During the 1902-03 season, local football clubs in Leeds, Leeds, Woodville and holbeck used this venue. However, holbeck, who lost to St. Helen in the 1904 play-off, immediately began to decline and the stadium was put up for sale. In August, a meeting was held at Griffin Hotel in Wild Boar Lane. After the meeting, Leeds City Football Club was formally established, and Elam Road was rented by the team for the home game of the new season. 1904 65438+1October 13, both parties signed a formal lease contract, and the rent reached 75 pounds per year. 1March, 905, the club can choose to buy out the ownership of the stadium for 5,000 pounds. But in 165438+ 10, the price was lowered to 4500.
After the first season of Leeds City, the English League, the club spent 1.050 to build a 5000-seat stand on the west side of the stadium. The attendance of the stadium has gradually increased. On February 30th, 65438, the match against Bradford, also in West Yorkshire, attracted 22500 spectators and brought 487 pounds to the club. The expansion of the stadium is still going on. In order to ensure the safety of the stadium, the club hired a "Stadium Committee" to supervise the construction process. In February, 1906, * * 396 1 square yard of land beside Chevelle and Jiejiede was bought by "Sengqiao Smelting Iron" for 420 pounds. The Committee immediately arranged for the construction of a stand with a capacity of 4,000 spectators, which is scheduled to be completed before the Chelsea game in June 5438+065438+ 10. The plan cost 3000 pounds and half a mile of steel. The construction plan also includes a runway, dressing room, office and garage across the stadium for training. In order to prevent water accumulation in the stadium, the installation of drainage system is also included in the agenda.
Leeds subsequently suffered an economic crisis, which even endangered the normal operation of the club. Despite a series of uncertainties, the site owner received a payment of 65,438+0,000 pounds and an annual rent of 250 dollars. During World War I, the stadium was requisitioned by the military for military tests and shooting training. 19 19-20 season, the English League started again, and Leeds City made great strides, but then the scandal that the team illegally paid the players' income in wartime was exposed, and the team was eliminated from the professional league after only eight league matches. Subsequently, some local enterprises began to consider digging on the spot in Elan Road, using the sediment under the land to open a brick burning factory on the original site. But Yorkshire Amateur Football Club became the owner of the stadium, and the team played football on the stadium to prevent the stadium from being damaged. In the 1920s, the south stand was covered with a wooden bucket roof, which was called "scratching shed" by local people. The stands built in the east are called "lowlands". The stand behind the north goal is called Spinkop, named after Spinkop Mountain, which killed 322 British soldiers in the Boer War.
In 1930s-1940s, the overall structure of Yilan Road Stadium changed little, during which the stadium ushered in the attendance peak for many times. On February 27th, 1932,1932,56795 spectators flocked to watch the match between the team and the then champion Arsenal, which has been maintained for nearly 35 years. In the last game of the league, Leeds United's match against Middlesbrough attracted only 9006 spectators. 1938, the final of the rugby championship was held in Elland Road, and Leeds played Henslet. 54 1 12 The audience witnessed hensley's victory. During World War II, the stadium was requisitioned by the "War Committee" again.
1953165438+1October 9, the floodlight with a value of 7,000 pounds was first used on the stadium, and Leeds United played against the Irish at home, which was also the most expensive stadium lighting equipment in Britain at that time. The match attracted 365,438+0,500 fans and witnessed john charles and player and coach Reggie Carter score two goals each to help the team beat their Scottish opponents 4-65,438+0. In the next few weeks, teams from northern Scotland visited one after another, including Dundee and Falcock.
1956 September 18, a fire broke out in the west stand, and the stadium was extensively burned. The main structure of the stadium was seriously damaged, including office, team equipment, exhibition hall, physiotherapy equipment, dressing room, board office, media studio, power supply system, etc., and the roof of the west stand collapsed in a large area. The losses caused by the fire amounted to 654.38 million pounds. The amount of insurance purchased by the team is not enough to fill this loophole. Players participate in the action of cleaning up the debris and wreckage at the scene. This stand, which can accommodate 2500 stands, can no longer be put into use. The board of directors held a meeting for this purpose and finally decided to raise funds from the public and ask Leeds City Council for help to build a brand-new grandstand. The budget has increased from the initial 60,000 to 6,543,800+0.8 million. The west stand will be reopened to the public before the start of the league next year.
The brand-new west stand has 4,000 seats installed at the back of the stadium, including 6,000 stands. Two years later, after the game against Preston in the Central League, the west stand was threatened by fire again. Fortunately, Creaer Williamson, the general secretary of the club, and some board members arrived in time to control the fire, and the stadium did not suffer any substantial damage.
In 1960s, Elland Road witnessed Don Revie leading the team back to League One. The team kept the top 4 position in the standings in the following 10 years. 1On March 20th, 965, the video of Leeds United's 4-/kloc-0 victory over Everton on Elland Road first appeared on TV. Leeds United in Levi's era also set a new record for the number of spectators in the stadium-1967 FA Cup fifth round replay against Sunderland, which attracted 57,892 fans to watch the game. 1In April, 968, the club spent 250,000 pounds to demolish the Spinkop stand and build a brand-new stand. In less than 6 weeks, the main structure of the grandstand roof was completed. Later, this stand was called the J. J. D. Stand. The new stand has been pushed to the distance of about 18m behind the goal. Turf is replanted in the open space, and the length of the stadium extends northward by 9. 1 m.
