Championship - Wednesday eye capacity increase

Eurosport - Thu, 04 Jun 11:45:00 2009

Sheffield Wednesday chairman Lee Strafford wants to improve corporate facilities at Hillsborough and increase capacity at the famous old stadium to 50,000.

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 Championship Sheffield Wednesday Hillsborough - 0

Strafford, who hopes to attract a new £20million American investment by Christmas, is looking into the possibility of securing Government funding to help turn Hillsborough into one of the country's leading community centres.

He said: "People who have never been to Hillsborough before come here and say: `Wow this is a real football stadium'. It is a big place and that's why we have hosted big competitions in the past, but it does need developing.

"Facilities are not up to date and I think on the back of engaging with community projects, we can attract funding to help us develop those facilities. In addition, if we have success on the financial side of the business, then we can invest in the infrastructure.

"Hillsborough is a huge site and we can develop this stadium to hold up to 50,000 fans with lots of corporate facilities. Part of my vision for that is if we can be the biggest classroom in the country and if we can be the biggest enterprise zone and the biggest community centre as well, then what a great place Hillsborough would be on matchday and non-matchday."

Strafford added: "Over the next summer months, one of the strands I'm looking to develop is those strategic relationships around this community. We want to engage the wider sporting organisations as well on the back of that."

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 9 of 9

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  1. Biggest gate next season - nope not the Sheffield­ derby, it'll be when the Geordies come to­ town!
    Can't wait!

    From cameron w, on Fri 5 Jun 10:56AM

  2. dbaguley:
    Exactly! 21,000 spectators, 29,000 empty­ seats. Sounds dreadful.

    From ftumch2001, on Fri 5 Jun 6:10AM

  3. why increase capacity to 50,000 when average attendance­ was only 21,000

    From dbaguley, on Thu 4 Jun 11:43PM

  4. It is a good idea to make the club part of the­ Comunity, and i think there should be supporters clubs­ at every school in the City, for both sheffield teams..­ why we could even have a Hallam land sky TV football­ station if they worked together,

    From john.fowler18, on Thu 4 Jun 9:21PM

  5. There will be even more empty seats then.

    From KEVIN P, on Thu 4 Jun 6:19PM

  6. Why is it 7.37?

    From ftumch2001, on Thu 4 Jun 6:11PM

  7. Why is it 8.37?

    From ftumch2001, on Thu 4 Jun 6:11PM

  8. i agree totally wednesdayite18, club is moving in the­ right direction under strafford and laws, as long as we­ dont get impatient we will be sound, as for making a­ bigger capacity good for us as it means more people can­ get in to see us batter the piggies again!!!!!!UP THE­ OWLS!!!!

    From teamstone, on Thu 4 Jun 6:09PM

  9. personally i would spend any money we could on the­ team.. but if thats what he wants to do ive no­ complaints with the man, who could just be a­ (necastle-keegan) messaiah to us wednesdayites.. were­ definatly moving in the right direction.. stadium­ upgrades?? maybe after we have the team thats worthy of­ that.. i know when that day is here and its our turn to­ relish around the top spot then hillsbrough will be­ packed.. hopefully that day is not too far from­ now...

    WEDNESDAY TILL I DIE!!!

    From wednesdayite18, on Thu 4 Jun 2:45PM
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