The latest football ground news from around the world. New stadiums, ground renovations and records - it's all here. Heard some news that you think should be featured? Drop us a line through the contact page. Want to keep up-to-date with the latest stadium news by email? Sign up to the site and join the monthly stadium newsletter.
Friday 25th October 2019
SC Freiburg's new stadium has had a strange condition attached to its planning permission banning it from hosting matches at night or on a Sunday afternoon.
The Bundesliga side have already begun work on the stadium after the council threw out complaints from local residents regarding increased traffic and noise pollution. However, in a strange twist, the council is now effectively forcing the team to only play matches on a Saturday afternoon.
The decision will work in traditionalists' favour as many fans in Germany are upset at their matches being moved for TV coverage, much like fans are in England.
The new 34,000 seater, €80m stadium is due to be ready for the start of the 2020/2021 season.
Thursday 24th October 2019
The Danish Football Association has announced plans to build a new 50,000 capacity football stadium in Copenhagen.
The organisation believes Denmark is lagging behind the rest of Europe and wants to build its own super stadium that would be home to the national team and also allow it to hold prestigious events such as the Champions League and Europa League finals.
The country currently plays at the 38,000 capacity Parken Stadium, which will host 4 games at next year's Euro 2020. However, facilities at the stadium are seen as lacking, particularly when compared to more modern stadiums around Europe.
No designs or location have been revealed yet, but the FA have specified that it must be built in the capital, Copenhagen.
Tuesday 22nd October 2019
Watford have reportedly started exploring the possibility of increasing the capacity of Vicarage Road.
The Hertfordshire club have the 3rd smallest stadium in the Premier League which hampers matchday revenue. The current capacity of 21,577 is above only Burnley's Turf Moor (21,401) and AFC Bournemouth's Dean Court (11,464).
Discussions are at a very early stage and nothing formal has been confirmed by the club, but it is believed that the Hornets have hired the firm responsible for the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and are looking to spend £40m to bring the capacity up to around 32,000.
Tuesday 22nd October 2019
Major League Soccer has confirmed Sacramento Republic FC as its 29th team.
The club are currently members of the USL Championship (which is effectively the second tier of football in the US), but will join the MLS Western Conference in time for the 2022 season.
Republic were formed in 2014 and won the league in their second season. Their move to the MLS will see them leave their current home at Papa Murphy's Park for a new 25,000 capacity soccer-specific stadium.
The city has a population of around 500,000 (the 35th largest in America) and is located around 90 miles north-east of San Francisco. Sacramento will become the 4th Californian team in the MLS joining Los Angeles Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes and LAFC.
Friday 18th October 2019
Leeds United are looking to expand the capacity of Elland Road to 50,000… if the club secure a return to the Premier League.
The club announced the plans as part of their 100th birthday celebrations and have spent the last 15 years in the Championship and League 1.
No formal plans have been drawn up yet and a planning application hasn’t been submitted, however the club’s plans to increase the height of the West Stand to match the current East Stand. This would increase the current 37,890 capacity up to around 50,000.
Saturday 12th October 2019
Belgian top flight side Sporting Charleroi have revealed plans to build a new stadium.
The club have played at the Stade du Pays since 1939 but are to move to the new stadium as part of the local council's plans to regenerate an area of former steelworks and mining grounds to the west of the city. The new ground will be around 3.5 miles away from the Stade du Pays.
The old ground was one of four in Belgium to co-host Euro 2000 with the Netherlands, when the capacity was expanded to 30,000. After the tournament, capacity was reduced to 15,000.
The new stadium will have a capacity in the region of 20,000-25,000, substantially larger than last season's average attendance of 8,300.
The new stadium has an estimated cost of €60m. No opening date has yet been announced.
Friday 11th October 2019
Orlando city are to renovate an old baseball stadium to turn it into the new home for their B team.
The club have acquired the rights to the land at Osceola Heritage Park to the south of the city near Kissimmee, and will turn the old Osceola County Stadium into the new 5,400 capacity stadium suitable for football.
The B team play in USL League One which is effectively the third tier in American "soccer" after the MLS and USL Championship. The club previously played its home games at Monteverde Academy.
It is expected that Orlando City B will be in the new stadium in time for the start of the 2020 season in March.
Monday 7th October 2019
Building with has begun on Boston United's new stadium.
The National League North side have played at York Street since their formation back in 1933, but must leave their home next season when their lease expires.
The new 5,000 capacity Boston Community Stadium is being built to Football League standards in the hope that the Pilgrims can regain their place in the EFL after being relegated from League 2 in 2007.
The new stadium is part of a larger development called The Quadrant which is located to the south west of the town centre and will also feature around 500 new homes.
Boston are hoping to be in their new £12m stadium for the start of the 2020/2021 season.
Thursday 3rd October 2019
Shamrock Rovers' Tallaght Stadium is to have its capacity more than doubled to 20,000.
The council-owned stadium which turns 10 this year, will see capacity raised from the current 8,000 in an attempt to make the venue more attractive to concerts as well as improving facilities for sporting events such as football.
The €4.7m development would make it one of the larger football stadiums in Ireland, although still a long way behind the 51,700 capacity Aviva Stadium. Rovers finished 2nd in the league this season with attendances around 2,500.
Wednesday 2nd October 2019
Columbus Crew have revealed their updated plans for a new 20,000 capacity stadium in the downtown area of the city.
The MLS Eastern Conference side were taken over by new owners last year and fought off the threat of being relocated to Austin, Texas. The new owners have big ambitions for the Crew and have signalled their intent by starting work the new $230m development.
The new stadium features steep banking to ensure fans are close to the action, as well as a continuous concourse around the entire stadium which will allow fans to view the action from any angle. In an MLS first, the new ground will also include a supporters’ beer garden.
Columbus currently play at Mapfre Stadium which was the first soccer-specific ground to open in the US, back in 1999. This will be turned into a community sports park once the Crew move out.
It is hoped that the new stadium will be ready for summer 2021. More images can be found below:
Wednesday 2nd October 2019
Costa Rican top flight side Herediano are to build a new stadium. The new 16,000 capacity venue will become the 3rd largest stadium in Costa Rica, after Alejandro Morera Soto (18,000) and Ricardo Saprissa (23,000).
Herediano are the 3rd most successful club in Costa Rican history with 27 league titles and 10 national cups to their name. They are also one of only 2 clubs in Costa Rica to never have been relegated.
The new stadium will be double the capacity of their current Estadio Eladio Rosabel Cordero which has been the club's home since 1951.
It is hoped that the new stadium will be open in 2021, with work scheduled to start in January next year. The new ground will also include a gym, shops, restaurants and a museum.
A video can be seen on the club's Twitter:
Con mucho honor, orgullo y esperanza les presentamos un proyecto que tiene muchas horas de trabajo y la ilusión de un grupo de profesionales que buscan darle a la afición rojiamarilla el estadio que ellos se merecen: El Nuevo Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero #SomosElTeam pic.twitter.com/hesVS3uZFD
— Club Sport Herediano (@csherediano1921) October 1, 2019
Thursday 26th September 2019
Italian giant Inter and AC Milan have been presented with 2 possible designs for their new stadium which will replace the San Siro.
'Rings of Milano' features linked rings on the outside of the stadium to portray a United front for the Milanese clubs who have shared a stadium since 1947. The rings would feature LED lighting enabling the stadium to look visually different for each team's home matches.
The other design is dubbed 'The Cathedral' and takes inspiration from the city's architecture, covering the outside of the stadium in a glass facade.
The two striking designs showcase how the new 60,000 capacity stadium could look, if their plans were approved. The total budget for the project is an estimated £1.1bn.