This legendary northern stadium will soon become one of the UK’s biggest football grounds

Not only have Leeds United been on a decent run of form of late, the Yorkshire football club have recently received planning permission to expand their home ground. Elland Road, which has been Leeds’ home since the club was formed in 1919, is set to become one of the biggest club stadiums in the UK.

Elland Road currently holds just over 37,600, but the plan is to boost that all the way to 53,000. The club will increase capacity partly by expanding the west and north stands, and partly by altering the south stand. This will help meet demand for tickets from supporters – the club have 26,000 people on the waiting list for season tickets.

And isn’t just the capacity that is set to change at Leeds’ home ground. ‘Fan comfort, sightlines and matchday amenities’ will also get a boost, with comfier seats, enhanced concourses and accessibility improvements. The plans were approved by Leeds City Council on January 8.

Elland Road opened in 1897 and has had several refurbs over the years. It was last majorly redeveloped in the mid-1990s, when it was made an all-seated venue. The trick with the upcoming expansion will no doubt be to maintain the ground’s atmosphere, which is among the loudest and fiercest in the Premier League. 

Once the upgrades are complete, Leeds United says that Elland Road will have UEFA Category 4 status. This means it will achieve the highest category for football stadiums in Europe and open the door to hosting more international games. The club have also hinted at hosting more ‘showcase events’ and in the past the venue has hosted gigs by the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, Rod Stewart and U2.

Work on the expansion will begin immediately, with major construction starting at the end of the current football season in May 2026. Elland Road is set to remain open throughout the works, which the club reckons will generate around £29 million a year for the local city region. The Yorkshire Evening Post reports that the west stand is set to be complete by the end of 2028 and the north stand in 2030.

Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe said about the plans: ‘We are delighted to have secured planning permission for the expansion of Elland Road Stadium. This is a historic day for Leeds United Football Club.

‘As custodians of this great club, we are committed to its long-term success, and today’s decision supports our ambition to establish Leeds in the Premier League and continue progressing over the years to come. I would like to thank everyone involved in the project to date, for helping us reach this point.’

The Whites aren’t the only English football club with big stadium plans at the mo. The likes of Birmingham, Manchester United and Luton Town are all planning to build spectacular new venues, while in London the likes of Arsenal and Crystal Palace have big upgrades in their sights.

Once the expansion is complete (and assuming no other clubs increase capacity in the meantime), Elland Road will become the seventh biggest club football stadium in England and the 12th biggest stadium in the country. 

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