Belle Vue (Wakefield)
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Belle Vue is a multi-use stadium in Wakefield, England. It is currently used mostly for rugby league matches and is the home stadium of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. It is located beside the A638 Doncaster Road, approximately one mile south of Wakefield City Centre.
[edit] History
The site was purchased in 1895 after the split between Rugby League and Rugby Union, in order to provide a permanent base for the Wakefield Trinity team who had being playing on fields in the local area since 1873. The money was provided by the Wakefield Athletic Club, and was also initially used for cycling and athletics competitions. It is currently owned by Wakefield Council.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats have long been in negotiation with the local council to find an alternative site, as the present Belle Vue stadium does not comply with the proposed standards required by the Superleague. However, there have been difficulties in agreeing with the local council on a suitable alternative site.
Many of the scenes from This Sporting Life were filmed at the Belle Vue Stadium.
The stadium has been known as the Atlantic Solutions Stadium.
On Saturday 16 September 2006 the stadium played host to "The Battle of Belle Vue" when 11,000 fans from Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Castleford Tigers crammed in to watch the match which would decide who was relegated from Super League. Wakefield won the match 29-17 sending their nearest and most fierce rivals Castleford down to the National League.
On December 1st 2006, Wakefield Council publicly anouced that a new stadium will officially be built on the site of Thornes College, When the school moves to Castleford. The stadium currently known as Community Stadium will also host a swimming pool to replace the contraversal SUN LANE SWIMMING POOL, and will ajoin Thrones Park Atheltics Ground. The stadium is to be a 15,000 seater stadium, designed around the ideas of Doncasters Sports Village. Completion is to be around 2011.
[edit] Description
Currently, the East stand has a covered stand with seating, with some terracing beneath. The North and West sides are large open terrace, while the South side is the location of hospitality facilities. The stadium capacity is officially listed as 10,000.
| Super League (Europe) Venues 2007 |
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| Belle Vue | Craven Park | Galpharm Stadium | Grattan Stadium | Headingley Stadium Halliwell Jones Stadium | JJB Stadium | KC Stadium | Knowsley Road | Stade Aime Giral The Willows | The Stoop |
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