Hillsborough Stadium - Stadium Upgrade Plans

Stadium Upgrade Plans

Sheffield Wednesday announced in the summer of 2009 plans for a £22 million upgrade of the stadium and an increase in capacity to 44,825 from the current 39,732 with no viewing restrictions. These plans were to be completed by 2013 and would bring the stadium up to FIFA standards for hosting World Cup matches.

For reference, the details of the plans are as follows:

• Removing the current pillars that support the roof of the Kop and installing an 'iconic' roof structure
• Adding a corner between North Stand and the Kop with a medium-sized round hole underneath the seats to let wind get onto the pitch
• Adding a roof to the North-West Corner
• Removing the pillars and roof from the West Stand and replacing the roof
• Removing the present tier on the West Stand so that the inclination of the present day upper tier contiunues to pitch level
• Adding a new tier above the present upper tier on the West Stand with a 'new specific learning zone' between the new upper tier and present upper tier
• Renovation of the exterior appearance of the West Stand
• Demolition of the mega-store and gymnasium behind the North Stand
• The extension of the North Stand to create the 'biggest classroom in Europe' as well as 'enterprise zones' and 17 boxes
• Improved layout of the stadium South Stand floor plan and stadium surroundings to comply with FIFA requirements
• Improved parking and stadium access
• Adding rainwater harvesting and solar cell technology
• Demolition of the existing stadium control between the South Stand and West Stand and relocation to the corner between the Kop and South Stand
• Adding TV screens to the corners of the roof between the Kop-North Stand and South Stand-West Stand
• New bridge across the River Don for entry to West Stand, with turnstiles on the other side of the river