Leeds is England’s biggest one-club city and the club’s loyal fans had to live through relegations, point deductions, administration and a string of disastrous ownership situations before they were finally able to return to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020.
But even that didn’t last, as the Argentine was fired less than a season after guiding the club to a top-ten finish in 2020/21, with relegation following 14 months later. The club are now back in the second tier, but their ownership group 49ers Enterprises have just announced an ambitious set of development plans that they can help the club achieve a more stable future.
Leeds have called Elland Road home since the club was founded in 1919 and while the stadium can produce one of the most intimidating atmospheres in English football, the ground is feeling its age. FourFourTwo ranked it as the 16th-best stadium in English football last year, though – so it’s still got some character, at least.
The last major building work done to the stadium was the building of a new 17,000-seater East Stand in 1993, with the stadium consistently selling out as supply far outstrips demand in a city that has a population approaching 800,000. Every match has been sold out for the past six years and the season ticket waiting list currently sits at 26,000 fans.
The club announced on Monday that they are looking to modernise the stadium and hike capacity up from 37,000 to around 53,000, which would place Leeds in the top seven stadiums in England, ahead of Newcastle United and alongside Manchester City.
Owners 49ers Enterprises are looking to leverage their experience in building the San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium a decade ago, with the plans focusing on increasing capacity in the north and west stands, while bringing the ground in line with UEFA Category 4 status.
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