Stadium Industry Updates - 27 August 2024
Crystal Palace gets green light for stadium expansion, Newcastle to permanently keep 'Sound Shirts', Nottingham Forest introduces fresh upgrades to City Ground, New sustainability improvements announced by Borussia Dortmund and much more in our latest stadium industry updates.
Crystal Palace gets green light for stadium expansion
Plans for the expansion of Selhurst Park have been officially approved by Croydon Council, paving the way for a significant increase in the stadium’s capacity from 25,486 to over 34,000. The redevelopment will see the construction of a new glass-fronted Main Stand, which will accommodate approximately 13,500 fans, a substantial upgrade from its current capacity of 5,200. The Main Stand, originally built a century ago, is set to be modernised as part of the project. The renovation aims to meet high standards of sustainable design, including achieving net-zero carbon targets. The upgraded stand will feature three tiers of seating, a new club shop, a museum and improved accessibility for supporters with disabilities.
In addition to the stadium improvements, Crystal Palace FC has committed to the broader regeneration of the surrounding London area. The Council and the club have also worked closely with residents of Wooderson Close, where homes need to be demolished for the expansion. Affected tenants have been rehoused by Croydon Council and assisted with their relocation. The plans for Selhurst Park were first submitted in 2018 but faced delays due to the pandemic and the club's focus on upgrading its Academy.
Newcastle to permanently keep 'Sound Shirts'
Newcastle United has unveiled plans to offer haptic shirt technology at St. James’ Park throughout the 2024-25 season, aiming to enhance the matchday experience for fans with hearing loss. The Premier League club has partnered with its main shirt sponsor Sela and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) to roll out this groundbreaking initiative, first launched in April. As part of the ‘Unsilence the Crowd’ campaign, Sela, a Saudi-owned sports event and experiences company, donated player shirts and pitch-side branding to the RNID for the match against Tottenham Hotspur. This allowed deaf supporters to experience live stadium atmosphere through shirts that translated stadium noise into real-time touch sensations.
The ‘Sound Shirts' will now become a permanent feature of Newcastle's accessibility services. These innovative shirts, equipped with conductive textiles and haptic modules, use microphones to capture ambient sound from the pitch. Specialised software then converts this sound into touch data, which is wirelessly transmitted to the shirts via an antenna, enabling fans to feel the live match atmosphere. This initiative represents a significant advancement in making matchdays more inclusive and accessible for all fans, while also enhancing the overall fan experience.
Nottingham Forest introduces fresh upgrades to City Ground
Premier League club Nottingham Forest has officially launched a series of upgrades at the City Ground, expanding its capacity to over 30,400. This multi-million-euro redevelopment aims to enhance the matchday experience for supporters and ensure the stadium remains a year-round venue for various events.
A significant highlight of the project is the installation of safe standing areas, with 4,196 new spaces added in both the Upper and Lower Bridgford Stands, as well as in the away end. Additionally, two new HD screens have been introduced in the Trent End and Bridgford End. Extra seating has been added in the Peter Taylor Stand and the lower tier and corners of the Brian Clough Stand, addressing the "incredible" demand for tickets and allowing more fans to attend matches. The fan zone behind the Brian Clough Stand has also been revamped, offering live music, street food, drinks and guest appearances from former players. Improvements extend to the stadium’s hospitality facilities, with ongoing work on the Corner Box project. This new addition will provide space for 180 additional hospitality guests in upcycled, sustainable containers located between the Trent End and Brian Clough stands. The Corner Box is set to open in the autumn.
While Nottingham Forest has outlined future plans to expand the City Ground’s capacity to 40,000, the club has faced disputes with the council over a lease deal. As a result, there has been consideration of constructing a new stadium in Toton, a village on the Nottinghamshire-Derbyshire border.
