Today the stadium holds 37,645 seated fans across four stands named after Leeds legends Don Revie, Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter, and John Charles. It has hosted top-flight football for decades, staged matches during Euro 96, and welcomed Rugby League World Cup fixtures, cementing its place as one of Yorkshire’s premier sporting venues.

Stats at a Glance

• Team: Leeds United F.C.
• Location: Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
• Opened: 1897
• Home to Leeds United since: 1919
• Capacity: 37,645 (all-seated)
• Record attendance: 57,892 (FA Cup 5th round replay vs Sunderland, 15 March 1967)
• Notable stands: Don Revie, Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter, John Charles stands

The Matchday Experience

Elland Road’s tight, steep stands create one of English football’s most intense atmospheres, especially in the East Stand terrace area known for driving noise onto the pitch. The stadium’s under-soil heating system, running nearly 59 miles of piping, keeps the pitch playable through harsh Yorkshire winters.

The ground has hosted major events beyond league football, including group-stage matches at Euro 96 and fixtures during the Rugby League World Cup, reflecting its dual-sport heritage dating back to its origins as a rugby ground.

A New Era for Elland Road

Since July 2023, Leeds United has been fully owned by 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm connected to the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, after acquiring the remaining shares from former majority owner Andrea Radrizzani. The group has since backed a major redevelopment plan for the ground, approved by Leeds City Council in January 2026, which would expand capacity to roughly 53,000 by rebuilding the West Stand (John Charles Stand) and North Stand (Don Revie Stand).

Enabling works are set to begin immediately, with full construction planned after the 2025-26 season so Leeds United can continue playing at Elland Road throughout most of the build, preserving the club’s century-old tie to the site.

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Elland Road FAQs

How many people does Elland Road hold?

Elland Road currently has an all-seated capacity of 37,645, though an approved expansion plan aims to raise this to around 53,000.

How long has Leeds United played at Elland Road?

Leeds United has called Elland Road home since 1919, though the ground itself opened in 1897 and originally hosted Holbeck Rugby League Club.

What is the record attendance at Elland Road?

The record attendance is 57,892, set on 15 March 1967 for an FA Cup fifth-round replay between Leeds United and Sunderland.

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In May 2025, Everton’s men’s team played their final match at Goodison Park before relocating to the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Goodison Park had already hosted occasional Everton Women fixtures, including a Women’s Super League Merseyside derby against Liverpool on 17 November 2024. It became the club’s official permanent home for the 2025-26 season, with Everton Women’s first match as full-time tenants coming against Tottenham Hotspur on 14 September 2025, making it one of the largest dedicated venues for women’s football in the United Kingdom.

Stats at a Glance

• Team(s): Everton F.C. Women (formerly Everton F.C. men’s team, 1892-2025)
• Location: Walton, Liverpool, England
• Opened: 24 August 1892
• Capacity: About 39,414-39,572 (men’s era); reduced configuration for women’s football
• Record Attendance: 78,299 vs Liverpool, 18 September 1948
• Notable Fact: Nicknamed the ‘Grand Old Lady’, it was England’s first purpose-built football ground

A Ground Built for the Game

Goodison Park was constructed specifically for football at a time when most English clubs played on repurposed fields, making it a landmark in stadium design. It opened just before Celtic Park in Glasgow and quickly became a model for enclosed, multi-stand grounds across the country.

Over more than a century, the stadium hosted World Cup matches in 1966, FA Cup semi-finals, and thousands of Everton league fixtures, earning its ‘Grand Old Lady’ nickname from a 1999 newspaper description of the aging but beloved venue.

From Men’s Icon to Women’s Football Home

When Everton’s men’s team departed for the Everton Stadium in 2025, plans to demolish Goodison Park were scrapped in favor of preserving the historic ground. Historic England granted it a Certificate of Immunity from Listing in September 2024 while the club finalized its new purpose.

