EMERALD HEADINGLEY STADIUM : LEEDS

Sectors : Sport

Client : Caddick Developments Ltd / Yorkshire County Cricket Club

Designed to Meet Future Standards

Over the past 25 years, DLA Design have shaped a world class sporting facility, designed to meet future standards whilst maintaining the unique ‘Headingley atmosphere’ at a stadium that has hosted International sports for over 110 years. The masterplan for the phased redevelopment obtained planning approval in 1999, establishing a framework for the redevelopment of the stadium over a 20-year period and in May 2019 the final elements came to fruition.

Mark Arthur Chief Executive, Yorkshire County Cricket Club said, “I am truly amazed by what has been achieved at Emerald Headingley Stadium. So much thought and creativity has gone into the planning and design process by DLA that we now have one of the best cricket grounds in the World”.

The Clients required a facility that would provide a benchmark standard for the 21st century. The design of the new north-south stand provides seated terraces for both rugby and cricket spectators in a unique “back to back” configuration with various levels of accommodation and circulation between. The stand accommodates over 8,000 spectators and was constructed by Caddick Construction.

Paul Caddick Chairman, Caddick Group said, “Throughout the process DLA’s support and professionalism has been invaluable not only with their design and on-site supervision work but also their ability to coordinate the construction operations whilst Rugby of both codes and County and Test Cricket continued to be played”.

The stand provides high quality new facilities for both the cricket and rugby grounds and has been designed to complement the two sporting arenas with varying and distinctive roofscapes to the north and south respectively. The scheme comprises a new banquet facility with unique views of both the cricket pitch and rugby pitch, together with the seating terraces there are twelve boxes with capacity for 12 people, with associated seating have views onto the rugby pitch, but also have links to the cricket upper terrace so they can be utilised for corporate entertainment at cricket games. There is one box at banquet level that has views of the cricket pitch. Plus a new state of the art combined control room with views of both grounds.

Mike Masterson Associate Project Architect for DLA Design reflected “Our ambition was to retain Headingleys’ unique atmosphere and it’s so rewarding to see visitors’ reactions to the new facilities. We hope that we have shaped a stadium in which fans will be able to enjoy world class sport for many years to come.”

From the start of this journey, DLA has wholeheartedly supported the long-term vision to secure the stadium’s future as an international Cricket Test Match venue. The Emerald Stadium is home to Leeds Rhinos, Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Yorkshire Carnegie. This year the stadium is hosting games for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 and continue to host Specsavers Test Matches, one day internationals and international T20 matches, from a Rugby point of view Emerald Headingley Stadium will be hosting games for the Rugby League World Cup in 2021.

Gary Hetherington, Chief Executive Officer of the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League commented “Leeds Rhinos are delighted with the contribution made by DLA Architecture to the development of the Emerald Headingley Stadium. Their design has provided World Class facilities for fans and players and will inspire the next generation of Sportsmen and Sportswomen”

Winner – Constructing Excellence – Yorkshire Property Awards 2020