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Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
EFL club get update on £130m stadium as decision nears after warning they could cease to exist without new ground
OXFORD UNITED have released an update on their quest for a new stadium. The U's warned earlier this month they could cease to exist if plans for a proposed 16,000-seater arena are not approved. 3 Oxford United have given an update on their proposed new stadium Credit: PA 3 The U's are still waiting for permission to build the 16,000-seat arena Credit: Oxford United football club 3 The Championship club have warned they could cease to exist if they don't have a home Credit: Oxford United football club Oxford are hoping to build a new ground on land known as the Triangle, near Kidlington on the outskirts of the city. The club currently play at the Kassam Stadium, with their lease set to expire in 2026. Last month, Oxford confirmed they had negotiated a two-year extension with Fikora Group, the stadium owners. But they are still waiting for confirmation that they can start construction on the Triangle from Cherwell District Council. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL WEEDED OUT Abandoned EFL stadium left to rot with pitch covered in weeds Oxford announced on Tuesday that the council were now in the "final stages" of their report into the proposal. In a statement, the club wrote: "Oxford United can confirm that Cherwell District Council planning department are in the final stages of completing their report for the new stadium proposals. "Following the latest review, the Club are continuing to work with the Council's team with the aim of securing a positive recommendation for the development plans. "Oxford United's planning application will be heard by the Cherwell District Council planning committee on 31 July." BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Jonathon Clarke, Oxford's Development Director, added: 'With the recent review showing our responses are nearly complete, we can all focus on securing a positive recommendation for our plans. "We have made it very clear that meeting the July planning committee date is critical if the Club are to maintain the required timeline to secure our future." Championship club could be left without a stadium as EFL deadline looms A decision on the proposals had been expected earlier this year, but has been hit with delays. Oxford CEO Tim Williams issued a stark warning over the future of the Championship club earlier this month. Williams told Sky Sports: "When our lease at the Kassam Stadium runs out, we won't have a home and a stadium to play in. "If we don't have a stadium, there is a risk we won't have a football club. "It doesn't get more serious than that. "We have seen headlines recently about a new Manchester United stadium, which with all due respect is a want and not a need. "If Manchester United don't move out, they still have Old Trafford. "If Everton hadn't moved into Bramley Moor-Dock, they've still got Goodison. "If we don't move into a new stadium, we are homeless and we don't exist and it's an absolute travesty in my view." The U's estimate their £130million stadium plans will create around 1,000 new jobs and add £32m a year to the local economy. First unveiled in 2023, the stadium will include a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference centre, community plaza and would be the UK's first all-electric ground.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
EFL club get update on £130m stadium as decision nears after warning they could cease to exist without new ground
OXFORD UNITED have released an update on their quest for a new stadium. The U's warned earlier this month they could cease to exist if plans for a proposed 16,000-seater arena are not approved. 3 3 3 Oxford are hoping to build a new ground on land known as the Triangle, near Kidlington on the outskirts of the city. The club currently play at the Kassam Stadium, with their lease set to expire in 2026. Last month, Oxford confirmed they had negotiated a two-year extension with Fikora Group, the stadium owners. But they are still waiting for confirmation that they can start construction on the Triangle from Cherwell District Council. Oxford announced on Tuesday that the council were now in the "final stages" of their report into the proposal. In a statement, the club wrote: "Oxford United can confirm that Cherwell District Council planning department are in the final stages of completing their report for the new stadium proposals. "Following the latest review, the Club are continuing to work with the Council's team with the aim of securing a positive recommendation for the development plans. "Oxford United's planning application will be heard by the Cherwell District Council planning committee on 31 July." BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Jonathon Clarke, Oxford's Development Director, added: 'With the recent review showing our responses are nearly complete, we can all focus on securing a positive recommendation for our plans. "We have made it very clear that meeting the July planning committee date is critical if the Club are to maintain the required timeline to secure our future." A decision on the proposals had been expected earlier this year, but has been hit with delays. Oxford CEO Tim Williams issued a stark warning over the future of the Championship club earlier this month. Williams told Sky Sports: "When our lease at the Kassam Stadium runs out, we won't have a home and a stadium to play in. "If we don't have a stadium, there is a risk we won't have a football club. "It doesn't get more serious than that. "We have seen headlines recently about a new Manchester United stadium, which with all due respect is a want and not a need. "If Manchester United don't move out, they still have Old Trafford. "If Everton hadn't moved into Bramley Moor-Dock, they've still got Goodison. "If we don't move into a new stadium, we are homeless and we don't exist and it's an absolute travesty in my view." The U's estimate their £130million stadium plans will create around 1,000 new jobs and add £32m a year to the local economy. First unveiled in 2023, the stadium will include a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference centre, community plaza and would be the UK's first all-electric ground.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Oxford United writes open letter addressing stadium concerns
Oxford United has written to locals in an attempt to outline the potential community benefits of its new stadium club wants to build a 16,000-capacity venue on land known as the Triangle, near Kidlington, but has faced some opposition from the an open letter addressing those concerns, the club said it had "listened, adapted, and are committed to delivering something that can be genuinely valued locally".It added that stakeholders, including police and council highways officers, had accepted the club's transport strategy - subject to conditions. The strategy aims for 90% of travel to the stadium to take place via sustainable Clarke, development director at Oxford United, said the club understood there were "existing challenges in the community" and had created a plan to "help alleviate them"."The stadium is about more than football and will deliver huge value to our local communities and beyond," he said. Among the updated proposals included in the letter are plans for a new health and wellbeing centre and additional local benefits - including free venue access for local schools, charities and community club also reaffirmed its plans to invest in the nearby Stratfield Brake's sports pitches - home to teams including Kidlington Youth FC and Gosford All Blacks rugby also detailed its plans to make the proposed new ground the UK's first all-electric stadium - powered by on-site renewables and 100% clean energy."We appreciate there are many questions about the new stadium and the open letter helps address them and further engage with residents," Mr Clarke added: "Without the stadium the club and its charity cannot survive.""The stadium will safeguard both and create a hub that serves the community and helps address local needs." Last month, the U's reached an agreement with the stadium's owner, Fikora Group, to stay at its current home, the Kassam Stadium, for a maximum of two further parties said no further extensions or new lease agreements would be possible following the its plans for the new stadium, the club predicts 1,000 new jobs will be created and £32m a year added to the local open letter confirmed that a fifth of the jobs created would be ring-fenced for those living locally, to "help address the county's youth employment and hospitality labour shortages".A decision on the proposal is expected to be made by Cherwell District Council by the end of July. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
