The £40 million York Stadium Leisure Complex launches today (18th December 2020). This one-of-its-kind, multi-faceted community facility encompasses an 8,500 seat sports stadium, a state-of-the-art leisure centre, an NHS outpatient clinic and a public library, along with an extensive retail area.
The LNER Community Stadium will now become the official home ground for York City Football Club and York City Knights Rugby League Club. The Stadium consists of four stands, a synthetic blend grass pitch, three conferencing suites, club offices and dedicated changing rooms. It is anticipated that the first match to be played onsite will be York City Football Club in January.
Sitting alongside the Stadium is York Leisure Centre. The leisure centre comprises an 837m2 gym housing 124 pieces of state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, a four-court sports hall, a Clip & Climb climbing wall and three floodlit 3G 5-aside pitches. There are also three swimming pools, including a 25m main pool, 12.5m learner pool and interactive splash pad.
Further community facilities include an NHS outpatient clinic, expected to open in February 2021, which will offer ophthalmology, phlebotomy, sleep science and rheumatology services and the Explore community library, which will house 3,000 books and put on a comprehensive events and activities programme. The Library will open in January 2021.
The leisure centre will be the first element of the complex to open to the general public, welcoming visitors on Monday 21st December 2020.
Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council commented: “There is no doubt that the new stadium and wider complex will provide excellent facilities for sports fans and local residents alike. With the complex due to open to the public this Monday, the completion of this huge project will provide a timely and very welcome boost to the whole city.
”These are strange and difficult times to open new buildings and services, but we are working with all our partners to ensure residents can enjoy the new facilities safely from Monday.”
Councillor Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Finance and Performance said: “The community stadium complex is a real game changer for all levels of sport in the city. The facilities on-site cater for everyone with a new leisure centre, pool, library and NHS all in one convenient location.
“Looking forward, it will be incredible to see the Rugby League World up take place in the stadium, but before that takes place, these fantastic facilities will be ready for residents across the city to use every day from the beginning of next week.”
Paul Bickle, York Partnership Manager at GLL, the charitable social enterprise that will be operating the Complex said: “We are delighted to be partnering with City of York Council on this unique project. The Stadium Complex brings together elite sport and community services in a totally new way and will be a huge asset to the people of York. We are looking forward to welcoming the first visitors to the leisure centre within the next few days and football and rugby league fans to the Stadium in the coming weeks. We have worked hard to ensure that not only are we offering the very best facilities, but that all areas of the Complex will be operated in a Covid-secure way.”
Jason McGill, York City Football Club Chairman, said: “Although it has been a long journey to get to this point, we are thrilled that there is now a brand-new stadium which will bring live sports and many other facilities to the people of York. I’m incredibly proud to have been involved in this project, which stemmed from a need to find the club a new home, and to see our hopes and plans realised is truly wonderful. The LNER Community Stadium will be a great home for York City Football Club and we look forward to bringing supporters, both existing and new, to enjoy it with us.”
Jonathan Flatman, York Knights Chairman, said: “York City Knights would like to congratulate everyone involved with the completion of the stadium. The process has been one fraught with obstacles but those individuals who have perceived with the project especially throughout the last few years, we thank you. As a club and a sport, the onus is now on us to deliver on and off the field to match the ambitions of the council who have ultimately made the new LNER stadium happen. We look forward to welcoming the best players in the world to the stadium and taking York City Knights and Rugby League to the next level for York and North Yorkshire.”
Fiona Williams, Chief Executive of Explore York Libraries and Archives said: “We are delighted to be able to provide access to a library and archive service at the community stadium. Libraries have long since been recognised for their role in enhancing the wellbeing of local communities so it made perfect sense that we would be a key partner in such an amazing new facility with health and wellbeing at its heart.”
Simon Morritt, Chief Executive, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “I am delighted that the complex is now complete. This means from 2021 we will be able to deliver a range of specialist outpatient services, in high quality modern accessible premises which will improve and enhance the experience for many of our patients.”
York Stadium Leisure Complex will be operated by charitable social enterprise GLL, on behalf of City of York Council. GLL currently manages Burnholme Sports Centre, Energise Leisure Centre and Yearsley Swimming Pool in the city.
Situated within the wider Complex but owned and operated by Legal and General is a retail area that includes a 13-screen, IMAX Cineworld cinema, Puttstars Mini Golf, Hollywood Bowl and five restaurant units.
For further information on the York Stadium Community Complex visit: https://www.better.org.uk/york-stadium-leisure-complex
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