New sustainability improvements announced by Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund has announced a partnership with energy company RWE to implement a comprehensive “sustainable energy optimisation concept” at Signal Iduna Park. This six-year agreement designates RWE as both a premium and sustainability partner for the club. A major component of the deal involves expanding the stadium's photovoltaic system. Over 9,500 new solar modules will be installed on the roof of Signal Iduna Park, boosting the system’s peak output to more than 4.2 megawatts. This will make it the largest solar installation on a stadium roof in Germany. Additionally, RWE will introduce a battery storage system to provide climate-friendly electricity. Borussia Dortmund estimates that the green electricity generated by the new system will be sufficient to power all home matches for an entire year. The new and larger installation is expected to significantly reduce the club's energy costs and enhance its sustainability efforts.
Earlier this year, RWE and Dortmund installed a smaller photovoltaic system with over 200 solar modules on the roof of the FanWelt store adjacent to the stadium. Further energy projects are planned throughout the duration of the six-year partnership.
SC Cambuur unveils new state-of-the-art Stadium
SC Cambuur, second-tier Dutch football team, has officially opened its new home, Kooi Stadion. Once fully operational, the stadium will accommodate 15,000 fans. However, the venue is not yet completely finished, with 1,000 seats in the main stand currently unavailable due to safety concerns. Kooi Stadion has been praised for its steep stands, drawing comparisons to traditional English football grounds. When completed, it will be the most sustainable stadium in the Netherlands, featuring rainwater collection systems and solar panels on the roof. The stadium's opening had initially been planned for September 2023, but in December 2022, Cambuur announced delays due to a "combination of circumstances." Construction began in the summer of 2022, following the signing of contracts earlier that year.
Arsenal extends partnership with Ticketmaster
Arsenal FC has announced an extended partnership with Ticketmaster, leveraging the ticketing specialist’s advanced technologies to streamline the fan experience. The collaboration encompasses Ticketmaster’s ticket exchange, transfer and automated ballot systems, which facilitate online memberships and restricted ballot applications for tickets.
During the 2023/24 season, Ticketmaster's automated ballot played a crucial role in assisting 20% more Red members in securing Arsenal tickets. Additionally, the Ticket Transfer feature facilitated an average of 9,000 ticket transactions per Premier League match, greatly aiding in filling the 60,704-seat Emirates Stadium and addressing the high demand for tickets. Ticketmaster’s extensive Premier League partnerships include Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Fulham, Brentford, Wolverhampton, Nottingham Forest and Luton Town. Tom McCann, Venue Director at Arsenal, said, “With unprecedented demand for tickets across our men’s and women’s teams, it’s important we continue to serve our supporters the best and the most efficient experience when it comes to ticketing. We value the support we have had from Ticketmaster over such a long period and we’re pleased to be extending our relationship.”
Floriana FC revives efforts for new stadium development
Maltese Premier League club Floriana FC has unveiled renewed plans to develop a 4,000-seat stadium in the Independence Arena area of Floriana. The announcement was made by Floriana FC President Johann Said during the club's team presentation. He revealed the club's ambition to achieve self-sustainability by establishing a new stadium in collaboration with investor MIG. The project aims to enhance the club's infrastructure and support its long-term goals. A key milestone in moving the project forward was the club's recent attainment of VO (Voluntary Organisation) status, which is essential for initiating commercialization efforts and advancing the stadium development. The Independence Arena, a historic site named for hosting Malta’s independence celebrations on September 21 1964, has previously served as a football venue. Floriana FC has previously attempted to develop a stadium at this location, but those efforts did not come to fruition. The renewed plans mark a significant step towards realizing the club’s vision of a new home ground.
Bilhor Oradea set to receive new stadium following government approval
The Romanian Government has given the green light for the construction of a new 16,291-seat stadium in Oradea, set to become the new home of Liga II club FC Bilhor Oradea. The club currently plays at the Luliu Bodola Stadium, which has a capacity of 12,400. The new stadium will be developed by the Government’s National Investment Company (CNI) at an estimated cost of €95m. Designed to meet UEFA standards, the facility will include additional amenities such as a hotel with a restaurant, conference rooms, and a spa centre specifically for athlete recovery. The project is in the process of selecting a construction partner, with work anticipated to commence next year. The stadium's development is expected to be completed within 2 years, significantly enhancing the infrastructure and facilities available to FC Bilhor Oradea and the local community.