Elland Road, is a football stadium in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, which has been the home of Leeds United since the club's formation in 1919. The stadium is the 14th largest football stadium in England.
Elland Road has been the permanent residence of Leeds United since their foundation in 1919, following the disbanding of Leeds City F.C. The stadium has been significantly remodelled and extended several times in its history, most recently in the early 21st century, following Leeds United's promotion to the Premier League. Its current capacity stands at 37,890.
The stadium was initially used for rugby league matches and its first football match was Leeds United's 2-0 victory over Port Vale in the FA Cup. Over the years, the stadium has been renovated and expanded, with the East Stand being the biggest stand in the ground. The stadium has also been used for concerts, with artists such as U2, Queen, and the Kaiser Chiefs performing there.
A UEFA category four stadium, Elland Road has been the venue for several high-profile matches, including the 1966 World Cup, Euro '96, and the 2015 Rugby World Cup. It also hosted the final game of the 2019-2020 season of the Premier League, marking Leeds United's return to the top flight after a 16-year absence. The stadium is also a potential venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which England is bidding to host. Despite its age, the stadium remains one of the most iconic in English football, known for its passionate and vocal home support.
While the previous Leeds United stadium was also officially named 'Elland Road', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their official name, Elland Road. Elland Road is the name of the stadium and the road it was built on, on the border between the districts of Beeston and Holbeck, which itself derives its name from the nearby Elland Bridge (Bridge of Elland). This official name caught on soon after the original stadium's construction; the people of Leeds used to simply call it Elland Road ('the Road'). Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'Elland Road', which is usually referred to as 'Elland Road Stadium'. This translation, however, could be argued to be accurate, since Elland Road refers not to 'road' but to the original address of the stadium: Elland Road, Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.
The history of Elland Road is as rich as it is varied. The stadium has been the home of Leeds United since their formation in 1919. Before that, it was used by Leeds City and the Holbeck Rugby Club. Over the years, it has hosted numerous significant events, including international football matches, rugby league matches, concerts and even a papal visit. Throughout its history, Elland Road has undergone several phases of expansion and renovation, transforming it into one of the largest and most iconic football stadiums in England.
The stadium's first major development took place in the 1920s when the West Stand was built. This was followed by the construction of the East Stand in the 1950s and the North and South Stands in the 1970s. In the 1990s, the stadium underwent a significant renovation, which saw the construction of new executive boxes and the expansion of the East Stand. Today, Elland Road has a seating capacity of over 37,000, making it the 14th-largest football stadium in England by capacity.
Despite its age, Elland Road remains a symbol of the city of Leeds and its footballing heritage. It is a stadium that has seen the highs and lows of Leeds United's history, from their glory days in the 1960s and 70s to their financial troubles in the early 2000s. Yet through it all, Elland Road has remained a constant, a beacon of hope and ambition for the club's passionate fanbase.
An appropriate location, with excellent accessibility and ample space for future expansion, was pinpointed in the western part of the Beeston neighbourhood. Situated on the boundary between the Holbeck and Beeston neighbourhoods, the new stadium was initially referred to as 'Stadium of Holbeck'.
It was always the club's goal to possess both the stadium and the surrounding terrains, even though initially a lease was taken on the municipal terrains, with a final purchase taking place only in 1932. The plans for the sports complex had been drafted as early as the late 1910s by Archibald Leitch, a renowned football stadium architect.
Under the leadership of the club's president, Joseph Henry Hepworth, the members coped with a heightened fee for supporting the construction costs for the new stadium, provided large donations, and some even volunteered to work on the construction site during holidays or weekends. There was even a 'brick campaign', whereby large quantities of bricks were donated to the club.
The construction officially began on 15 October 1919. Less than three years later, and at a cost of £250,000, on 31 July 1922 (a local holiday), a 40,000-capacity crowd filled the stadium for the inaugural match against Hull City.
Elland Road (1897): Information about the foundation, evolution and important events of Elland Road football stadium. http://www.leedsunited.com/ellandroad_1897
Elland Road (The Fortress) – until 2003: Detailed history of Elland Road up until the year 2003. http://www.stadiumdb.com/elland_road_until_2003
The Road doesn't fade away: Preface to a book discussing the enduring legacy of Elland Road. http://www.primebooks.com/theroaddoesntfadeaway
Leeds United 100 glorious years - The History 1: A comprehensive history of Leeds United and its home stadium, Elland Road. http://www.leedsunited100gloriousyears.com/history1
Becoming a leading global provider of digital solutions and services for the sports industry, enabling our clients to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.
We aspire to be a trusted partner and advisor to our clients, leveraging our expertise and passion for sports to help them succeed in a rapidly changing market.