Everton Women had already tested the venue with occasional fixtures, such as the November 2024 Merseyside derby, before moving in permanently for the 2025-26 season. That transition made Goodison Park one of the most significant dedicated women’s football venues in England and ensured the stadium’s century-old story continued under a new chapter.

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Goodison Park FAQs

Is Goodison Park still in use?

Yes. After Everton’s men’s team relocated to the Everton Stadium in 2025, Goodison Park became the permanent home of Everton Women starting with the 2025-26 season.

Did Everton Women play at Goodison Park before it became their permanent home?

Yes. Everton Women played occasional fixtures at Goodison Park before 2025, including a WSL Merseyside derby against Liverpool Women on 17 November 2024. Their first match as full-time tenants came against Tottenham Hotspur on 14 September 2025.

What was Goodison Park’s record attendance?

The record attendance was 78,299, set on 18 September 1948 for an Everton versus Liverpool derby match.

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Today Villa Park holds roughly 43,205 seated fans across four stands: the Holte End, Trinity Road Stand, Doug Ellis Stand, and North Stand. It is currently the 11th-largest stadium in England and has hosted international football, including matches at the 1966 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 1996, cementing its reputation as one of the country’s premier football venues.

Stats at a Glance

• Team: Aston Villa F.C.
• Location: Aston, Birmingham, England
• Opened: 1897
• Capacity: about 43,205 (current)
• Record attendance: 76,588 (Aston Villa vs Derby County, 2 March 1946)
• Pitch size: 105 by 68 metres
• Notable fact: Has hosted 55 FA Cup semi-finals, more than any other stadium in England

The Matchday Experience

Villa Park’s steep, historic stands create an intense atmosphere, with the Holte End long recognized as one of English football’s most passionate single-tier (now redeveloped) supporter ends. The Trinity Road Stand’s three-tier design towers over the pitch and offers some of the best sightlines in the Premier League, a legacy of Leitch’s early-1900s design work carried through subsequent renovations.

Beyond league football, the ground’s history as a World Cup and European Championship venue gives it an international pedigree shared by few English club stadiums outside London and Manchester.

Ongoing Redevelopment

Aston Villa is in the midst of a roughly £100 million redevelopment led by architecture firms Grimshaw and Trivandi, aimed at expanding capacity beyond 50,000 ahead of the club’s bid to host UEFA Euro 2028 matches. The North Stand is set to be closed for the entire 2026-27 season as part of this expansion, temporarily reducing capacity to around 37,000 before the rebuilt stand reopens for the 2027-28 campaign.

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Villa Park FAQs

When did Villa Park open?

Villa Park opened in 1897 and has been Aston Villa F.C.’s home ground ever since.

What is Villa Park’s capacity?

Villa Park currently seats about 43,205 fans, though an ongoing North Stand redevelopment aims to raise capacity beyond 50,000 by 2027.

Why is Villa Park significant in FA Cup history?

Villa Park has hosted 55 FA Cup semi-finals, more than any other stadium in England.

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The current stadium opened on 31 October 1903 and has been the home of the Scotland national football team since 1906, hosting internationals, Scottish Cup finals, and Scottish League Cup finals for well over a century. For decades Hampden was the largest stadium in the world, with a capacity that peaked at around 150,000 between 1927 and 1937 — a record only surpassed when Brazil’s Maracanã opened in 1950. Today, following a major late-1990s renovation into an all-seater ground, Hampden holds 51,866 spectators and remains the centerpiece of Scottish football.

Quick Answer

Hampden Park (officially Barclays Hampden since a December 2025 naming-rights deal) is Scotland’s national football stadium in Mount Florida, Glasgow. It opened in 1903, has been the Scotland national team’s home since 1906, and today holds 51,866 spectators as an all-seater UEFA Category Four ground. Tickets, stadium tours, and museum visits are all bookable through the official Hampden Park website.

History and Architecture: From Twin Grandstands to Today

Hampden Park’s original twin grandstands were designed by noted stadium architect James Miller, while Archibald Leitch — the engineer behind Ibrox, Anfield, and Old Trafford — designed the ground’s pioneering terracing. The stadium opened on 31 October 1903 with Queen’s Park beating Celtic 1-0, and it has been used continuously for major football ever since.

