So, it’s likely you’ll see quite a lot more posts from me following our return to the ‘big time’ and I’m glad to see that what I hope turns out to be immediate forward momentum being actioned – even before the season has finished.
I know we’ve been talking about this for the last couple of years – certainly since the 49ers Enterprises became involved in the club and I bet numerous designs and plans have been created in the interim – obviously our return back to the Championship probably delayed things, but I’m happy to see the announcement of our plans for an expansion of Elland Road.
🗞 Leeds United hope to expand the West and North Stand at Elland Road in the next year. The aim is to increase the capacity from 38K to 56,500, making it the 7th biggest club stadium in England.
The council are set to meet on Wednesday to discuss the plan.
[Daily Mail] #LUFC pic.twitter.com/N1Ith89Hcf
— LUFCMOT (@LUFCMOTcom) April 23, 2025
There are definitely some positive indicators to take out of our return – I think we’ve always known the size of the ambition of the 49ers – highlighted further by them bringing Red Bull on board to help us strategically and I think this stadium expansion underlines this.
Currently our exact capacity is 37,645 – which for the size we are in terms of status, I always thought was too small, though these new plans I think are a serious statement of intent with 56,500 said to be the new proposed capacity.
Maintaining Foundation Will Be Key
Now, this is the capacity of a top club when you look at others in the Premier League and around Europe and puts us almost level with the likes’ of Liverpool, but it definitely isn’t for a Championship club. We absolutely need to stay in the top flight.
So, I’m hopeful that this lays the foundations for first, Premier League stability and then to push on and eventually challenge at the highest levels of the game – though of course, success takes time.
I’ve already alluded to the fact that we need the right manager to keep us in the league and take us to the next level and now, with the planned stadium expansion, I’m hoping that we’re now on the right course.
The noise around Elland Road currently, in addition to the wait for season tickets and fans from all over the land wanting matchday tickets is significant, so I can’t imagine what it is going to be like for an opposition side to play there once it’s completed. I’m thinking on par with Anfield, which with a similar capacity and the passion of the fans is one of the most electric stadiums of that size in Europe. Borussia Dortmund can be mentioned in the same breath.
So, with that – let’s consider that by the time the expansion is completed – as yet, there doesn’t seem to be an official timeline, but you’d probably say between 12-18 months and we had a decent first season in the Premier League with the right manager and having signed the right players, it could then automatically upgrade us to the next level.
Which player wouldn’t want to (again with the right manager) come and play for us in front of what I reckon would be an intimidating place for opponents and an adrenaline-fuelled environment for our side? Surely, some of the best right?!
Some may even sacrifice the short term pain for long term gain, if they believe in the vision we sell them – I’d suggest Aston Villa as an example, with some of the players they have been able to attract over the last couple of years since Unai Emery’s appointment. Obviously, we’ll leapfrog them eventually – but I’m thinking of Villa as an example of this argument.
While there is a long way to go, the future looks promising and these new plans coming to fruition could be the start of an epic journey for our football club. ALAW!
