Bramall Lane to host 2018 games?
Sheffield United’s stadium, Bramall Lane, could be a contender to host games if England is successful in its bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Based near the centre of England’s fourth-largest city, Bramall Lane certainly has history on its side. One of only two grounds in the country to have hosted an FA Cup Final, England football internationals and an England cricket test match, (the other being The Oval), it is also the oldest major stadium in the world still to be hosting professional football matches.
But, in the modern world innovation must meet with tradition, and United’s plc Chairman Kevin McCabe has wasted no time in ensuring that his club more than move with the times. The ground now holds 32,609 supporters, after much recent redevelopment, and plans are afoot to make the Kop stand the biggest single-tear stand of its kind in England.
United have officially publicised their ambition to be included in the 2018 World Cup bid, and any further re-development would put their stadium ahead of their Sheffield rivals Wednesday, whose Hillsborough ground was used when the World Cup was last staged on these shores in 1966. McCabe said:
“Sheffield must be a part of the World Cup if it comes here and Bramall Lane being a venue makes perfect sense. We have asked and we are waiting to hear. If it (the criteria) is 35,000 capacity then we can do it. If it is a 40,000 capacity then we can do that too.”
“It would seem strange not to include Sheffield and Bramall Lane, which is the home of football after all, in the bid.”
“Anyone who visits Bramall Lane can see that it is a high class stadium that’s getting even better.”
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Im off to watch Hull there on Saturday 19th, we’ll see if its better than the mighty KC stadium then!!
don’t worry mate, you won’t be disappointed! Especially if you get the top tier, if you do it’s one of the best views in football. If you don’t, you shouldn’t get many coins etc thrown on you – I think thats just reserved for Wednesday fans!
Why use bramall lane. Use hillsborough. It is already holds 39,814 so it is already very close to the 40,000 required. I think the city should have matched played there if England do win the bid as Sheffield is very importnat to football. Sheffield is home to the oldest football team in the world( Sheffield fc). So sheffield contributed alot to football.
Sheffield all the way I’m from london n I think sheffield is the best city in england especially for football
I just cannot see bramall lane hosting a world cup game.
Parking is a major issue, and the access is terrible.
Its far easier to use hillsborough, access vis halifax road is awesome(straight of the m1)
Access along peniston road is also very good.
The stadium has far more ways in which to expand than bramall lane.
Hillsborough park is smack bang next to the ground, providing outdoor facilitys for fans.
The stadium at hillsborough only realy needs leppings lane re-developing and it would be world class again.
sorry united but hillsborough is a better stadium.
Bramall Lane is already a fantastic stadium which just gets better year on year.When the Kop has been extended and the South Stand redeveloped it will be untouchable this side of the Pennines.
The corporate facilities will be a major benefit and has Ewan got his grounds mixed up regarding space to develop? Hillsborough could redevelop if you filled in the river down one side, close the A61 Penistone Road and knock down half a dozen streets of terraced houses!Only needs leppings Lane re-developing? Are wooden stands still allowed?
Oh, and hope it doesn’t rain in S6 otherwise they will need wellies not football boots.
Got to be beautiful down town Bramall Lane all the way.
Why not Hillsbrough.
Why, Why, Why?
Hillsbrough is a far better stadium than Bramall Lane.
Apart from if there is the odd storm. Then Swimming Trunks will be required.
Transportation needs to be sorted out.
Any chance of the tram system going there in 9 years time?
Bramall Lane would make more sense than Hillsborough. A five minute walk to the train station, and a matter of minutes from the heart of the city. Not stuck out in what’s practically the Peak District.
Anything above a 30,000 crowd at Hillsborough and it can take ages to get back into the city centre after the game.
If there is one host city chosen from Yorkshire it has to be Leeds. Elland Road and Leeds Utd have far more history and prestige..and the city is miles better.
Have to say Hillsborough makes far more sense. Bramall Lane is pokey (how awful does that stand look in the pic!), terrible for parking and has no sense of tradition. One massive stand at the Kop will make it completely lop sided – it’s completely penned in by roads.
Hillsborough needs redevelopment but has the potential to be a far more grand stadium with the South Stand already fantastic. If the Leppings Lane and North Stand were redeveloped it would be the perfect stage for hosting World Cup matches.
I have to agree with the majority, Hillsborough (especially with the proposed revamp) will blow Bramhall Lane even further out of the water. I agree that as it is the Leppings Lane end does need smartening up though.
Access to Hillsborough from the tram, M1 and the parking also give it an advantage over Bramhall Lane, along with the extra capacity.
Not too sure about using leeds, the stadium there is a little dated and tired, needs alot of work to look anything near world class. Also, i am not sure how Leeds has more history that Sheffield in terms of football??
However the main issue is that Sheffield gets to see some world cup football in 2018 if England win the bid!!
Come on you cant be serious, there never gonna choose both stadiums and Hillsborough already has a 7000 seat headstart, better parking and access, hillsborough park, the wednesdayite car park and that disused land where they sometimes have a fair, not to mention that hillsborough has hosted the world cup in 1966 and euro 96 sorry united but this ones in the bag
wednesday fans live in a dream world where they have pots of gold stashed away to pay for further redevelopment
United have got the clearance and the money to go ahead with the development , clearwed on monday to start at the end of this season now , taking bramall lane to an all new 44000 seat edifice , unlike at hillsboro where the directors have asked their own fans to come down and paint the ground to cover up the rust
I agree with luke cos it doesn’t really matter which stadium hosts it – just as long as Sheffield get it. But even though the majority of you say hillsborough, by the start of next season, bramall lane will be a world class stadium. Our stadium is better placed and one speck of water isn’t gonna turn the lane into a swimming pool.