The stadium was further renovated at 1970. The team spent 0.2 million/200 thousand pounds to build the northwest corner stand at the corner connecting the west stand and the popular science stand. Since then, the team has spent 200,000 pounds to add a stand in the other corner of the lowland stand and the popular science stand. 1972 officially opened the team sports and official souvenir shop. 1974, Leeds United won the league championship for the second time. The "scratch shed" was demolished, and the team spent 500,000 pounds to build a brand-new south stand on the original site. It includes an independent platform for 4,000 people, a row of 16 groups of executive boxes and a full-seat stand for 3,500 people. Due to lack of funds, the budget for connecting the South Stand and the Lowland Stand was cut. In the same year, the floodlight was replaced by a brand-new high-foot floodlight. The brand-new lighting equipment as high as 79 meters also set a European record at that time. Three floodlight cups were erected on both sides of the popular science stand and the northwest stand respectively. Four years later, the last floodlight was installed in the stadium. 1982 May19, the first game on Elam Road was a replay of the final of the Rugby League Challenge between Hull and Videnis. In the summer of the same year, Leeds United sold the stadium to Leeds City Council for 2.5 million pounds. Parliament granted the team a lease of 0/25 years. Then in 1987, a huge plan to transform the stadium was put forward. These include spending 50 million pounds and 75 million pounds to transform the low-lying stands into full stands that can accommodate 7,500 people, and building a small stadium around the stadium that can accommodate 2,000 people. Other plans include building shopping centers, skating rinks, cricket stadiums, cinemas, nightclubs, cafes, restaurants, press release centers and shops. This plan has never been put into practice.
In September, 199 1, the southeast corner stand connecting the south stand and the lowland stand was officially opened to the public. This stand is also for visiting fans. Only the family stands for 17 10 fans can be accommodated. Because there are too many members in the club, we have to move to the east stand. This new booth is nicknamed "cheese wedge" by fans because of its bright yellow. 1in April, 1992, a batch of banquet equipment was introduced into the conference center behind the west stand. 1992, Yilan Road started a new round of renovation. The new east stand completely replaced the original low stand. * * * Counting one * *17000 seats on the second floor, to ensure that the fans' sight will not be blocked. The renovation of 1993 was officially completed, costing 5.5 million pounds, including 25 executive boxes and 10000 new seats on the ground floor, some of which constitute a brand-new family stand, which can only be seated by club members. In addition, 7000 seats have been added to the upper floor. The East Stand became the largest cantilever stand in the world at that time. After Taylor's report was published, the steps of the popular science stand were replaced by 7,000 seats. In 994, Elan Road officially became a full stadium. On June+10, 5438, George La Seles, then president of the club, and Mrs. Levi, widow of Levi, unveiled the new popular science booth. J&D Stand was named Don Revie Stand to commemorate this meritorious coach.
1997 65438+February implemented the plan of1130,000 pounds to transform the west stand and the south stand, and the stadium capacity will reach 45,000 people after completion. The reconstruction scheme adopts a brand-new east stand structure, which can accommodate1.2000 people. In addition, an indoor gymnasium with a capacity of10.5 million people will be built behind the west stand. This gymnasium will host basketball, ice hockey, concerts and other events and activities. Although an ice hockey team named Leeds Laser has been planned, the construction plan of this stadium as the home of the team has been put on hold for the time being. 1998 Leeds United Club once again became the owner of Elam Road. The newly established "Leeds Sports" redeemed the stadium from Leeds City Council for 654.38+0 billion pounds. On August 6th, 200012000, Peter Redesdale, then chairman of the team, wrote an open letter to the season ticket holders and shareholders of the team, expounding the club's plans for rebuilding Elland Road in the future and possibly relocating the home of the team. One vote can decide the fate of the stadium, but the club is more inclined to move. 18,500 people, only 13% of the participants supported keeping the club in Elam Road. The remaining 87% tend to move. On September 7th, 20001year, Redesdale announced the plan to move the club to a new stadium in skelton that can accommodate 50,000 fans before July of 20001year. The plan will be implemented in the 2004-2005 season. In March 2003, due to the dismissal of Redesdale, the plan finally aborted. At that time, the team's financial situation was very chaotic, and it may even be placed in financial custody in March 2004.
A few years later, the club sold Elam Road to Jack Pesh under a 25-year lease and installment repurchase contract. 2006-02-27+65438 It is revealed that the stadium was sold to a timber trading company registered in the British Virgin Islands five months ago.
In the summer of 2006, the South Stand was renovated and closed to the public in several games after the start of the league. The renovation includes the modernization of box, dining center, middle-level office area, management office equipment and the construction of a restaurant named after legendary star Billy Brenner-Billy Bar of Leeds United.
Before the game against Huddersfield on February 8, 2007, a new stadium renovation plan was made public, mainly building hotels, shopping centers and health clubs around Elland Road. A new hotel will be built on the side of the stadium store. Possible related plans include a gymnasium, casino, police command center, coffee shop and a new parking lot with 2,700 parking spaces. June 27, 2008 10, and plans to further expand. The club plans to build a hotel with 350 rooms, an entertainment city integrating shopping, bars and restaurants, further upgrade and increase the equipment of the business center, and build a supermarket, office building and nightclub behind the East Stand. On June 6, 2008, the Leeds City Council announced that the Leeds Theatre, which was built by the Council, would not be located near the stadium.
On June 65438+February 65438+June 2009, the candidate cities and stadiums for England to bid for the 20 18 World Cup were announced. This includes Leeds and its Elland Road Stadium. Therefore, the plan to reform the stands of John Charles and Don Revie is put on the agenda, and the stadium will be further expanded to 50,000 seats.
On February 28th, 2009, at 65438, Chairman Ken Bates announced the plan to add 2,000 to 3,000 seats in the South Stand. The planned executive box will be demolished and the seats will be installed on the original site.
20 1 1 March, the upper end of the east stand was renovated and expanded 1 the central hall and 20 executive boxes. A playground, hotel and supermarket will be built within five steps around the stadium.