A National Lottery-funded renovation completed in 1999, costing around £59 million and led by architect Jim Clydesdale, converted the old terraced bowl into an all-seater stadium holding just under 52,000 fans, giving it UEFA Category Four status for hosting top-tier European fixtures. Beyond hosting Scotland’s home internationals, Hampden is the traditional venue for the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup finals, and its offices house both the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Professional Football League. The Scottish Football Museum is also located within the stadium complex, home to the world’s oldest national trophy, the original Scottish Cup.

World-Record Capacity and Attendance History

Hampden held the world attendance record for a football stadium for decades, a legacy of Scottish football’s massive early-20th-century crowds; capacity peaked at roughly 150,000 between 1927 and 1937. Its most famous match came on 17 April 1937, when a crowd usually cited as 149,415 (some sources, including Wikipedia, list a higher figure of 149,547 that appears to include complimentary tickets, press, and police) packed in for Scotland vs England — still the largest crowd ever recorded for a European football fixture.

Capacity was gradually reduced for safety reasons in later decades: down to around 135,000 after 1945, then to 81,000 by 1977, and further still through 1980s and 1990s redevelopments before landing at today’s all-seater figure of 51,866 after the 1999 renovation. For concerts, where the pitch becomes standing space, capacity typically runs lower, around 40,000-50,000 depending on the stage configuration; the ground was also temporarily reconfigured to roughly 44,000 for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, when a temporary athletics track was installed over the pitch.

Barclays Hampden: The 2025 Naming-Rights Era

In December 2025, the Scottish FA announced a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Barclays worth around £1 million per year, officially renaming the venue ‘The National Stadium — Barclays Hampden.’ It marks the first time in the stadium’s 120-plus-year history that it has carried a corporate name. The deal also covers naming rights to the men’s and women’s Scottish Cup and the Barclays Next Gen Girls’ Performance Programme. Despite the rebrand, the ground is still widely referred to simply as Hampden Park in everyday use, ticketing platforms, and by supporters.

Major Events Hosted at Hampden Park

In the modern era, Hampden has hosted top European club football, including the 2002 UEFA Champions League final, where Real Madrid defeated Bayer Leverkusen. It also staged matches during UEFA Euro 2020, including group-stage games and a round-of-16 tie, cementing its status as one of Europe’s most storied football venues.

Hampden regularly hosts the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup finals, and it has also branched into rugby: Glasgow Warriors have played their showpiece 1872 Cup derby against Edinburgh at Hampden in recent seasons, drawing crowds in excess of 25,000 — the biggest home audiences in the club’s history.

Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Tours and the Museum

Match tickets for Scotland internationals and cup finals are sold through the Scottish FA and Hampden Park’s official ticketing channels, with pricing tiers that vary by stand, seating category, and fixture importance — expect the biggest internationals and cup finals to sell out fastest and carry the highest prices. Outside of matchdays, Hampden runs a Stadium and Museum Tour that typically runs around an hour and includes the players’ tunnel, dressing rooms, pitch-side access, and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame, followed by self-guided time in the Scottish Football Museum. Tour and museum opening hours follow a seasonal pattern and tours are suspended around matchdays, so always check current availability before visiting.

For the latest fixture tickets, tour times, and admission prices, use the official Hampden Park website as the authoritative source, or the Scottish Football Museum site for museum-only visits.

Getting to Hampden Park: Transport and Parking

Hampden Park sits about 5-10 minutes’ walk from Mount Florida and King’s Park train stations, both served by regular ScotRail services from Glasgow Central. First Glasgow buses on several routes from the city centre also stop near the ground, and it’s roughly a 45-minute walk from central Glasgow if you’d rather go on foot. By car, the stadium is close to Junction 1a of the M74 via Polmadie Road/A728 and Aikenhead Road; postcode G44 4QG is commonly used for sat-nav.

