York Stadium Leisure Complex - Frequently Asked Questions
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What is coming?
A new 8,000 all seat Stadium, Community Hub and new leisure facilities.
The new leisure facilities will include; a 25m 6 lane swimming pool, learner pool and fun leisure pool, as well as a new 100 station gym, dance studio, competition standard sports hall with viewing gallery, extreme clip ‘n’ climb play centre, outdoor high ropes climbing facility and 3G 5-a-side astro turf pitches.
The Community Hub within the Stadium’s East Stand will provide a range of uses and space for Community Partners focused around an atrium containing an Explore Library and cafe meeting area.
Together all these fantastic new facilities will complete the York Stadium Leisure Complex.
Associated with, and adjacent to, the York Stadium Leisure Complex will also be some fantastic new commercial offerings, including:
- Cineworld IMAX Cinema – York’s first IMAX cinema
- 5 new restaurants – Including national food retailers TGI Fridays and Zizzi’s
- Up to 3 new retail units
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What other facilities not at the York Stadium Leisure Complex are included in the project?
A Regional standard athletics track and sand dressed hockey pitch at York University and new rugby league training and reserve facilities at York St John University’s Haxby Road Sports Village.
Stadium
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Are the designs/images on the website what the new stadium will look like?
Yes, these designs are the ones which gained planning approval and are subject to the building contract.
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What is the capacity of the new stadium?
The stadium’s capacity is 8,113. This being well above current average attendances of both York City FC and the York Knights RLFC.
The capacity of the stadium is broken down by each stand as follows –
Total Stadium Capacity (including wheelchair spaces) – 8,113
East Stand Capacity – 3488 including 25 wheelchair places
West Stand Capacity – 2040 including 40 wheelchair places
North Stand Capacity – 878 including 7 wheelchair places
South Stand Capacity – 1707 including 7 wheelchair places
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Will there be standing or will it be all-seater?
The stadium will be an all-seater.
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What is the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) grant?
The FSIF made a loan to YCFC which can be converted into grant towards the construction of a new stadium. This will be paid to the Council via YCFC when the new stadium is completed.
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Can the stadium ever be expanded?
Any future expansion of the stadium will be the subject of a new planning application. This process will review the impact of expansion on the surrounding area. The footprint of the stadium would allow expansion to an approximate 10,000 seated capacity, though this would require further development and future investment from a new funding source.
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How will the facilities be shared between the football and rugby clubs?
Both clubs will be given equal access to stadium facilities and will be able to play all competitive 1st team games at the stadium. This access will be controlled by a Match Day and Lease agreement specific to each club which will govern the amount of rent paid, mechanisms for income sharing / generation.
There are numerous examples of football and rugby clubs sharing facilities, such as Huddersfield, Wigan, Swansea, Doncaster and Hull.
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Where will the York Knights play during construction?
The Knights will play their 1st team games at Bootham Crescent during construction, current home of York City FC. A license agreement is in place between City of York Council and York City FC securing the enquired access for the Rugby club.
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Will the stadium naming rights be sold?
Yes. This will be an important income stream to support the ongoing operation of the stadium.
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Who will operate the York Stadium Leisure Complex
Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) will operate the contract for the City’s leisure facilities, which includes the York Stadium Leisure Complex. GLL propose to sub-contract the stadium operation of the new complex to a specialist stadium management company, this being a special purpose vehicle of York City Football Club.
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What will happen to Bootham Crescent?
Bootham Crescent is owned by a private company, so once vacant they will likely look to sell the site for development. A housing option already exists on this site.
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Are there any restrictions on what Bootham Crescent can be developed into?
No, there are no covenants or restrictions on any future use of the site. However, any changes would be subject to planning approval. It is allocated for housing in the draft local plan.
Transport
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Where will visitors to the stadium park?
On match days, there will be 400 spaces available at the park and ride (P&R) adjacent to the stadium. There are 355 cycle parking spaces within the Monks Cross site.
The use of matchday parking provided at the P&R site will be restricted to ensure the smooth operation of the car park on match days.
There is a coach and car park in the design for the use of home and away supporter’s coaches. There will be no other match day parking on the stadium site, which is the same as Bootham Crescent.
It will be the responsibility of the stadium management company to ensure effective measures are in place to control access and parking to the stadium on match days.
A detailed match-day traffic plan is to be developed with the Sports Clubs before the opening of the stadium as part of the planning approval conditions.
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Will the park and ride times be extended for evening matches? It currently only runs until circa 9pm on weekdays.
Yes, the existing hours are regulated by planning condition, and we will seek a change to the existing limits.
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What other methods of accessing the stadium will there be? Public transport? Cycling?
City of York Council, GLL, the stadium management company and the two professional sport clubs will work together to provide a sustainable transport plan, designed to encourage fans to use public transport to travel to games.
Regular, bus services will operate from the city centre, and, if there is sufficient demand, additional bus services to other areas of York will be considered.
There is an existing cycle link between Monks Cross and the city centre, and additional cycle parking will be provided as part of the development.
Retail
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Are there plans for more retail units at the site?
The building to the south of the development and part of the stadium’s east stand will provide an exciting range of commercial uses that will add to the attractiveness of this landmark leisure destination. The proposals envisage 5 restaurants, an Imax cinema and up to 3 retail units as well as a further leisure unit. This development will be owned and funded by Legal & General.
Financial
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Who is funding the City of York Council Community Stadium Project?
The overall project is to be funded by a mix of Council capital funding (borrowing), s106 funds (from the Vangarde Retail Park development), a contribution from York City Football Club and funds arising from the commercial development land deal.
Funding table as per the project Council Executive report of July 2017:
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Overall Funding Summary |
(£’000) |
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CYC prudential borrowing |
13,400 |
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CYC Venture Fund |
1,000 |
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Stadium s106 |
15,300 |
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FSIF / YCFC |
2,000 |
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Commercial Capital Land Receipt |
8,700 |
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s106 highways contribution to P&R |
1,200 |
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Funding Subtotal |
41,600 |
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How much will the York Stadium Leisure Complex cost?
The detailed costs of the overall City of York Council community stadium project can be found within the project’s July 2017 Executive report, available for download from the City of York Council website.
Community
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What are the ‘community’ aspects of the stadium?
There will be a new Community Hub building containing a new Explore Learning Centre, NHS outpatient facilities and training & development centre as part of the non-matchday use of the hospitality facilities and also a York Against Cancer retail and office facilities. It will also be home to both Sport clubs community offices and the club shop.
The new stadium will benefit both Sport Clubs Community initiatives by using sport as a medium to improve young people’s literacy, numeracy, motivation, and independence. It will benefit their links to:
- schools
- provide employment and training for young people
- promote closer links with the professional clubs and the community
- involve minority and ethnic groups in social and recreational activity
- maximize the use of the stadium’s facilities
GENERAL
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When will the project be completed?
The York Stadium Leisure Complex is currently under construction and will be open to the public summer 2019, and ready for the beginning of the 2019/20 football season.
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How can I get updates on the progress of the project?
You can sign up to the York Community Stadium Project Twitter and Facebook accounts to receive regular updates on construction progress, project information, general news and events. This GLL stadium webpage will also be updated with all information relevant to the progress of the scheme.
Follow the York Community Stadium project at:
Contact us
For any questions not covered here please email us