Headingley Stadium#Rugby Ground
{{Short description|Sports ground in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Headingley Stadium
| image = HeadingleyOblique.jpg
| location = Headingley, Leeds, England
| coordinates = {{coord|53|48|59|N|1|34|56|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground =
| opened = 1890
| renovated = 1991, 2011, 2015, 2017–19
| expanded = 1931, 1932, 2000, 2006, 2010, 2019
| demolished =
| owner = Leeds Rugby
Yorkshire CCC
| surface = Grass
| tenants =Rugby Stadium
Leeds Rhinos (1890–present)
Leeds Tykes (1991–2020)
Bramley (1997–1999)
Cricket Ground
Yorkshire CCC (1891–present)
| capacity = 39,850
Rugby stadium (21,500)
Cricket ground (18,350)
}}
Headingley Stadium is a stadium complex in Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, and England. Linked by a two-sided stand housing common facilities, it comprises two separate grounds: Headingley Cricket Ground (home of Yorkshire CCC) and Headingley Rugby Stadium (home of Leeds Rhinos RLFC).
The stadium was initially owned by the Leeds Cricket, Football, and Athletic Company (Leeds CF & A), the parent company of Leeds RLFC. Since 2006, the cricket ground has been owned by Yorkshire CCC, with the rugby ground retained by Leeds CF & A. The two organisations jointly manage the complex.{{cite news |title=Joint management agreed for Headingley Stadium |date=11 October 2006 |publisher=Yorkshire C.C.C. |url=http://www.yorkshireccc.com/news/stadium |access-date=16 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830080116/http://www.yorkshireccc.com/news/stadium |archive-date=30 August 2007 }}
Naming
From 2006 until 2017, the stadium was officially known as the Headingley Carnegie Stadium as a result of sponsorship from Leeds Metropolitan University, whose sports faculty is known as the Carnegie School of Sport Exercise and Physical Education.{{cite web|url=http://www.lmu.ac.uk/the_news/jan06/headingley_carnegie_stadium.htm |publisher=Leeds Metropolitan University |title=Historic day ushers in new era for Headingley Carnegie Stadium |date= 11 January 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927045125/http://www.lmu.ac.uk/the_news/jan06/headingley_carnegie_stadium.htm |archive-date=27 September 2006 |access-date=21 November 2016}} Between 1 November 2017 and 3 November 2021, the stadium was known as the Emerald Headingley Stadium due to the purchase of the naming rights by Emerald Group Publishing.{{cite news |title=Emerald Group sponsorship gives green light to stadium redevelopment |date=30 June 2017 |publisher=Yorkshire C.C.C. |url=https://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/5780/emerald-group-sponsorship-gives-green-light-to-stadium-redevelopment |access-date=6 January 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106120231/https://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/5780/emerald-group-sponsorship-gives-green-light-to-stadium-redevelopment |url-status=dead }} The Emerald Group later withdrew their sponsorship of the ground effective immediately on 3 November 2021 due to Yorkshire County Cricket Club's alleged insufficient response to allegations of racism made by former player Azeem Rafiq.{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos-to-meet-stadium-sponsors-after-emerald-end-headingley-naming-deal-over-yorkshire-racism-row-3444171|title=Leeds Rhinos to meet stadium sponsors after Emerald end Headingley naming deal over Yorkshire racism row|last=Smith|first=Peter|date=3 November 2021|work=Yorkshire Evening Post|accessdate=11 November 2021}}
In 2023, Rugby League team Leeds Rhinos announced the “biggest commercial deal” in their history with a 15-year partnership with AMT Auto for the naming rights to the rugby stadium. The deal with the Leeds-based vehicle solutions company means the club’s stadium is now known as the AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium since 1 December 2023.
It is only the fourth time in the 133-year history of the stadium that the club have allowed naming rights.{{cite news|url=https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/news/2114720-leeds-rhinos-unveil-biggest-commercial-deal-in-clubs-history|title=Leeds Rhinos unveil biggest commercial deal in club's history|last=Rahman|first=Miran|date=5 October 2023|work=The Business Desk|accessdate=5 October 2023}}
Cricket ground
File:Headingley Cricket Stadium.jpg
{{main|Headingley Cricket Ground}}
The cricket ground sits on the northern side of the complex. It opened in 1891 and has been used for Test matches since 1899. It is the main home ground of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the Yorkshire Vikings Twenty20 cricket team. The venue last hosted The Ashes in 2023. Floodlights were installed at the ground in 2015. It has a seating capacity of 18,350, executive facilities, and opened a new media centre in 2010. Since 2000, all sections of the cricket ground have been rebuilt.
