Bigger than the Etihad: Elland Road Set for Major Expansion as Leeds United Chief Offers Fresh Detail

Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear has given an update on plans to renovate Elland Road, with the club aiming for a capacity of roughly 53,000 seating.

This stadium expansion is one that has been considered by former owners such as Andrea Radrizzani, and is now actively pursued by the 49ers ownership group.

Meeting the Massive Demand

It is hoped that the increase in capacity will satisfy the huge demand for over 22,000 fans currently on the Leeds season-ticket waiting list at Elland Road.

Kinnear said as much on The Square Ball podcast, which could finally be a reality now that he has revealed for the first time there is ‘real traction’ behind expanding the stadium.

He highlighted that the 49ers “are spending a lot of money to create a special project team.”

It involves a team of environmentalists, transport planners, designers, and engineers who meet regularly to finalize the expansion plans.

Planning application to be submitted soon Kinnear also hinted that the club is aiming to submit a planning application in the near future which will provide further clarity on the design and how capacity is divided.

The existing proposal involves increasing the capacity of the stadium to approximately 53,000, which would put it alongside some of England’s biggest football grounds.

A lot of this space will be taken up across general admission (GA) seats, with hospitality areas also set to be improved especially in the West Stand which right now doesn’t have many premium options.

Competing with Premier League Giants

If the expansion goes ahead, Elland Road would also be bigger than a number of prominent Premier League grounds, such as Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium and Newcastle United’s St James’ Park.

Here’s how Elland Road would stack up against other UK stadiums:

Wembley Stadium: 90,000 seats

Old Trafford: 74,197 seats

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: 62,850 seats

London Stadium: 62,500 seats

Anfield: 61,276 seats

Emirates Stadium: 60,704 seats

Elland Road (planned): 53,000 seats

Etihad Stadium: 52,900 seats

St James’ Park: 52,258 seats

This expansion aligns with Leeds United’s vision to set up a position amongst the top clubs in the country both on and off the field.

Kinnear focused, though, on the financial viability of the project being crucial to us remaining in the Premier League.

That greater potential will only be viable if Leeds continues to compete at the highest level, so that the club’s growing fanbase can witness their team in a world-class stadium.

The prospect of a wider Elland Road is, after all, the stuff of dreams for Leeds fans.

But even if plans are in their earliest stages, the extent of the 49ers’ commitment and the level of detail already developed is a sign that an expanded stadium might soon go from ambition to reality.

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