On-site parking is limited and largely reserved for permit holders on matchdays, but pay parking is available nearby on the west side at Queen’s Park Recreation Ground (via Cathcart Road or Langside Road) and on the east side at Toryglen Playing Fields (via Aikenhead Road). Cycle racks are available at two of the stadium’s entrances. Given restricted parking around fixtures, public transport is the recommended way to travel on matchdays.

Hampden Park, Glasgow stadium guide FAQs

Who plays home matches at Hampden Park?

The Scotland national football team has played its home matches at Hampden Park since 1906. Queen’s Park F.C. was long associated with the ground historically, though the club now plays at the smaller Lesser Hampden nearby. Glasgow Warriors have also hosted rugby’s 1872 Cup fixture there in recent seasons.

Is Hampden Park now called Barclays Hampden?

Officially, yes. In December 2025 the Scottish FA signed a naming-rights deal with Barclays, rebranding the ground ‘The National Stadium — Barclays Hampden.’ It’s the first sponsor name the stadium has carried in its history, though it’s still commonly called Hampden Park.

What is Hampden Park’s capacity today?

Hampden Park currently holds 51,866 spectators for football, following its conversion into an all-seater stadium as part of a renovation completed in 1999. Concert capacity is typically lower, around 40,000-50,000, since the pitch becomes standing space.

Why was Hampden Park historically significant?

Between 1927 and 1937, Hampden was the largest stadium in the world, with a capacity of roughly 150,000. It hosted a record crowd of around 149,415 (sometimes cited as 149,547) for a 1937 Scotland vs England match — still the largest attendance ever recorded for a European football fixture.

Can you tour Hampden Park and the Scottish Football Museum?

Yes. Hampden Park offers a Stadium and Museum Tour covering the dressing rooms, players’ tunnel, and pitch-side areas, combined with self-guided access to the Scottish Football Museum. Tours are suspended around matchdays, so check the official Hampden Park website for current schedules and prices.

How do you get to Hampden Park without a car?

The easiest options are train to Mount Florida or King’s Park station (both a short walk from the stadium, with services from Glasgow Central) or First Glasgow buses from the city centre. Public transport is recommended on matchdays since on-site parking is limited.

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Over the years the stadium was renamed Ruppert Stadium in 1937, Blues Stadium in 1943, and finally Municipal Stadium in 1955 when the Philadelphia Athletics relocated to Kansas City. It was demolished in 1976 after the Royals departed for the newly opened Royals Stadium, leaving behind a site later converted to a community garden and residential development.

Stats at a Glance

• Location: 2123 Brooklyn Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri
• Opened: July 3, 1923 (as Muehlebach Field)
• Demolished: 1976
• Peak Capacity: 35,561 (1971–1972)
• MLB Teams: Kansas City Athletics (1955–1967); Kansas City Royals (1969–1972)
• NFL/AFL Team: Kansas City Chiefs (1963–1971)
• Negro League: Kansas City Monarchs (1923–1931, 1937–1955)
• Notable Event: 1960 MLB All-Star Game (first game)

A Stadium of Many Names and Eras

Municipal Stadium’s story began as Muehlebach Field, a single-tier grandstand built for Kansas City’s minor league Blues and the Negro League’s Kansas City Monarchs. The Monarchs’ 1945 roster included a young Jackie Robinson before he broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier. The stadium was essentially rebuilt from scratch ahead of the 1955 season — completed in just 90 days by crews working around the clock — to accommodate the arriving Kansas City Athletics, expanding capacity from roughly 17,476 to over 30,000.

The park took its final name, Municipal Stadium, in 1955 and went on to host a remarkable breadth of professional sport. The Kansas City Chiefs called it home during their early AFL and NFL seasons, and the stadium witnessed one of the most memorable moments in football history: the 1971 AFC Divisional playoff game on Christmas Day against the Miami Dolphins, which lasted 82 minutes and 40 seconds of playing time, making it the longest game in NFL history at that time.

