AJ Bell Stadium

AJ Bell Stadium
Construction
Stadium logo
AJ Bell Stadium
Full name	AJ Bell Stadium
Former names	Salford City Stadium
Location	1 Stadium Way, Barton-upon-Irwell, Salford M30 7EY England
Coordinates	53°28′10″N 2°22′30″W / 53.46944°N 2.37500°W / 53.46944; -2.37500Coordinates: 53°28′10″N 2°22′30″W / 53.46944°N 2.37500°W / 53.46944; -2.37500
Owner	Peel Group and Salford City Council
Executive suites	12 20-person hospitality boxes and 1 banqueting suite (up to 750)
Capacity	12,000^[1]
Record attendance	11,247 (Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers) 27 December 2014^[2]
Field size	122m x 86m
Surface	Grass
Scoreboard	Electronic
Built	2010–11
Opened	2012
Construction cost	£26 million^[1]
Architect	AFL Architects
Structural engineer	SKM
Main contractors	Buckingham Group^[3]
Tenants
Salford Red Devils (2012–) Sale Sharks (2012–) Manchester United FC Reserves (2013–)
Website
www.ajbellstadium.co.uk

AJ Bell Stadium (formerly Salford City Stadium)^[4]^[5] is a rugby stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell, Salford, England.^[6] It was built to replace Salford rugby league club's ground The Willows for the 2012 season. Sale Sharks rugby union club have also played at the stadium since the 2012–13 season.

Development and financing

In 2005, Salford City Council approved plans for the Reds to move from the Willows to the brownfield site at Barton.^[7]

The stadium was originally to be developed by Red City Developments, with construction to be complete for the start of the 2009 season.^[8] However, RCD went into administration in July 2008.^[9]

Salford City Council formed a joint venture company with Peel Group^[1] to develop and deliver the £16 million stadium,^[3] which is part of the a £26 million development^[3] close to the Manchester Ship Canal and the M60 motorway.

Planning permission was granted in March 2010 for a 15,000-capacity stadium.^[10]

Sale Sharks confirmed their move to the stadium in April 2012,^[11] signing a 25-year lease.^[12]

In 2013, Peel Group and Salford City Council each lent £600,000 in emergency funding to the stadium. The council is still owed £20m for building the stadium, and is already owed £1.5m by the Salford City Reds who play at the stadium.^[13]

In 2014, SCC and Peel lent a further £410,724 to the Stadium.^[14]

AJ Bell Stadium

On 13 September 2013, it was announced that investment platform AJ Bell had secured a nine-year stadium naming rights partnership with Sale Sharks Rugby Club. The deal saw Salford City Stadium re-branded and renamed AJ Bell Stadium.

Facilities

Initially, the stadium can accommodate a 12,000 crowd, but could be extended to hold up to 20,000 spectators.^[3] The stadium has areas designated for standing supporters. This partial-standing design is similar to the Halliwell Jones Stadium, home of Warrington Wolves.

Stadium layout

There are four stands:

West Stand (main stand) including changing rooms, media centre, hospitality boxes, banqueting suite; capacity 4,500
North Stand (Wooden Spoon Stand) – all-standing, usually the away end; capacity 2,500
East Stand (MBNA ) all seating, capacity 2,500
South Stand/The Shed (Wellsprings Stand) – all-standing, home to hardcore Reds fans; identical to the North Stand, capacity 2,500

The seats in the West and East Stands are red (for Salford) and blue (for Sale).

The development also includes offices, player facilities, concessions, community resources and two community outdoor sport pitches, a gym and the club shop which is shared by both the Red Devils and the Sharks.

Events

Rugby league

The Reds played their first league game at the new stadium against Castleford on 4 February 2012; Castleford won 10–24.^[15]

The 2012 Challenge Cup Semi Final was held at the stadium on 15 July 2012 – Warrington beat Huddersfield 33–6.^[16]

The 2012 Autumn International Series final took place at the stadium on 11 November 2012, attendance was 7,921.^[17]

On 7 November 2013 the stadium hosted the Rugby League World Cup match between Scotland and USA. A crowd of 6,041 watched Scotland beat the USA 22 – 8.^[18]

Summary

List of test and International tournament matches played at AJ Bell Stadium since its opening in 2012.^[19]

Game#	Date	Result	Attendance	Notes
1	11 November 2012	England def. France 48–4	7,921	2012 Autumn International Series Final
2	7 November 2013	Scotland def. United States 22–8	6,041	Played as part of the 2013 World Cup

Rugby union

Sale Sharks' first game at the stadium was a friendly on 24 August 2012 against Leinster Rugby, which ended 10–10.^[20] Their first competitive game was against Saracens on 8 September 2012. The score was Sale 16–23 Saracens and the attendance was 7,451.

