Pride Park Stadium

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Pride Park Stadium
nickname = Pride Park


location = Pride Park, Derby
broke_ground = Mid 1996
opened = 18 July 1997
owner = Derby County F.C.
operator = Derby County F.C.
surface = Grass
construction_cost = £28,000,000
architect = Miller Partnership
former_names = None
tenants = Derby County F.C. (1997-Present)
seating_capacity = 33,597

Pride Park Stadium is a football (soccer) stadium in the Pride Park business park on the outskirts of Derby, England. It is owned by and is the home of Derby County F.C. The stadium holds 33,597 spectators. On 11 June 2007, the club announced plans to expand the capacity to 44,000 for the 2008–09 season, subject to retaining their Premiership status, although having been relegated after only one season, these plans look to be put on hold.

History

The stadium was completed in 1997 and replaced Derby County's previous stadium, the Baseball Ground. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 18 July, with a friendly against Sampdoria following on 4 August.

The first competitive league match to be played there was against Wimbledon. The floodlights failed part way through the match and it had to be abandoned.

Plans to build the stadium were revealed only 18 months before the beginning of Derby's first season there. The original plan had been for the Baseball Ground to be rebuilt with a 26,000-seat capacity, but in February 1996 it was announced that Derby would be relocating instead.

Records and Internationals

The stadium has been used for three England under-21s international matches and one full international, a 4–0 friendly victory for England over Mexico on 27 May 2001. That match also holds the record for the highest attendance at the stadium: a full-house of 33,597. The highest attendance at Pride Park Stadium for a Derby County match is 33,475.

Pride Plaza Redevelopment and 2008 Ground Expansion

On 27 April 2007, Derby County released details of a proposed £20m development around the stadium which would create about 250 jobs. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/derby/content/articles/2007/04/26/pride_park_hotel_development_feature.shtml Pride Plaza Development] ] Although plans have yet to be submitted to the city council, the Pride Plaza project would include a 165-bed hotel, bars, restaurants and office space. On 9 of November Derby City Council agreed to let the plans go ahead.

Two squares and a road on the west side of the stadium would be named after club legends Brian Clough, Steve Bloomer and Lionel Pickering. [ [http://www.therams.co.uk/details.asp?back=true&key=1D29|0|2185366269754|R|536|11136242742007340578132&parentkey=1D29|0|2185366269754|p|536|0/ Pride Plaza tributes] ] The club have said no money would be taken away from the team to pay for the development.

On top of this the club has announced plans to expand the capacity up to 44,000, with the work due to take place during the 2007–08 close season. [ [http://www.therams.co.uk/details.asp?back=true&key=1D29|0|2185366269754|R|536|11372241262007310839232&parentkey=1D29|0|2185366269754|p|536|0 Rams announce stadium expansion] ] , provided the club avoided relegation. The plans include adding rows of seats to the north, south and east stands. If completed, this would allow the club to break its current club record home attendance, which stands at 41,826 for a match against Tottenham Hotspur during the 1969–70 season set at The Baseball Ground.

* Ground improvements at English football Stadia

Average League Attendences

[ [http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attnclub/derc.htm Derby County Historical Attendances] ] [ [http://www.tonykempster.co.uk/prematt.htm Tony's English Football Site] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.prideparkstadium.com/ Pride Park Stadium web-site]