Conoco Stadium

Conoco Stadium
Artist's impression of Conoco Stadium
Full name	Conoco Stadium (project name)
Built	Construction cancelled
Capacity	Initially 12,000 rising to 21,100
Field dimensions	TBA
Tenants
Grimsby Town F.C.

The Conoco Stadium was the project name for the proposed new football stadium for Grimsby Town Football Club,^[1] with no current dates scheduled for work beginning or being completed. Following Grimsby Town's relegation from the Football League in 2010, the idea now appears to be dead in the water.

Proposed plans

Located on the outskirts of Great Coates to the west of Grimsby, close to the A180 dual carriageway, the all-seater stadium will be fully enclosed (no open corners) and will hold a capacity of 21,100,^[2] but with 12,000 seats as an initial phase. In addition to the stadium the plans include a 150,000-square-foot (14,000 m²) retail park to help finance the project. Surrounding the stadium will be a 1,300-space car park, 700-space park and ride facility and new training pitches for both GTFC and community use.^[3]

Sponsor

On 12 April 2002, Grimsby Town Football Club issued a joint statement revealing the then Conoco-owned Humber Refinery at South Killingholme as the sponsor of the new stadium with the main stand becoming the Jet Family Stand.^[4] There has been no comment or re-enforcement of the previously agreed sponsorship deal by the company, which since a merger in 2002, is now known as ConocoPhillips.

UEFA-sanctioned

Should the final planning permission be granted the new stadium will be eligible to host UEFA-sanctioned matches including the England Under 21s fixtures. Part of the design specification is that the stadium meets UEFA standards and hence qualifies the facility to be used as a venue for international matches.^[5]

Outline planning permission granted

Following a lengthy consultation period, North East Lincolnshire Council voted, on 25 January 2007, in favour of outline planning permission for the stadium.^[6]

All conditions approved

The final condition of GTFC's planning permission for a new stadium at Great Coates has now been approved by North East Lincolnshire Council. The results of extensive survey work means there must be an agreed management policy for nearly 100 acres (0.40 km²) of extra land if the stadium is to be realised.

On 19 September 2007, at Grimsby Town Hall, a vote of eight-to-two saw the planning committee agree with the council officers' suggestion for co-operation between Natural England, the local authority and GTFC. There is no insistence that Grimsby Town actually buys the land - a step which could make the scheme financially prohibitive. There is, however, the option for the authority to investigate making a compulsory purchase order should there be complications.^[7]

On 31 October 2007, the Grimsby Telegraph reported that the stadium project was not to be called in for scrutiny by the Government. The club and developers could now enter into serious commercial negotiations with potential retailers.[1]

Setback

On 30 September 2010, after many months without any news about the stadium plan, GTFC Chairman John Fenty announced at the club's annual general meeting that the planning permission at the clubs planned location in Great Coates expires on 14 November and that the club will not renew this. The club are still planning to relocate, however new locations for the ground are now to be looked at. ^[8]

References

1. ^ "Stadium will be called 'Conoco Stadium'". This Is Grimsby. http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=151472&command=displayContent&sourceNode=151455&contentPK=16497076&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch. Retrieved 2007-01-26. 
2. ^ "Stadium size will be 21,100 capacity". This Is Grimsby. http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=151472&command=displayContent&sourceNode=151455&contentPK=16290060&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch. Retrieved 2006-12-30. 
3. ^ "New stadium plans". Grimsby Town Football Club. http://www.extra-gtfc.co.uk/newstadium/plans.htm. 
4. ^ "GTFC announce Conoco as new stadium sponsor". The Electronic Fishcake. http://grimsbytown.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=909&stid=8252049&p=2. Retrieved 2002-04-12. ^{[dead link]}
5. ^ "England hope for stadium". Grimsby Telegraph. http://thisisgrimsby.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=181505&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231728&home=yes&more_nodeId1=151501&contentPK=17130219. Retrieved 2007-04-18. 
6. ^ "NE Lincolnshire council grant outline planning permission". This Is Grimsby. http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=151472&command=displayContent&sourceNode=151455&contentPK=16497076&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch. Retrieved 2007-01-26. 
7. ^ "All conditions approved". Grimsby Town Football Club. http://www.extra-gtfc.co.uk/newstadium/. Retrieved 2007-09-20. 
8. ^ "Great Coates Planning Permission To Expire". Grimsby Town Football Club. http://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10417~2170986,00.html. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 

External links

• Grimsby Town F.C. official web site
• Conoco Stadium official web site

Coordinates: 53°34′48″N 0°08′16″W / 53.57995°N 0.13780°W / 53.57995; -0.13780