World Cup 2018: Pride Park Stadium, Derby
Pride Park is likely to be a strong contender to host games in the World Cup should England’s bid be successful. The stadium was first opened in 1997 by Queen Elizabeth II ahead of a friendly with Italian side Sampdoria.
Pride Park has hosted three England under-21 matches aswell as a full international against Mexico on May 27th 2001. That match boasted the stadiums highest attendance with 33,597 spectators. Plans were unveiled in April 2007 by then Chairman Peter Gadsby to increase the capacity to 44,000. However the proposal was set to depend on Derby’s survival in the Premier League in 2007/08.
Derby 2018 Stadia Venue?
American group ‘General Sports and Entertainment’ purchased Derby County FC in January 2008 and are setting out plans to develop Derby County into a global brand. Local rivals Nottingham Forest could provide a stumbling block to Pride Park hosting World Cup matches having announced plans to leave their home of more than 100 years, the City Ground and move to a 40-50,000 purpose built stadium in the south of the city.
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What would tourists do in Derby? Nottingham’s a much better option, especially because of the club’s history. It’d honour the club to stage a World Cup game in their home city.
Derby have top training facilities, a top ground, plenty of space surrounding the ground including a large park where a huge tv screen can be erected.
The city isn’t as big as Nottingham but it’s the ghost capital of England, which in itself has generated plenty of tourism.
Derby has fantastic transport links too, for many years Derby has been seen as a crossroads for travelling to different parts of the country.
Derby >>> Nottingham
Derby would be a deserving city to host world cup games because most of all it is a football city, the whole place is football daft considering the crowds that Derby County get on a regular basis and the attendances that have been achieved for England U21 games. On a tourism note Derby has a fantastic road structure that makes it easily accessable and some really good hotels, bars and restaurants and not to mention the magnificent peak district not too far away.
If and it is a big if England host the 2018 World Cup finals Derby must be a forerunner we have by far the best ground which will be 44,000 seater stadium. Both Leicester and Forest do not have the following to make use of suxh large grounds. It would be like going to Sheffield Wednesday, they don’t even half fill there ground.
Access to Pride Park stadium is very close to the M1 and dual carriage down the A52. Derby is on the main train line up north and it is within walking distance to the ground. Neither of the other 2 can compete with these facts.
Derby in my view is the only realstic choice for the reasons mentioned above. If one of the three clubs will be awarded the cup final venue for me it’s in the bag! Simples Sprrrrrrrrrrrrch
Derby would be a far better choice than Nottingham, better facilities, better access and far less gun crime!
Derby is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK
Tourist attractions are stone throw away (peak district, most haunted place in Britain, new art galleries and brand new hotels)
Infrastructure already in place for stadium, making it easy to expand to a capacity of 44,000
Pride Park already hosted International friendlies including England vs Mexico, boat loads of U21 championship games and womens FA cup Final.
When concerts are being arranged, such as Red Hot Chillie peppers and Rod Stewart Derby has always been chosen over Notingham forests “city ground”
Nottingham is one the most conjested city in Britain
Nottingham is the gun/crime and murder capital of Britain
Connections to the M1 only a 10 minute drive
I Moved to Derby (reluctantly due to kids education) in 2004 – and that was from Nottingham!!
I Have to admit the Pride park stadium location is good and if they can inc to 44,000 then would be a worthy venue for world cup matches. With all the City based parks as well thier is plenty of places for “Fan-Parks/Zones” which seemed to work so well in Germany in 2006 -C’mon Derby – Sorry Narmm….(Notts)
derby should host. we can expand pride park and as football was co-invented in derbyshire the heratige is here already. moor farm is a brilliant training facility just like every other facility we have. with the addition of the previously proposed hotel facilities we have easy access including the train station, M1 and A52.
With the addition of the county of derbyshire having a larger area then nottinghamshire we have the land and the spectacular views of bakewell and buxton.
The upside of a small city means that their is less space for vandalism and damages not caused by derby citizens.
My final point is that DERBY IS BEST!!!
Upgrade train line to Sheffield from St Pancras and that would tick the final box.
Derby would be alot better than nottingham and would be ideal. It’s in the centre on england, some of the best transport links in the country, really good history and im 100% for derby. Also an huge increase in the stadium and its got the best footballing atmosphere. In 2007/2008 premiership season derby went down as worst club in prem history but the fans stayed and were still loyal to the team. Not many clubs have that.
100% Derby.
Alot safer than nottingham.
Poor transport conections compared to other bids.
Although seems to be better placed than Nottingham with a simple expansion needed and not a new stadium!
By 2018 will not have hosted a major international event like Manchester (Commonwealth games, Rugby World Cup) London (Olympics, Rugby World Cup, Liverpool (Rugby World Cup) and even Leicester (The Rugby World Cup)
I follow England home and away and have been to Pride park a number of times for both England games and league games also.
i will give 4 reasons why i feel this is the perfect east midlands place to host games.
1) The stadium has already been designed to have it’s capacity increased to 44,000 with minimum cost.
