Leeds United work starts on £200million 49ers plan to close gap on Tottenham - MOT Leeds News 25/7/23
By George Overhill
The 49ers have already got started at Leeds United with the
plan to develop Elland Road, which is set to cost £200million, the Daily Mail
reports.
The Whites’ home ground, subject to controversy in the final
days of Andrea Radrizzani’s reign as he reportedly tried to use it as security
against a loan for his purchase of Sampdoria [The Athletic, 1 June], has been a
key part of the new regime’s long-term goals for the club, and consultants have
apparently started work on realising them.
Tottenham’s glittering new 62,850 capacity stadium, which
opened in 2019, is generally seen as the benchmark in England and reportedly
brings in £5m in match-day revenue per game, £4m higher than the
37,792-capacity Elland Road generates, but Paraag Marathe and the new regime
have got consultancy work under way already.
Mike Keegan writes in his Mail report Tuesday (25 July):
“Plans are being drawn up to increase capacity to 55,000 with a raft of new
corporate hospitality offerings in revamped east and north stands. That gap to
Spurs will be bridged.
“Much-needed redevelopment, which was effectively on hold
under Radrizzani, is, all of a sudden, gathering pace. Planning consultants
have started work. Designs have been drawn up. Costs have been estimated at £200m.
The money is there, as is the expertise.
“In 2014, the 49ers moved from the iconic but crumbling
Candlestick Park to the new state-of-the-art Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara,
Silicon Valley.
“It can be disclosed that the man who worked on the funding
for that £1bn move is already doing likewise for Elland Road. A group who
managed the construction at Levi’s has now switched its attention from West
Coast to West Yorkshire.”
Investment in the stadium, if done right, is arguably even
more effective over the long-term than investment in the squad.
It may not be viable to hope to match Spurs’ revenue, given
they are in London and would have a larger capacity either way, but closing the
gap would clearly be beneficial for the club.
And if it allows more Leeds United fans in the ground to
watch the team play every other week then it is immediately beneficial for the
fanbase, although what it might mean for ticket prices is yet to become clear
and will be a factor.
While the 49ers are reportedly at pains not to lose what
makes Elland Road intimidating for visiting teams, development of the ground
should improve the experience for fans, and increased revenue, in theory,
should translate into greater ability to invest in the transfer market.
Clearly this is a long-term plan and is unlikely to have any
benefit on Daniel Farke’s current window, which is rapidly running out with
departures still vastly outnumbering signings.
But it is not uncommon for incoming owners to make grand
promises and then instantly put them on the back burner once they’ve got their
feet under the table.
So, while there are inescapable concerns about the shape of
the squad currently, it is encouraging that Marathe and company appear to be
making the right noises and backing up their words so far.
