First Look: Elland Road Expansion

Leeds United fans have been dreaming about stadium expansion for years, but it’s never been a smooth ride. Back in the early 2000s, under Peter Ridsdale, there were plans to leave Elland Road altogether. The idea was to build a brand-new 50,000-seater ground down at Stourton, just off the M621. It would’ve cost about £40 million – which, at the time, seemed like Monopoly money given the club’s spiralling debts. Fans were largely behind it according to a club survey. But like so many things under Ridsdale, it never happened. The financial collapse hit, Ridsdale got the boot, and the whole project was quietly buried.

When Ken Bates took over in 2005, he talked a good game about staying at Elland Road and building around it. His grand plan was to turn the East Stand into a mini city – hotels, shops, restaurants, conference centres – the lot. He even wanted to rip out the executive boxes in the South Stand and cram in more seats. Some bits got done, like the hospitality upgrades in the East Stand, but the big stuff? It never really materialised. Money was tight, the club was stuck in the lower leagues, and when Bates eventually sold up, a lot of his ideas went with him.


Fast forward to today and finally, it feels like we might be getting somewhere. Under 49ers Enterprises, things have now started moving. Back in 2023 they said funds were in place to kick off the redevelopment of Elland Road once Premier League football had secured. With our top flight status secured, Leeds City Council gave the green light for the club to purchase the land around Elland Road to allow for the expansion earlier this month. Extended West and North stands will take the capacity up to a whopping 53,000.

Now today, after what feels like decades of waiting we finally have some artists impressions of an expanded Elland Road, fit for Leeds United in the 21st century. The 49ers have pumped £10 million into kickstarting the work with expert team combining global stadium experience with local specialist knowledge was assembled to deliver the new stadium. With leading sports stadia architects KSS at the helm, it’s clear to see inspiration from their previous projects such as Main stand at Anfield with new West and North stands dominating even the ‘magnificent new East Stand’.




Leeds City Council will now be discussing the pre-application for the modernisation of Elland Road Stadium at a Plans Panel meeting on Thursday 8th May 2025. Fans and members of the local community can visit a public exhibition at the Centenary Pavilion at Elland Road, which will be open from Thursday 22nd May 2025-Friday 23rd May 2025, or one of two consultation events as part of a community roadshow in Leeds:

The Holbeck Club

Tuesday 13th May 2025 (5pm-8pm)

The Dragon Pub

Monday 19th May (5pm - 8pm)

Public Exhibition at The Centenary Pavilion, Elland Road

Thursday 22nd May 2025 (11am-12pm) BSL and Quiet Session
Thursday 22nd May 2025 (12pm-8pm)
Friday 23rd May 2025 (2pm-8pm)


Leeds United are keen to ensure the consultation process is as accessible as possible and would also like to hear your views and thoughts. Feedback and comments can be submitted via EllandRoadExpansion@leedsunited.com.