2) if it was increased it would be used as the club was the 11th best supported team in the country for the past 2 years getting 30,000+ every week. ( The others only got this when they played Derby )
3) it has proven itself to have the capability to host a full international and under 21 international in the past with great results.
4)The training facilities at Derby are top class and often commented on by new or x players as being the best in the country.
Other itenms such as roads and trains all apply to the other teams too.
One final thought……The late great Brian Clough said “Derby is a football City Nottingham isn’t” ( FACT ). That says everything when it comes from a man who won so much with Forest.
The fantastic support the city has reflects that today.
Good Luck Derby and England.
Hehehe, you are all pretty insecure from Derby arent you, you know its going to Nottingham and theres not a thing you can do about it, Nottinghams a better city with a far richer history and will also have a bigger and better stadium than yours……… good day x.
Who is this PD chap describing the transport connections as “poor”? Clearly you know very litle about Derby. The fact that Pride Park is just off the A52 (Links to M1) and a short drive from the A50 is great factor. However the biggest positive is that Derby train station is 5 minute walk from Pride Park and its central location in the country means regular trains from London St. Pancras and numerous stations in the North.
An excellent choice, come on you Rams!
Derby would be a great host..better then Nottingham cos it’s ANCIENT… Derby is sooooo much more modernised and just to let u know ‘LaughingAtDerby@ Pride Park as 3′000+ more seat than the Shitty Ground……..DERBY ALL THE WAY!!!!
Derby??? Come on be serious. As soon as the FIFA reps see the city it will be ruled out
At the end of the day the city of Derby is much more into its football than its neighbouring towns. Thats vital to make sure attendances at all games are high. Furthermore I’ve visited their Westfield centre which is brilliant for shopping and would mean there’s something for those to do who aren’t into football. Moreover the Peak District is a stones throw away and the city centre has some great spots for big TV screens. Seeing as new hotels are also being built and along with the brilliant cottages for families in Derbyshire it would be a mistake not to use Pride Park.
Imagine at England 2018 – coming from somewhere like Ghana, Japan or Australia to support your team, sides that with all respect would probably not end get much further than the group stages of a World Cup. Imagine turning up at Heathrow and driving with excitement to your country’s host city. You pull off the M1 onto the Derby Ring Road – get to your hotel – and thats it! You have travelled half way around the world to wind up in Derby, with nothing much to do if you dont like pubs and Westfield shopping, and a hotel view over the Rolls Royce Factory on Raynesway and Pride Park Sainsburys. With respect to Derby, it would be an embarassing profile for England, altough regeneration of the city before then could with its due improve this a bit! However, Nottingham has far much more to offer in terms the East Midlands bid, with views, scernery, world famous legend and history, and the most bars and restaurants per square mile in the UK, as well as hotels with some spectacular veiws over English scenery.
why choose nottingham?? they have 2 teams and combined they still can’t muster the attendances Derby get… top tip for Nottingham…stick to canoeing and disney on ice..know your place Derby is a football City…even Brian said so!!!!!! lol!!!
I’ve been to once, and had my car broken into.
I would opt for Nottingham and Leicester for the East Midlands.
Both are Bigger cities
Both are Nicer Cities
Both Have more Going for them
There’s great development taking place in both
Nottingham has Trams
Leicester’s Highcross and Nottingham’s Broadmarsh (When finnished) offer much more to visitors than the Westfield.
The people are friendlier.
Nottingham has lots of fan camps, and places for fans who don’t have tickets to view the games such as:
The Market Square
The Embankment
Meadow Lane
and, the 15000 seater Trent FM arena, plus skegness has joined with Nottingham.
Also, forests NEW STADIUM, lets not forget.
Derby would shame the midlands, and people there always say that it’s better than Nottingham, but the fact is, Nottingham is the fastest growing city in europe, one of the nicest cities in England, and has everything in place. Derby needs a solid plan in place, or the FA needs to dismiss Derby’s bid now!
Having moved from Manchester at age 6 to Nottingham and lived there for 12 years and now in Derby since 1996 no contest. While Nottingham has the history I will tell you for a fact I much prefer Derby as a place to live and a Venue. It is a safer place to socialise and it is a fact that it is more of a football city. Nottingham is also one of the first cities to introduce midnight basketball outside of the USA to reduce serious crime…that says it all! Derby every time!
I hope for the sake of England, the FA don’t take this bid seriously.
Derby have a large enough stadium with good physilitys
Also Derby Supporters are well loud!
“concerts are being arranged, such as Red Hot Chillie peppers and Rod Stewart Derby has always been chosen over Notingham forests “city ground””
Acts to perform at the Trent FM Arena in the next few months:
Kasabian, Michael McIntyre, Beyonce, Arctic Monkeys, James Morrison, Lily Allen, Russell Howard, UB40, Marilyn Manson, Status Quo, Stereophonics, Katherine Jenkins, Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston and Leona Lewis.
Now look at all those big name acts, and thats only for the next few months, so many more people have peformed over the last few years.
