Salford Community Stadium in safe hands

Image: Salford City Stadium, Anthony Parkes, CC BY-SA 2.0

Salford City Council has taken full control of the Salford Community Stadium, securing the future of the city’s leading rugby clubs.

Salford Now said the legal sale between Salford City Council and Peel Group was completed at the end of last year.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said, “I can confirm that, following the recent democratic decision-making process, negotiations and financial due diligence. Salford City Council’s acquisition of Peel’s 50% shareholding in the City of Salford Community Stadium Limited (COSCOS) is now complete.

“COSCOS was initially a 50:50 joint venture company between Salford City Council and Peel Land established in 2010.

“This deal means that the council is now the sole shareholder of CosCos, the company which owns Salford Community Stadium.”

The 12,000-capacity Salford Community Stadium is a rugby stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell, England (UK) and serves as the home of the Salford Red Devils rugby league club and the Sale Sharks rugby union club.

The Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club from Greater Manchester, England (UK). They play in Premiership Rugby and have been in England’s top division of rugby union system continuously since 1995.

The Salford Red Devils are a professional rugby league club in Barton upon Irwell, Greater Manchester, England (UK). They compete in Super League, the top tier of the British rugby league system.

As well as the stadium, the council has acquired two training pitches, a surfaced car park with around 500 spaces, and a number of developable land assets with a footprint of 24.76 acres, adjacent to the stadium.

The approval to purchase the shareholding from the Peel Group has been continued since February, a decision that has cost £7.7million, which includes assignment of debt and shares.

Dennett added: “This is great news for the city as it will safeguard jobs, ensure the continued community use of the facility and support the delivery of the council’s Rugby Strategy in 2025.

“It will enable the council to deliver its aims and aspirations by controlling future redevelopment of the area, a key regeneration site known as the western gateway.

“The deal brings to fruition the commitment to deliver the initial vision of a community stadium for the city and its people.”

The Salford Mayor added that the 24.76 acres has potential to create hundreds of jobs in the area, as well as promoting new sports and leisure and rugby strategies in the future.

The deal will also be positive news for Salford Red Devils as it will help protect the Super League status of the club – and allow both the rugby league team and the Sale Sharks to remain at the stadium.

Dennett continued: “Work will now kick off with exciting plans to engage fans, community groups and grass-roots rugby clubs, schools, education providers and residents with the city’s Community Stadium and the sport of rugby.

“The stadium will be at the heart of the city’s Rugby Strategy, with huge potential to increase participation rates in sport and contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of local people of all ages through all forms of the game and the wider activities.”

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