Elland Road

From Free net encyclopedia

Elland Road is the home stadium of the football team Leeds United. It has recently been sold by the club in a 25-year sale-lease back deal with a commercial buy-back provision for when the club’s finances improve.

The most recent stand at Elland Road is the East Stand, a huge cantilever structure which was completed during the 1992-93 season and holds 17,000 seated spectators, the largest such cantilever in the world. The Don Revie Stand (also known as the Kop terrace) was opened at the start of the 1994-95 season, holding just under 7,000 seated spectators, after a refurbishment scheme. It was named after Don Revie, the club's most successful manager of all time. The South Stand (previously known as the 'scratching shed') was built in 1971 and until 1993 the lower tier accommodated standing spectators, but this section of terracing was replaced by seating to comply with the requirements of the Taylor Report.

Following a fire which destroyed the original West Stand in September 1956, a public appeal raised £60,000 towards a new one which was opened in August 1957 at a cost of £180,000. The roof of the West Stand holds a television commentary gantry and walkway for TV personnel who may be asked to film here on a matchday. The adjoining conference centre and banqueting suite behind the stand was opened in 1991.

The ground has hosted several England Internationals, the most recent was against Italy. It also hosted several group games during the Euro 96 tournament. In addition to football the ground has hosted rugby league in the past including being temporary home to the Hunslet Hawks. It also hosted the rugby league Tri-Nations final in 2004 and 2005 and the Carnegie World Club Challenge in 2005.

Elland Road has also hosted concerts the most notable of which saw the band Queen play at the stadium in 1982 and Irish rock band U2 play at the stadium five years later.

During the close season of 1994 the names of all Leeds United players who have represented their country were listed on an International Honours Board in the club reception area and this is updated regularly.

In September 2001, the then Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale announced plans for relocation to a new 50,000-seat stadium at nearby Skelton because Elland Road's capacity was inadequate for such an ambitious club. Ridsdale was also considering the possibility of improving Elland Road. If any improvements at Elland Road are carried out, they are likely to involve the reconstruction of the three older stands at the stadium. But the relocation plans soon fell through when the club encountered rising debts and finally relegation from the Premiership in 2004. Any relocation or expansion is unlikely considering the club's current position.

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