The English Football League (EFL) League Two team – the Cambridge United F.C. has said an “appropriate location” for a new home could be near the planned Cambridge East Station if it proves impossible to redevelop the club’s current residence – the Cledara Abbey Stadium in Cambridge, England (UK).
‘BBC’ stated that the idea has been floated in the club’s response to a consultation on the area’s Local Plan which outlines the future development in and around the City.
Preston (UK)-based the English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League it is the oldest football league in the world and was the top-level football league in England from its foundation until 1992 when the top 22 clubs split from it to form the Premier League, the highest level of the English football league system. The Football League was rebranded as the ‘English Football League’ (EFL) starting from the 2016-2017 seasons.
The Cambridge United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the City of Cambridge, England (UK). They currently compete in the EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed the ‘U’s’ the club has been playing at the Abbey Stadium since 1932.
The Abbey Stadium, currently known as the Cledara Abbey Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium in Cambridge, England (UK). It has been the home ground of the Cambridge United F.C. since 1932 and currently can hold a maximum of 7,937 spectators.
‘BBC’ further stated that the club said staying at the Abbey Stadium, which it bought back in 2022, might not be suitable for the long-term growth so it would “work with the Council and the others to identify the potential alternative sites”.
“If the ‘U’s did move “the current stadium would obviously then need to be redeveloped to help finance any relocation”, it said.
The Cambridge East Station plan is part of the East West Rail Project which aims to connect Cambridge and Oxford via Bedford (County town), Milton Keynes (City in Buckinghamshire) and Bicester (town and civil parish in Cherwell district).
Plans to redevelop the current stadium were put on hold after the majority shareholder Paul Barry said the idea was not feasible.
The work would have involved increasing the site’s capacity from 8,000 to 12,000 but the club said it would take two decades to generate a return on its investment.
On the club’s Website the Chief Executive Alex Tunbridge said the club’s Owners and the Board were “open-minded about a potential future relocation” and that “conversations were at an early stage – remaining in the Abbey Ward or as close to it as possible would be our ambition should redevelopment of the Cledara Abbey Stadium not be feasible.”
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 coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.