Historic Moments and Cultural Legacy

Municipal Stadium hosted the first game of the 1960 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, one of the few years the Midsummer Classic was staged as a doubleheader. Beyond baseball and football, the stadium welcomed the Beatles on September 17, 1964, during the height of Beatlemania, drawing fans from across the Midwest. The Kansas City Spurs of the North American Soccer League also used the venue briefly in 1968 and 1969.

After the Royals moved to Royals Stadium following the 1972 season, Municipal Stadium sat unused until the city razed it in 1976. A community garden and later single-family homes replaced the footprint of a venue that had shaped Kansas City’s cultural and sporting identity for generations.

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Municipal Stadium FAQs

When did Municipal Stadium open and close?

The stadium opened on July 3, 1923, under the name Muehlebach Field. It operated under several names until 1972, when its last tenant, the Kansas City Royals, moved out. The structure was demolished in 1976.

What teams played at Municipal Stadium?

Tenants included the Kansas City Blues (minor league), the Kansas City Monarchs (Negro Leagues), the Kansas City Athletics (MLB, 1955–1967), the Kansas City Royals (MLB, 1969–1972), the Kansas City Chiefs (AFL/NFL, 1963–1971), and the Kansas City Spurs (NASL, 1968–1969).

What was the most historic game played at Municipal Stadium?

The 1971 AFC Divisional playoff on Christmas Day between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins is widely regarded as the stadium’s most historic moment. The game lasted 82 minutes and 40 seconds of playing time, making it the longest game in NFL history at the time.

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After the Games, the venue underwent a £274 million conversion to become a permanent multi-use stadium. West Ham United moved in as the anchor tenant in August 2016, and the ground now accommodates around 62,500 supporters for Premier League fixtures — making it one of the largest club grounds in England. Beyond football, it continues to stage World Athletics Diamond League meetings, major concerts, and one-off sporting spectaculars.

Stats at a Glance

• Team(s): West Ham United F.C. (2016–present); UK Athletics
• Location: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London
• Opened: 5 May 2012
• Football Capacity: 62,500
• Concert Capacity: up to 80,000
• Construction Cost: £486 million (approx. £821 million in 2025 values)
• Architect: Populous
• Notable Fact: Hosted 2012 Olympics opening & closing ceremonies

From Olympic Stage to Premier League Home

London Stadium was designed by the architecture firm Populous and constructed at a cost of around £486 million. During the 2012 Olympics it held 80,000 spectators and became the stage for landmark moments including Usain Bolt’s sprint finals and the Games’ opening and closing ceremonies. A transparent roof spanning 84 metres covers all seating, and 14 floodlight towers illuminate a Desso GrassMaster hybrid grass pitch that can be retracted to expose a nine-lane Mondotrack athletics surface beneath.

West Ham United officially became the stadium’s primary football tenant following a 99-year lease agreement. Their first Premier League match at the ground, a 1–0 win over AFC Bournemouth on 21 August 2016, drew an attendance of 56,977. The ground’s sheer scale means it ranks among the largest top-flight venues in the country, though the club has worked to improve the atmosphere in a bowl originally engineered for athletics.

Events Beyond Football

London Stadium has established itself as one of the UK’s premier large-scale event venues. Adele’s four-night residency in summer 2017 drew more than 214,000 fans, and Burna Boy made history there as the first African artist to headline a UK stadium show. The venue also hosted two-game MLB regular-season series in 2019 — the first Major League Baseball games ever played in Europe — when the New York Yankees faced the Boston Red Sox before sell-out crowds.

World Athletics Diamond League meetings have returned annually since 2017, cementing the stadium’s role as the UK’s top outdoor athletics venue. In 2024, the stadium completed a £4.35 million solar installation covering 6,500 square metres of its roof, projected to generate around one million kWh of renewable energy each year.

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London Stadium FAQs

Which football team plays at London Stadium?

West Ham United F.C. has been the stadium’s primary football tenant since August 2016, when they relocated from their former home at Upton Park (Boleyn Ground).

