📌Bigger than PSG: Leeds United confirm bold plans for Elland Road with Liverpool inspiration

Leeds United have announced more concrete plans to expand Elland Road in the near future, enlisting the help of the architects who redesigned Liverpool’s Anfield stadium during recent expansions.

   The 49ers have had a lot of work to do since taking over in 2023 after being relegated as they looked to rebuild not only the team, but the entire infrastructure of the club.

   This includes making more established plans to expand the arena to keep up with demand for season tickets, something that Andrea Radrizzani keeps promising but never seems to deliver.

   News confirmed on Monday night that Leeds are hoping to fast-track plans to expand Elland Road, particularly with the redevelopment of the West and North Stands.


   Such an expansion is expected to increase Elland Road’s capacity to around 53,000, which is in line with the season ticket waiting list, which currently stands at around 26,000.

   This would give Leeds a stadium capacity larger than PSG’s Parc Des Princes, Rangers’ Ibrox, Newcastle United’s St James’ Park and Aston Ville’s Villa Park:

   A significant increase in general admission seating which would make Elland Road currently the seventh largest club venue in the country

   The central goal of architectural design is to preserve and enhance a unique atmosphere

   A phased approach to construction to minimize loss of seats during the project

   Get Elland Road up to UEFA Category 4 status to be among the elite of European stadiums

   An expert team combining global stadium experience with local expertise, assembled to provide artist impressions and design submissions

   The 49ers have experience with stadium renovations, moving the NFL series to Levi’s Stadium, but sought help with another successful English stadium expansion in the form of KSS, the specialist sports architecture firm commissioned to expand Anfield.

   Liverpool have overseen the redevelopment of both the Main and Anfield Road stands (see above) in recent years, with KSS as the lead architect involved in the design.

   KSS will now be part of the large group responsible for the Elland Road redevelopment:

   “Leeds United’s owner, 49ers Enterprises, has extensive experience building the iconic Levi’s Stadium, one of the finest sporting and entertainment venues in the world, while the club’s board members are known for overseeing successful major property projects around the world.

   “The revitalization of Elland Road Stadium will see 49ers Enterprises bring its expertise from the US to oversee a UK-based project team that includes stadium specialist architects KSS, civil engineers Buro Happold and the management team RISE, whose management team managed  delivering some of the UK’s most successful mixed-use projects.”

   The season ticket waiting list was created as a result of Marcelo Bielsa’s outstanding work in taking Leeds to the Premier League and becoming one of the most exciting teams in the league.

   Restoring that league status is the only way for the 49ers to get those 26,000 fans to pay for season tickets in two shiny new stands.

   But with progression hopefully a likely development this season, or at least in the not-too-distant future, we could see shovels in the ground soon, and it’s long overdue.