Leeds United to emulate Liverpool amid Elland Road plans despite ‘huge problem’
Leeds United should look to Liverpool as an example of how to successfully redevelop an existing iconic stadium, according to Paul Robinson.
The Whites harbour ambitions to one day increase the capacity of their famous Elland Road stadium to 55,000 up from a current 37,608 capacity, although it is thought any work would be dependent on a return to the Premier League (Yorkshire Evening Post, 19 December, 2023).
Athletic journalist Phil Hay wrote (28 February) that the 49ers Enterprises owners face a “dilemma” insofar as the atmosphere experienced in the 3-1 triumph over Leicester City (23 February) would need to be retained amid any redevelopment work.
But former Leeds goalkeeper Robinson – speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News – thinks Liverpool’s own expansion of Anfield is proof that stadiums can be improved and retain their sense of identity, even if he did highlight one “huge problem” they might have if they ever decided to work on one stand.
He said: “They’ve got a problem at one end at the South Stand because of the main road that runs behind there would have to be a development similar to what Liverpool have done with the Anfield Road end whether they incorporate the road underneath it or there’s provisions made for that but that will be a huge problem for them.
“Yes there has to be a restoration with a lot of care and a lot of attention paid to the history, the way the stadium looks, the memories the stadium holds, you restore a place like Elland Road with care and detail in the same way Liverpool have done with Anfield.
“You look at Anfield now, developed on the same site, Anfield is perfect proof you can develop on the same site, you can grow, you can improve, you can modernise and you can have one of the world’s best stadiums on a site you had 50, 60, 70 years ago.
Will Leeds United follow Liverpool example with Elland Road plans?
The aforementioned win over Leicester resulted in the sort of atmosphere that makes Elland Road so famous, not just in this country but the world over.
So, it is understandable that there would be fears that increasing the capacity could hinder those sort of nights at Elland Road.
But, there is no doubt that the famous venue could do with modernising a little bit and after all it is the people inside the ground not the ground itself that make the atmosphere special.
From that point of view, there would be very little fear from the club’s owners or the supporters.
In other Leeds United news, Daniel Farke has shared a Pascal Struijk injury update.
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