=Owning the ground=
In December 2005, Yorkshire County Cricket Club obtained a loan of £9 million from Leeds City Council towards the cost of purchasing the cricket ground for £12 million.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/yorkshire/4484044.stm | work=BBC News | title=Members approve Headingley buyout | date=24 December 2005| access-date=4 May 2010}} Shortly afterwards, 98.37% of members who participated in a vote backed the deal.In 29 years, the owners of the stadium have renovated 5 times. On 11 January 2006, the club announced plans to rebuild the stand next to the rugby ground with 3,000 extra seats, taking capacity to 20,000.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/yorkshire/4602134.stm | work=BBC News | title=New stand and name for Headingley | date=11 January 2006| access-date=4 May 2010}} The club also announced plans to redevelop the Winter Shed (North) stand on 25 August 2006 providing a £12.5 million pavilion complex.{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkshireccc.com/news/pavilionscheme |title=Latest Cricket News | YCCC News |publisher=Yorkshire County Cricket Club |date=30 March 2013 |access-date=7 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706071153/http://www.yorkshireccc.com/news/pavilionscheme |archive-date=6 July 2009 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshireccc.com/grounds/the_carnegie_pavilion_development/index.html |title=The Carnegie Pavilion Development |publisher=Yorkshire County Cricket Club |access-date=20 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208170143/http://www.yorkshireccc.com/grounds/the_carnegie_pavilion_development/index.html |archive-date=8 February 2009 }}
Rugby ground
File:Headingley - 10923051926.jpg
{{main|Headingley Rugby Stadium}}
The rugby ground sits on the southern side of the complex. Historically a rugby league ground, the home of Leeds Rhinos, it now hosts some rugby union games. The team has also won 11 League Championships, the Challenge Cup 14 times and the World Club Challenge 3 times. The venue consists of three stands and an open terrace at one end. One stand is completely seated, and two are a mixture of seating and standing.{{cite web|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/yorkshire/leeds-rhinos-south-stand-demolition-project-receives-mixed-response|title=Leeds Rhinos South Stand demolition project to begin in August|publisher=Insider Media Ltd|access-date=20 January 2019}} The stadium has a capacity of 20,112.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}{{clarify|date=June 2023|reason=Is this after the rebuilds mentioned later?}}
In 2018, a new, modern South Stand, sponsored by brewer Tetley's, was opened.{{cite web|url=https://sportsvenuebusiness.com/index.php/2019/01/06/emerald-headingley-stadium-unveils-new-tetleys-south-stand/|title=EMERALD HEADINGLEY STADIUM UNVEILS NEW TETLEY'S SOUTH STAND|date=6 January 2019 |access-date=30 May 2019}} A new North Stand, the Emerald Stand, was opened in 2019.{{cite web|title=New north stand for Leeds Emerald Headingley stadium used for first time|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/new-north-stand-leeds-emerald-headingley-stadium-used-first-time-481441|access-date=3 November 2021|website=www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk}}
Recent and future developments
{{advert|date=September 2019}}
File:North Stand and entrance, Headingley Carnegie Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 183204.jpg
File:Leeds Rhinos v Warrington Wolves (4th May 2018) 025.jpg
On 5 June 2014 Yorkshire CCC announced the "Headingley Masterplan". The phased redevelopment costing around £50 million will take place over the next 20 years. The plan sought to cement the future of the cricket ground as a major international venue in the face of competition from rival venues.
- Phase One (Completed) – Erection of four permanent floodlight pylons. The floodlights, which have light arrays in the shape of the Yorkshire Rose, were installed in 2015. The first full game to be played under them was the T20 match against Derbyshire Falcons on Friday, 15 May 2015, but they were also called upon for the County Championship game against Warwickshire a few weeks earlier.