What is the capacity of London Stadium?

The regulated capacity for football matches is 62,500. For concerts and other large events the venue can hold up to around 80,000, the same figure used during the 2012 Olympics.

Was London Stadium built for the Olympics?

Yes. It was purpose-built for the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics at a cost of approximately £486 million, serving as the athletics venue and the site of both the opening and closing ceremonies.

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What set Feethams apart was its shared existence as both a football and cricket venue. After passing through the Twin Towers turnstiles, football supporters were required to walk around the perimeter of the cricket outfield to reach the terracing — an arrangement unique in English football. The ground also hosted a 1907 England Amateur international in which England defeated the Netherlands 12–2, still counted among the heaviest defeats in Dutch football history.

Stats at a Glance

• Team: Darlington F.C.
• Location: Victoria Embankment, Darlington, England
• Opened: 1883 (football use)
• Final Match: 3 May 2003
• Demolished: February 2006
• Capacity: 8,500
• Twin Towers erected: 1913 — predating Wembley’s iconic towers by over a decade

A Ground Unlike Any Other

The layout at Feethams defied every convention of English football grounds. After entering through the Twin Towers, supporters walked around the perimeter of the cricket pitch before stepping onto the football terracing. The arrangement also allowed fans to change ends at half time — a tradition many regulars kept up, trooping across to mass behind whichever goal Darlington were attacking.

The Twin Towers themselves became an enduring emblem of the ground. Erected in 1913, they predated the famous Twin Towers at the old Wembley Stadium by more than a decade. For generations of Darlington supporters, passing through those towers was an act steeped in ritual, a threshold between everyday life and the theatre of matchday.

The Final Whistle and Aftermath

On 3 May 2003, a capacity crowd gathered at Feethams to mark 120 years of football on the ground. Darlington came from two goals down to earn a 2–2 draw with Leyton Orient — a defiant farewell in keeping with the club’s spirit. The team subsequently moved to a purpose-built stadium now known as The Darlington Arena.

The football stands were demolished in February 2006, shortly after an arson attack left the structure unsafe. The cricket ground, home to Darlington Cricket Club since 1866, was preserved and continues in use today. The cleared football site was later sold for residential development, leaving Feethams to live on in photographs, matchday programmes, and the memories of those who passed through its Twin Towers.

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Feethams FAQs

Why did fans have to walk around a cricket pitch to enter Feethams?

The football and cricket grounds shared the same site. After coming through the Twin Towers turnstiles, football supporters had to walk around the cricket outfield to reach the terracing on the other side — a quirk of the dual-purpose layout that persisted throughout the ground’s 120-year football history.

When was Feethams demolished?

The football stands and terracing at Feethams were demolished in February 2006, following an arson attack that left them structurally compromised. The adjacent cricket ground was not affected and remains active.

What was the capacity of Feethams?

Feethams had a football capacity of approximately 8,500. It served as Darlington F.C.’s home from 1883 until the club’s final match there — a 2–2 draw with Leyton Orient on 3 May 2003.

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Characterized by its ramshackle charm — including a ‘cowshed’ terrace, an open brick-wall end backed by a local laundry for much of its history, and a patchwork of incremental improvements — Fellows Park became a beloved fixture in the West Midlands football landscape before the club relocated to the newly built Bescot Stadium. The old ground was demolished in early 1991 and replaced by a Morrisons supermarket.

Stats at a Glance

• Team: Walsall F.C.
• Location: Hilary Street, Walsall, England
• Opened: 1896 (as Hilary Street; renamed Fellows Park 1930)
• Closed: 11 May 1990
• Demolished: Early 1991
• Capacity: About 22,000 (later years)
• Record Attendance: 25,453 vs. Newcastle United, 29 August 1961
• Site Today: Morrisons supermarket

Nine Decades at Hilary Street

Walsall moved to Fellows Park in 1896, making it one of the longer-tenured football grounds in English league history by the time it finally closed. Over the decades the stadium grew incrementally: a Main Stand was built and extended, a roof was added to the popular terrace, and the Hillary Street End received cover in 1965. The ‘Laundry End’ — backed by the wall of Orgills Laundry — remained open to the elements for most of the ground’s life, only changing character after the laundry itself was demolished.

