Welford Road Stadium

infobox stadium
name = Welford Road Stadium
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location = Aylestone Road
Leicester
LE2 7TR
coordinates = coord|52|37|27|N|1|07|59|W|region:GB_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=inline
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owner = Leicester Tigers
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tenants = Leicester Tigers
capacity = 17,498
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Welford Road is a stadium in Leicester, England and is home to one of England's traditional rugby union powers, Leicester Tigers. It is located between Aylestone Road and Welford Road on the edge of the city centre. The stadium, mostly built in the 1930s, and has a capacity of 17,498, making it the largest purpose-built club rugby union ground (ahead of Kingsholm Stadium's 16,500) in England.

The Leicester Tigers moved there in 1892 and the first stands accommodated 1,100 spectators. The club house is located on the Aylestone Road, where a small temporary stand is erected, with the other sides having permanent stands built on them.

The Crumbie Stand was built in the 1920s with the terrace being added later. The stand is named after the club's secretary who built the stand, Tom Crumbie. The members' stand is now called the Caterpillar stand and built on the side of the ground adjoining the former Granby Halls site; this stand was also built in the twenties. This expansion almost bankrupted the club but it helped attract top players and laid the foundations for Leicester first glory years in the 1920's and 1930's as well as their subsequent success.

The Alliance and Leicester Stand was opened at the Welford Road end in 1995.

In 2004, the Tigers announced a plan to abandon Welford Road in favour of a groundshare at Walkers Stadium with the city's main football club, Leicester City F.C. However, the two clubs could not agree on which one would have priority at Walkers Stadium, and formally shelved the plan in 2005.

Leicester purchased the freehold to land adjacent to the ground in 2006. Plans have now been submitted for the ground to be radically altered. Detailed plans can be seen [http://www.fwpgroup.co.uk/projects/default_item.php?id=49 here] It will see capacity expanded to 30,000, making it the largest club Rugby Union stadium in the country. [ [http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=558617 LEICESTER | Welford Road Redevelopment | 30,000 | Approved - SkyscraperCity ] ]

International matches

As of 2008, the stadium has hosted seven international games. It hosted games during both the 1991 and 1999 Rugby World Cups. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/history/2964475.stm] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/history/2964713.stm] . It also occasionally hosts England Saxons matches.

References

External links

* [http://worldstadia.com/stadium/England/Welford%20Road/4.php Welford Road Information and Gallery] - at Worldstadia.com