Cambridge United key step on home revamp

Article posted by Coliseum, October 18^th, 2023

Image: Cambridge United

The English Football League (EFL) One team – the Cambridge United Football Club – have reached an agreement with the Supporters Club which will pave the way for a redevelopment of their home arena – the Abbey Stadium in Cambridge, England (UK).

‘BBC SPORT’ stated that the ‘U’s’ are to spend £1.5m on a new Supporters Club building, allowing the existing one to be demolished.

In return, they will be gifted an area of land owned by the Supporters Club to allow the redevelopment work to go ahead.

The English Football League One, known as the Sky Bet League One for sponsorship purposes or simply League One in England, is the second-highest division of the English Football League and the third tier overall in the English football league system.

Preston (UK)-based the English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales (UK). Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world.

The Cambridge United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the City of Cambridge, England (UK). They compete in EFL League One, the third tier of the English football league system. The club is based at the Abbey Stadium on Newmarket Road, approximately two miles East of the Cambridge City Centre.

The Abbey Stadium is a football stadium in Cambridge, England (UK). It has been the home ground of the Cambridge United F.C. since 1932, and currently has a maximum capacity of 7,937 spectators.

The Cambridge United Supporters Club (CUSC) is a family-friendly social club located in The Abbey Lounge. The CUSC is part of a joint group with the Cambridge United Football Club (CUFC) to work on potential relocation of the Supporters Club.

Said Paul Barry, Majority Owner, Cambridge United F.C., “This is vital to our progression as a football club. It is potentially a very big step forward for the Cambridge United as it unlocks the opportunity to develop, modernize, increase the capacity of the Abbey Stadium and improve what we offer for all our supporters.”

‘BBC SPORT’ further stated that the agreement is subject to being ratified at an extraordinary general meeting of club members to be held on November 2^nd.

Detailed redevelopment plans for the 8,127-capacity will be announced in the New Year, but will include the upgrading of the Newmarket Road and the Habbin stands.

Added Barry, “Whilst this is a key step forward which allows us to move to the next stage of planning, pricing and designing the project, a lot of hard work and multiple challenges lie ahead.”

He has been the club’s owner since 2018, having previously invested in the club since the turn of the century.

Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.

Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at www.coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.