The ground’s peak moment came on 29 August 1961, when 25,453 supporters packed in for a Second Division clash against Newcastle United — a record that still stands as Walsall’s highest home attendance. Safety regulations in subsequent years brought the official capacity down to around 22,000.

The Final Whistle and Legacy

The last Football League match at Fellows Park took place on 1 May 1990, a 1–1 draw with Rotherham United as Walsall were relegated to the Fourth Division. The ground’s very last fixture came on 11 May 1990, a testimonial for retiring defender Peter Hart against local rivals West Bromwich Albion, also ending 1–1, with Gary Shaw scoring the final goal in the stadium’s 94-year history.

A brutal West Midlands winter had the last word: heavy snow in December 1990 caused the roof of the ‘cowshed’ terrace to collapse, weeks before demolition crews arrived. The H.L. Fellows Stand at the successor Bescot Stadium (now Banks’s Stadium) keeps the name alive, ensuring the director who gave Fellows Park its identity is not entirely forgotten.

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Fellows Park FAQs

Why was Fellows Park demolished?

Walsall F.C. left Fellows Park in 1990 to move into the newly built Bescot Stadium approximately a quarter of a mile away. With no further use, the old ground was demolished in early 1991 and a Morrisons supermarket was constructed on the site.

What was the record attendance at Fellows Park?

The record was 25,453 spectators, set on 29 August 1961 during a Second Division match between Walsall and Newcastle United.

Is anything left of Fellows Park today?

The physical stadium is gone, replaced by a supermarket, but the H.L. Fellows Stand at Walsall’s current home, Banks’s Stadium (formerly Bescot Stadium), preserves the name of the director for whom Fellows Park was renamed in 1930.

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Over its three decades of operation the stadium has gone through several naming rights agreements, cycling from Jacksonville Municipal Stadium to Alltel Stadium, EverBank Field, and TIAA Bank Field before returning to the EverBank Stadium name in 2023. Beyond Jaguars football, it has long hosted the annual Florida–Georgia college rivalry game and the Gator Bowl, and in 2005 welcomed Super Bowl XXXIX before a crowd of 78,125 fans.

Stats at a Glance

• Team(s): Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL)
• Location: Jacksonville, Florida
• Opened: August 18, 1995
• Capacity: 67,814 (expandable to about 82,000 for major events)
• Surface: Tifway 419 Bermuda grass
• Original Cost: $121 million
• Super Bowl Hosted: Super Bowl XXXIX (2005)
• Record Attendance: 85,413 — Florida State vs. Alabama, September 29, 2007

A Stadium Built for Jacksonville’s Big-League Moment

Jacksonville Municipal Stadium was purpose-built to secure the city’s NFL expansion franchise, breaking ground on January 3, 1994, and opening just 20 months later. Architect HOK Sport designed an open-air bowl with natural Bermuda grass that would complement the waterfront setting on the St. Johns River. The $121 million project was split between the Jaguars organization and the City of Jacksonville, which retains ownership of the facility to this day, with ASM Global serving as operator.

From its earliest seasons the stadium proved adaptable: when Jaguars attendance lagged in the mid-2000s, tarps were installed to reduce visible empty seats, shrinking the effective capacity below 70,000. After the team’s strong 2017 playoff run the tarps came down, restoring the full 67,814-seat configuration that stood until the current renovation era began.

A $1.4 Billion Transformation Under Way

In February 2025 the Jacksonville Jaguars launched the most ambitious renovation in the stadium’s history, a $1.4 billion overhaul branded the ‘Stadium of the Future.’ The project calls for a 360-degree open concourse, a sweeping shade canopy over the seating bowl, and a redesigned energy-efficient facade intended to dramatically improve the fan experience in Florida’s heat. During the 2026 season the stadium will operate at a reduced capacity of about 42,507 seats to accommodate active construction, and the Jaguars are expected to play the 2027 season at Camping World Stadium in Orlando while work continues.