The stadium will serve as one of the two venues for the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.^[21]

Other sports

American football

Manchester Titans American Football Club held a trial game at the Stadium against Crewe Railroaders on 1 June 2014. It was stated that they could hold future fixtures inside the stadium if the trial was successful.^[22] The Titans beat the Railroaders 69–0 and the attendance was 1,349.^[23]

Association football

From the start of the 2013–14 season, Manchester United have announced their under-21 team will be playing all their home games at the stadium.^[24]

The stadium also hosted England women's Euro 2013 qualifying match against the Netherlands on 17 June 2012.^[25]^[26]

Attendances

League	Fixtures	Average Attendance	Highest	Lowest	League	Fixtures	Average Attendance	Highest	Lowest
Salford Red Devils					Sale Sharks
2012 Super League	12^{[lower-alpha 1]}	4,442	6,891	2,380	2012–13 Premiership	11	6,291	8,783	4,307
2013 Super League	13	3,125	5,383	1,989	2013–14 Premiership	11	6,350	10,092	5,372
2014 Super League	13	4,738	7,102	2,903	2014–15 Premiership	11	6,660	11,247	4,753
2015 Super League	11	4,167	6,561	1,972	2015–16 Premiership	6	5,494	7,619	4,236
2016 Super League	1	4,386	4,386	4,386

Notes

↑ Salford's last home fixture was played at Leigh Sports Village due to a fixture clash with co-tenants Sale Sharks.^[27]

References

1 2 3 "Stadium Contracts Signed At Barton". Salford City Reds. Archived from the original on 17 January 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
↑ "Premiership: Sale Sharks 30–32 Leicester Tigers". BBC.co.uk. BBC Sport. 27 December 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
1 2 3 4 "Buckingham Group wins the Design and Build Contract for the City of Salford Community Stadium". Buckingham Group Contracting. Archived from the original on 17 January 2011.
↑ "Salford City Stadium renamed as AJ Bell Stadium". www.salfordcitystadium.com. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
↑ "AJ Bell Stadium: Salford City Stadium renamed in sponsor deal". BBC Sport. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
↑ "New name for Salford's stadium". Salford City Council. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
↑ "Council hand Reds stadium boost". BBC Sport. 17 November 2005.
↑ Howard, Tony (2 June 2007). "Reds' stadium doubt". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
↑ Barry, Chris (25 July 2008). "Reds' stadium firm collapse". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
↑ "New rugby league stadium in Salford approved". BBC News. 10 March 2010.
↑ Leigh, Neil (4 April 2012). "Steve Diamond: Sale are to switch from Stockport to Barton at the end of the season". Manchester Evening News (M.E.N. Media).
↑ "Sale seal deal to play at new Salford City stadium from next season". dailymail.co.uk. 4 April 2012.
↑ "Council defends £600k loan to bailout sports stadium". itv.com. 10 May 2013.
↑ http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/city-salford-stadium-given-another-6917045
↑ "Salford City Reds 10–24 Castleford". BBC Sport. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
↑ Wilson, Andy (15 July 2012). "Lee Briers' mastery pilots Warrington to Wembley sequel with Leeds". The Guardian (London).
↑ "Ryan Hall ran in four tries as England easily overpowered France 48–4". skysports.com. 11 November 2012.
↑ "The 2013 Rugby League World Cup Match Report for Scotland vs USA". RLIF. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
↑ "AJ Bell Stadium". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
↑ "Sale Sharks 10 – Leinster Rugby 10". salesharks.com. 25 August 2012.
↑ "England to host World Rugby U20 Championship 2016" (Press release). World Rugby. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
↑ "Manchester Titans set for Stadium Move". Double Coverage. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
↑ Manchester Titans, http://www.manchestertitans.co.uk/news/titans-victorious-in-landmark-game
↑ "Key opener at new venue". Manchester United F.C. 19 August 2013.
↑ "England women set for must-win clash against the Netherlands". BBC Sport. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
↑ Leighton, Tony (17 June 2012). "Rachel Yankey goal gives England women narrow victory over Holland". The Guardian (London).
↑ "Salford City Reds switch venue after Sale Sharks clash". BBC Sport. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2013.

