Paraag Marathe shares warning as Leeds look to expand Elland Road capacity
Paraag Marathe has delivered a warning as Leeds United look to expand Elland Road to 50,000 capacity in years to come.
The Whites vice-chairman has experience of building a new stadium with the San Francisco 49ers and will be critical to Andrea Radrizzani’s vision for the future.
Marathe further solidified those plans to expand the capacity at Elland Road, but warned that Leeds can’t lose the “menacing” atmosphere with these plans.
Speaking at the awards ceremony on Sunday evening via Leeds Live, Marathe was conservative about the major plans ahead.
“We do want to modernise the stadium,” he said.
“There’s the ability and capacity to increase it to 50,000-plus because the top Premier League clubs, that’s what they do have. Certainly, we have the demand. There’s also something really menacing about this environment for opposing team players.
“What we don’t want to do is renovate this into some sterile environment where you don’t have that. There’s magic out there on the pitch in this stadium and we want to keep that.”
Warning.
We all want this stadium extension to happen immediately, but it has to be done at a time where it makes sense for all parties.
After missing out on matchday revenue for the past season and more, the Whites will want to milk their return to the Premier League in the second season back, and build up that following once again.
These things don’t happen overnight, and it would possibly mean Leeds would have to play a season with only three stands open, maybe even two at times.
That would be another hit to our revenue, something Radrizzani may not want to do immediately after missing out on an entire season.
This will happen, and with 10,000 more fans in the stands, the menacing atmosphere is only going increase for those visiting; we wouldn’t want to be in that position if we were them.
In other Leeds United news, Spotted: Whites start work on major Elland Road development, Smyth shares brilliant prediction