- Phase Two (Completed) – The redeveloped Football Ground End (currently called the Howard Stand), was built in conjunction with Leeds Rugby and opened in 2019. It incorporates a three-tiered seating area, with a capacity of 4,200 (with a further 3,800 seats in the adjoining rugby stand), enhanced corporate facilities and new permanent concession units.{{cite web |title=First pictures of new-look Headingley Stadium following £44 million transformation |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/first-pictures-new-look-headingley-16287849 |website=Leeds Live |date=16 May 2019 |access-date=21 June 2023}}{{cite web |title=Headingley Stadium Redevelopment |url=https://www.caddickconstruction.co.uk/projects/73/headingley-stadium-redevelopment/ |website=Caddick Construction |access-date=21 June 2023}}
- Phase Three – To incorporate an additional 915 seats to the upper tier of the North East Stand with the possibility of a cantilever roof from the side of the Carnegie Pavilion to the existing scoreboard.
- Phase Four – The development of a new Pavilion located in the North West area of the stadium complex. Built on five levels, the Pavilion will be adjacent to the existing Carnegie Pavilion. To include corporate facilities, new dressing rooms for the players and coaching staff, Members' Long Room and seating and the creation of a main entrance to the stadium on Kirkstall Lane.
- Phase Five – The erection of a translucent cantilever roof to cover the Western Terrace.
- Phase Six – Landscaping on the Western Terrace and North East stand concourses.{{cite web|url=http://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/2740/yorkshire-announces-a-headingley-masterplan |title=Yorkshire announces a Headingley Masterplan|publisher= Yorkshire County Cricket Club|access-date= 20 June 2014}}
File:Carnegie Pavilion, Headingley (cropped).JPG
Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Leeds Metropolitan University have collaborated in building the Headingley Carnegie Pavilion, which replaced 'The Shed' (the oldest surviving structure dating from the early 1970s) to the northern side of the Cricket Ground. The new pavilion replaces 'The Winter Shed' and 'The Media Centre' at the Kirkstall Lane end of the ground, which had become obsolete, according to Yorkshire County Cricket Club, as they no longer met the requirements of modern broadcasting. The changing facilities have been replaced by new facilities, designed specifically for cricket, while the new executive boxes will provide the expected level of service. Yorkshire County Cricket Clubs offices will also be relocated into the pavilion, which boasts environmentally friendly features such as a ground source heat pump and solar hot water heating.{{cite web |url=http://www.yorkshireccc.com/grounds/the_carnegie_pavilion_development/the_proposed_development/index.html |title=The Proposed Development |access-date=28 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005053149/http://www.yorkshireccc.com/grounds/the_carnegie_pavilion_development/the_proposed_development/index.html |archive-date=5 October 2008 }}
The rugby ground has also been significantly rebuilt since the 2006 opening of the Carnegie Stand at the east end, which contained both standing and seated areas, private boxes and catering. In 2017 both the North and South Stands were torn down following Leeds' last home game of the season: the new South Stand is a two-tier structure similar to the East Stand with an expanded terrace for 5,500 and seating behind for 2,200, while the North Stand's replacement features 3,800 seats, additional executive boxes and facilities for players, staff and media, as well as 4,200 seats for the cricket ground.
{{clear}}
Gallery
=Cricket Ground=
File:Headingley 2001.jpg|England v. Australia 4th Test, 2001
File:Headingley Cricket Ground - geograph.org.uk - 60635.jpg|The Kirkstall Lane End
=Rugby Stadium=
File:Western terraces.jpg|Western Terraces
File:North stand.jpg|North Stand
File:Headingley floodlight.jpg|Floodlight Column 'C'
File:Headingley Rugby League ground c1925.jpg|Aerial view of the rugby ground around 1925
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Headingley Stadium}}
- [https://emeraldheadingleystadium.events/new-emerald-stand-taking-shape/ New Stand being constructed]
- [http://www.yorkshireccc.com/ Official site of The Yorkshire County Cricket Club]
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2005/09/06/sport_rhinos_headingley_improvements_feature.shtml stadium improvements info @ bbc]
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/360/headingley_cricket_ground.shtml A rotating 360 degree view of the cricket ground from the BBC]
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/360/headingley_rugby_ground.shtml A rotating 360 degree view of the rugby ground from the BBC]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060222051931/http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/the_news/jan06/headingley_carnegie_stadium.htm Stadium renamed]
- [http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/rugby/superleague/leedsrhinos.php stadium info @ napit]
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/meeshy_meesh/sets/72157594266664872/ pictures of rugby ground at a leeds tykes match]
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/meeshy_meesh/page2/ pictures of rugby ground]
- [https://archive.today/20070927222206/http://www.env.leeds.ac.uk/~alex/images/LStykes.jpg picture of leeds tykes at headingley]