External links

AJ Bell Stadium official website
Salford City Reds get new Barton stadium go-ahead BBC Sport, 19 August 2010
2012 – The Future of History Salford City Reds

Preceded by The Willows 1901–2011	Salford Red Devils home ground 2012–present	Succeeded by current
Preceded by Edgeley Park 2003–2012	Sale Sharks home ground 2012–present	Succeeded by current

Salford Red Devils

Founded in 1873 Based in Salford, England

The Club	History Honours Players International representatives Coaches

Home grounds	New Barnes The Willows AJ Bell Stadium

Hall of Fame	Gus Risman Martin Offiah

League	Super League

Championships (6)	1913–14 1932–33 1936–37 1938–39 1973–74 1975–76

Challenge Cup (1)	1937–38

Other honours	4—time Rugby Football League Second Division Champions 1–time Divisional Champions 1—time BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Champions 5—time Lancashire Cup Champions 5—time Lancashire League Champions 2—time Northern Rail Cup Champions

Seasons (102)	1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–00 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Affiliation	Rugby Football League (1896)

Super League Venues

Current	AJ Bell Stadium Craven Park DW Stadium Halliwell Jones Stadium Headingley Carnegie John Smith's Stadium KC Stadium Langtree Park Mend-a-Hose Jungle Rapid Solicitors Stadium Stade Gilbert Brutus Stobart Stadium

Former	Boundary Park Brewery Field Central Park Derwent Park Don Valley Stadium Knowsley Road Odsal Racecourse Ground Stade Sébastien Charléty The Boulevard The Colliseum The Hive The Shay The Willows Thrum Hall Thunderdome Twickenham Stoop Valley Parade Watersheddings Wilderspool

Magic Weekend	Millennium Stadium Murrayfield Stadium City of Manchester Stadium St James' Park

Grand Final	Old Trafford

English Premiership venues 2015-16

AJ Bell Stadium Allianz Park Franklin's Gardens Kingsholm Stadium Kingston Park Madejski Stadium Recreation Ground Ricoh Arena Sandy Park Sixways Stadium Twickenham Stoop Welford Road

2013 Rugby League World Cup venues

England	AJ Bell Stadium Craven Park Derwent Park DW Stadium Halliwell Jones Stadium Headingley Stadium John Smith's Stadium KC Stadium Langtree Park Leigh Sports Village Memorial Stadium Old Trafford Spotland The Shay Wembley

Wales	Millennium Stadium Racecourse Ground The Gnoll

France	Parc Des Sports Stade Gilbert Brutus

Ireland	Thomond Park

Buildings and structures in Salford, England

Italics denote building under construction

Highrises (over 50 metres)	Briar Hill Court North Tower The Edge MediaCityUK

Notable lowrises	Boothstown Mines Rescue Station Centenary Building Forest Bank Lowry Hotel Ordsall Hall Peel Building Salford Civic Centre Salford Lads' Club Salford Museum and Art Gallery Salford Royal Hospital Threlfalls Brewery Wardley Hall Working Class Movement Library Worsley Old Hall

Places of Worship	Salford Cathedral St Augustine's St Clement's St James' St Luke's St Mark's St Mary the Virgin, Eccles St Mary the Virgin, Ellenbrook St Paul's St Philip's St Thomas'

Transportation	Anchorage Broadway Clifton City Airport Eccles Interchange Eccles Exchange Quay Harbour City Irlam Ladywell Langworthy Moorside MediaCity UK Patricroft Salford Central Salford Crescent Salford Quays Swinton Walkden Weaste

Entertainment	Salford Shopping Centre Swinton Square The Lowry

Sports venues	AJ Bell Stadium Broughton Cricket Club Ground The Cliff Manchester Tennis and Racquet Club

Memorials	Mark Addy Joseph Brotherton Charles Hallé Clifton Hall Colliery Disaster Oliver Heywood

Bridges	Albert Bridge Barton Road Swing Bridge Barton Swing Aqueduct Blackfriars Bridge Cadishead Viaduct Clifton Aqueduct Clifton Viaduct Irwell Railway bridge Media City Footbridge Palatine Bridge Salford Quays Bridge Trinity Bridge Victoria Bridge

Castles Churches Grade I listed Grade II* listed Mills Monuments Schools Tallest

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