Once complete—targeted before the start of the 2028 NFL season—the renovated venue is planned to seat around 62,000 fans for NFL games, expandable to approximately 71,500 for college football and large-scale concerts. The project is expected to anchor the Jaguars in Jacksonville for the next 30 years and position the stadium as a candidate for future Super Bowls and other marquee events.

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EverBank Stadium FAQs

What NFL team plays at EverBank Stadium?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been the primary tenant at EverBank Stadium since the franchise entered the NFL as an expansion team in 1995.

Has EverBank Stadium hosted a Super Bowl?

Yes. Super Bowl XXXIX was played at the stadium on February 6, 2005, with the New England Patriots defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 24–21 in front of 78,125 spectators.

When will the EverBank Stadium renovation be finished?

The $1.4 billion ‘Stadium of the Future’ renovation began in February 2025 and is projected to be completed before the 2028 NFL season. The Jaguars are expected to play away from Jacksonville during the 2027 season while construction is at its most intensive.

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Photo: Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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The ground witnessed some of the club’s greatest moments, including a record attendance of 33,042 for an FA Cup tie against Brentford in February 1927 and a memorable 1996 FA Cup run that brought Manchester United to West Reading. After the Taylor Report mandated all-seater grounds, converting Elm Park proved impractical — its fully seated capacity would have been only around 9,000 — and Reading relocated to the newly built Madejski Stadium for the 1998–99 season. Demolition of Elm Park began in October 1998, and 128 residential dwellings now occupy the site.

Stats at a Glance

• Team: Reading FC
• Location: West Reading, Reading, Berkshire, England
• Opened: 5 September 1896
• Closed: 3 May 1998
• Demolished: October 1998
• Record Attendance: 33,042 (vs Brentford, FA Cup, 19 February 1927)
• Final Capacity: approximately 14,800 (all-seater era)
• Years in Use: 102 years

A Century of Football in West Reading

Elm Park served Reading FC for over a century, surviving two World Wars and countless promotions and relegations. The ground’s four stands — including the Norfolk Road Stand, the South Bank terrace, the Tilehurst End, and the Town End — gave it an intimate, old-fashioned atmosphere that supporters cherished. The record gate of 33,042 remained a testament to its Victorian-era scale, when fans could pack terraces to densities unthinkable by modern standards.

The ground hosted an FA Cup semi-final and regularly welcomed top-flight opposition. A 1996 FA Cup tie against Manchester United generated gate receipts exceeding £110,000, underscoring how Elm Park could still punch above its weight right to the end of its life.

Final Seasons and Legacy

Reading’s last competitive match at Elm Park took place on 3 May 1998, a 1–0 defeat to Norwich City. A pre-season friendly against Sheffield Wednesday — won 3–0 — served as the ground’s sentimental farewell before the wrecking crews moved in that October. The housing estate built on the site kept the Elm Park name, preserving at least a trace of the ground’s identity.

Today Elm Park lives on in photographs, supporter memoirs, and the broader culture of English football nostalgia. Its 102-year lifespan makes it one of the longer-serving grounds of the English Football League era, a reminder of the era when clubs and their stadiums were inseparable parts of a neighbourhood’s identity.

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Elm Park FAQs

When did Elm Park open and close?

Elm Park opened on 5 September 1896 and hosted its last competitive match on 3 May 1998, after which Reading FC moved to the Madejski Stadium. Demolition began in October 1998.

What was the record attendance at Elm Park?

The ground’s record attendance was 33,042, set on 19 February 1927 during an FA Cup tie between Reading and Brentford, which Reading won 1–0.

What replaced Elm Park after it was demolished?

The site was redeveloped into a housing estate of 128 residential dwellings. The estate retained the Elm Park name, keeping a small connection to the stadium’s long history.

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