Leeds have announced plans to modernise Elland Road, increasing its capacity from 37,645 to 53,000 and turning it into one of Europe's leading arenas, making it the seventh-largest club stadium in England.
The Championship team's long-standing home ground has a fantastic atmosphere but is showing signs of wear and tear and is set to undergo what Leeds call a “re-envisioning and revamp”.
“We recognise how important Elland Road is to Leeds United fans and the wider community, and the opportunity to renovate a 100-year-old stadium is unprecedented,” said Parag Marathe, Leeds chairman and president of the club's owners, San Francisco-based 49ers Enterprises.
“Our plans reinforce our commitment to the club's long-term success and we are delighted to be able to welcome thousands of supporters to our stadium every game, whilst maintaining the unique atmosphere at Elland Road.”
49er Enterprises has a proven track record when it comes to building stadiums, having built the 68,500-seat Levi's Stadium, home to NFL franchise the San Francisco 49ers.
The aim is to secure Elland Road's UEFA elite status and give it a capacity larger than Newcastle's St James' Park (52,305) and roughly equivalent to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium (53,400).
Leeds City Council Leader, Councillor James Lewis, said: “This investment will also serve as the catalyst for wider regeneration plans for south Leeds and will be an opportunity of national significance.
Lewis spoke about plans to upgrade Leeds station, build another station closer to the ground and introduce a mass transit route from the city centre to the Elland Road area.
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This year, ownership of Elland Road, Leeds' home ground since 1919, was returned to the club for the first time in 20 years, allowing Leeds to put plans into action aimed at reducing their season-ticket waiting list of 26,000 people. Every home game for the past six years has been sold out.
No timeline has been announced for what has been described as a “phased project,” but 49er Enterprises has hired an acoustic consultant to help preserve the field's ambience.
