be converted from an athletics arena to football stadium within days.

Seats will slide over the running track to bring West Ham fans closer to the action.

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) will begin work on the roof in the autumn and officials hope it will be ready for the autumn of 2015 - in time for the Rugby World Cup.

After that the stadium will close again to reconfigure the stadium's lower seating bowl and re-open in time for West Ham to start playing their games there in August 2016.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21889864

Good news :)
 
#5,221 ·
Well, at least they're not stopping at half-a***d... They're going full on by shoehorning a compromised form into a "temporary" structure! Good on ya, London!

Which of course means the location will give this venue a role in a future World Cup over the likes of Emirates, WHL or anything more, excuse me, Moore proper.

Right then. :cheers:
 
#5,215 ·
West Ham United are delighted to confirm that the Olympic Stadium will be their home from the 2016/17 season



West Ham United are today celebrating the historic announcement by Mayor of London Boris Johnson granting them the right to make the Olympic Stadium their home from the start of the 2016/17 season.

As a result of the announcement, the Hammers have released new images of the innovatively transformed Stadium so the West Ham supporters can for the first time see the dynamic proposals that will transform the Stadium, already a prestigious part of the UK's sporting heritage, into a world-class UEFA category 4, 54,000-seater Stadium fit to host the world's most famous competitions during the football season.

Having been bound by strict confidentiality agreements imposed upon them, the club are now set to embark on a detailed, independent supporter consultation process to help ensure the Stratford stadium matches the high standards Hammers fans would expect from their new home.

Vice-Chairman Karren Brady said: "I'm delighted that we have been confirmed today as the anchor concessionaire for the Olympic Stadium. I commend my two Chairmen for their passion and commitment. I am delighted this has been rewarded now that their ambition to see the Club they love enjoy a bright future at the Olympic Stadium has been realised.

"It was important to me that we struck a deal that would stand the test of time that represented the right deal for West Ham United and our loyal and patient supporters.

"The consultation we have promised them will now begin and we can't wait to work with them to create a stunning new home that befits the pride, passion and tradition that the world associates with West Ham United."

Joint-Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold said: "'It's fantastic for everyone at West Ham United that at last all the Club's hard work over the past three years has paid off. Since we came to West Ham in 2010 we have had a vision to really take the club forward so West Ham United can compete on the pitch at the highest level.

"Today's decision offers us a real platform to do this and we are fully committed to making it a real success. We understand the responsibilities that come with calling the nation's iconic Olympic Stadium, which will be converted into a world-class football stadium, our new home. It is an honour we will take on with pride.''

West Ham United will shortly launch a Q+A document for supporters, which details some of the most common questions about the move. The club will be adding to the document with further questions from fans over the coming weeks. Supporters can email in questions to yourosquestions@westhamunited.co.uk



West Ham United Football Club







 
#5,222 ·
Temporary seating was ruled out due to the cost of storing it, plus the time it takes to erect and remove, hence the reason why they've opted for the Stade de France retractable seating option for the lower bowl.

The initial renders are more to do with giving West Ham fans an idea of how the stadium could look with West Ham's branding on it, and you're likely to get more detailed images once the planning documents have been submitted.
 
#5,226 ·
You'll certainly get a better understanding once the planning documents are submitted to the PPDT. At least then the rake of the retractable lower tier will be known, so will the actual distances between the pitch and the stands. West Ham's owners won't be able to hide those facts with shiny renders.
 
#5,235 ·
What about the upper tier? I remember a pic from a while back showing sections of seating 'tapering' into a smaller size near the replay screens (similar to Wembley). Was that just speculation, or is that what is happening? I ask as I remember a post from someone ages ago who speculated that seating in the upper tier behind the goals might be covered up to allow extra seats to be made available for events other than football matches. What does everyone think? ~54,000 permanently, or just for West Ham matches? The renders and quotes so far don't really give a lot away.

:cheers:
 
#5,239 ·
I believe it's about 20,000.

That would be too big in League One, but if they got up to the championship, which the typical new stadium boost in support should help them achieve, then drawing 14,000 or so each week wouldn't be unexpected.

It would be more or less ideal, as I'm assuming they aren't building a stadium with the plan on staying in League One forever.
 
#5,241 ·
Villagers and fans can have their say about plans for Cambridge City FC’s new home in Sawston.

A six-week consultation has been launched by South Cambridgeshire District Council over proposals for a 3,000-capacity ground on the site of a former tip north-west of Dales Manor Business Park.

More details of the scheme have been published, revealing the stadium would also boast two floodlit training pitches, conference and fitness facilities, and 300 parking spaces.

The capacity would include 500 seats.


The 35-acre site was bought by club president Len Satchell last year, seven years on from the sale of the club’s existing Milton Road home for housing.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cam...-new-Cambridge-City-ground-20130324120000.htm



 
#5,417 ·
Update:

Cambridge City's plans for new stadium in Sawston kicked into touch

Villagers have seen off plans for a new stadium for Cambridge City in Sawston.

The football club must go back to the drawing board after South Cambridgeshire District Council last night said concerns about the loss of green belt land and increased traffic meant it would not earmark a former tip north-west of Dales Manor Business Park for the 3,000-seater ground.


Similar issues saw proposals for a new stadium for Cambridge United south of Trumpington ruled out last month.

Len Satchell, Cambridge City’s president, bought the 35-acre site in Sawston last year, seven years on from the sale of the club’s historic home in Milton Road for housing.

Cllr Pippa Corney, the district council’s planning policy chief, said there had been “a lot of opposition” to the club’s proposals.

She said: “The residents of Sawston quite clearly said they didn’t think it was a suitable location and at the end of the day we are trying to listen to what people say.

“We will keep working with the club and we will try to find a solution for them.”

Cllr David Bard, who represents Sawston, said the impact of matchday traffic on Babraham Road had been a key worry - although he questioned why so many homes in the village were considered acceptable while the stadium was not.

Cllr Bard said: “There was quite a significant majority of representations in opposition to the stadium and these concerns mainly related to traffic and access.”

Plans for 138 homes on the site of the Milton Road ground were approved earlier this year.

The Lilywhites will share Histon’s ground next season, after plans to relocate to Newmarket fell through.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cam...-Sawston-kicked-into-touch-20130603170000.htm
 
#5,253 ·
I agree with that sentiment, Griffin Park is one of my favourite stadiums in country because it's got a great degree of character.

Saying that, moving to a new stadium will increase attendances and as such money coming in, atleast it's not in some out of town "entertainment complex", complete with Frankie and Benny's and takes an hour to get too.
 
#5,254 ·
Something that is a hot topic on Brentford's forum:

Rugby sharing

We are expected to share with a rugby club and stadium has been designed around this. As reported in the press we have been in conversation with several clubs. The club would consider either tenancy or shared ownership of the stadium, most Rugby clubs seem to prefer shared ownership.

The pitch is sized for both Rugby and Football, to allow for Rugby we have to have longer run-offs behind the goal but the width will be consistent across sports. The venue would have been suitable and met key criteria for the 2015 Rugby World Cup if it had been ready in time.
More info regarding the new stadium can be found here:

http://www.griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=103713
 
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