The best shows Derby can put on are The Chillie peppers and Rod Stewart?
I’ve been to better shows on the pier at Great Yarmouth!
And R.E.M have played at the ’shitty ground’ and even in the rain the turnout was fantastic!
Derby is a small city stuck in the 70’s with no future.
The sooner the people who still belive it’s better than Leicester and Nottingham realise how disillusioned they are the better!
Derby couldn’t cope with the world cup.
I would much rather see it go to Plymouth or Milton Keynes, both nice cities with bright futures, neither can be said for Derby.
Not Derby surely, what a horrible little town with nothing to offer, it shouldnt even be considered. i live in Derby too.
International propfile will be important, London has it, which is why it succeeded in Olympic bids when Birmingham and Manchester didn’t. I am sure there will be some research to gauge international recognition to build the most appealing city list. Unfortunately for Derby (as well as MK, Hull, Sunderland, Leicester) my guess is international recognition is poor. Being a “football” city is indefinable and unimportant. Being an international city will be important. Which is why it would be a huge shock if the list excluded Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and (sorry Derby) Nottingham. Nottingham is an old, historic city and I suspect has much greater international appeal than Derby as the East Midland choice.
Transport links to Derby are good, pity about the links to the stadium. Snottingham will probably get it because they think they have the right to everything because of a legendary archer from Yorkshire or was it Shropshire?
What will tourists do in Derby? They can look at the museums and the fine architechture of the cathedral for starters then take a look at the Peak District and stately homes. You can’t go to the cathedral in Snottingham because there ain’t one! Very few stately homes and castles, not the most inspiring countryside or attractions in Snottinghamshire.
Bullet-proof vest sales will be down if Leicester or Derby get it.
Snottingham fails to rank in the top list of cities as soon as the surface is scratched and has very little importance on the international stage. Snottingham is one of the most horrible places in England. The people are ignorant too. It’s down there with Blackpool, London, and Bournemouth but wants to be up at the top with Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol.
I personally hope Leicester get it. Leicester never receives the attention it deserves but it is world famous as a multicultural city and also the home of Gary Lineker and Thomas Cook! If you chop all the edges off the city of Nottingham (the bits that aren’t in the city but they claim them to be such as Beeston) Leicester is bigger in size and only has about 500 less inhabitants. Low gun and knife crime, good attractions both in and around the city (Belvoir Castle, National Space Centre inter alia) and they know ho to celebrate big events. Fantastic travel links too!
Please research your facts.
Nottingham DOES have a cathedral, and nobody claims that Beeston is in the city, it’s in the Greater Nottingham area.
Leicester is a dismal city, I would be much happier if Derby saw some action.
U CAN TALK ABOUT SHOTTINGHAM ALL U WANT….REALLITY IS THE CRIME IS HIGHER (notts folk cant deny cus the government says it is)
ROBIN HOOD DID NOT EXIST!!!
TORVIL AND DEAN…..WELL DERBY HAD LARA CROFT! (not real but is more famous, not 2 mention so many other famous folks such as Sir Frank Whittle, Florence Nightingale)
PRIDE PARKS BIGGER, BETTER, MORE EQUIPED AND HAS A MUCH BETTER QUALITY SURFACE.
ATTENDENCE IS FAR SUPERIOR 2 BOTH FOREST COUNTY COMBINED.
TRANSPORT LINKS VIA MOTORWAY AND RAIL ARE MORE PRACTICAL, U HAVE 2 XCHANGE AT MOST PLACES 2 GET TO NOTTS!
N ALL THIS TALK ABOUT THE ICE ARENA GETTING LOADS MORE BANDS THAN PRIDE PARK…WELL 1ST THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS WAS THE BEST VENUE IN THE MIDLANDS WITH THE LIKES OF THIN LIZZY, ELTON JOHN, THE RAMONES, MEATLOAF, U2, IRON MAIDEN…ADDMITADLY THE ARENA IS A BETTER VENUE NOW AS IVE BEEN THERE SO MANY TIMES…..BUT WHO GIVES A CRAP CUS THE FOOTBALL’S PLAYED ON A PITCH IN A STADIUM NOT A POXY ARENA!!!!!!!
AND TO TOP IT OFF……WE HAD CLOUGH 1ST!
COME ON DERBY!!!
nat, you are obviously very un-educated on this subject, so please don’t post as your points are invalid.
Your first point is worng, look at the lastest figures.
Your second point is wrong, he exists as a world known legend.
Your third point is pointless, there are many more famous people from Nottingham, doesn’t make a difference to the world cup.
Your fourth point is wrong, both stadiums put together are bigger that pride park to the tune of 16,000 seats, and the atmosphere in both is greater than pride park.
Your fith, no you don’t, and any links can be improved for 2018.
You are also obviously bitter that Nottingham has better venues. Rock City + Trent FM arena give Nottingham a fantastic music scene + many other venues.
Derby is slightly bigger than Mansfield, and is just as dull.
Nottingham is superior to Derby in every area.
And to your last comment, TWO EUROPEAN CUPS