Hull City has outlined ambitious plans to create a £25m ‘sports village’, breathing new life into the area around the stadium.
Owner Acun Ilicali wants to develop a world-class scheme at the MKM Stadium – home to both Hull City and Hull FC – which would become a focal point for sport in the city. The plans would, however, require a significant extension to the lease from the stadium owned by the local authority.
It also potentially calls for a relocation of Hull Fair from its Walton Street site. The development could include the creation of a new training facility that would bring the club’s first team and academy under one roof. And longer term plans would call for the capacity to be increased, as part of a refurbishment scheme of the 25,500-seater stadium.
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A host of new pitches and academy buildings could be built to accommodate Hull City’s first team and academy, while a smaller capacity stadium is also being mulled within the grounds to provide a venue for the city to host national and local sporting events, as well as a Hull City museum.
Hull Live has reported how the football club, working as leaders of the Stadium Management Company (SMC) which operate the stadium on behalf of Hull City Council, has formed a working group which includes Hull FC owner Adam Pearson, who originally suggested a sports village when leading the original build of the stadium. It is understood that early discussions have already taken place with Hull City Council on the feasibility of the Sports Village plan and the acquisition of land in West Park.
Hull City Council leader Mike Ross has welcomed the plans and says talks over the future of the stadium site are under way.
He said: “As a city, we know just how important the stadium has been to the clubs, but also the local community, over the last 20 years. Alongside this, there is also a long history of Hull Fair, something that the community of Hull cherishes. The fair is part of the fabric of the city and will continue to be so for many years to come.
“The missing piece of the jigsaw is the wider redevelopment of the area, and so I welcome Hull City’s investment and ambitions. The Council is working closely with them on possible options to develop the MKM Stadium. We are all agreed that the future development, along with the success and sustainability of the stadium for both Hull City and Hull FC, are vital for the area. Critically, we also believe that this can be done in a way that guarantees the future of Hull Fair at Walton Street.”
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