Weekender: Celebrations for completion of £45m stadium redevelopment

A pair of special events will be staged to mark the completion of redevelopment work at Emerald Headingley Stadium.

A city-wide Community Engagement Day, including participation from school children and young people, will take place on Wednesday July 17. It will be followed on Saturday September 21 by a spectacular Proms on the Pitch event led by soprano Lesley Garrett.

Funding for the major work on the stadium was acquired through a deal brokered by Leeds City Council.

This saw financial services company, Legal & General, agree to privately fund up to £35m towards the redevelopment, which will be repaid by Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire CCC in rent.

Leeds Rhinos pledged £5m towards the total cost of the revamp.

At the Community Engagement Day, children will have a chance to emulate their sporting heroes and step onto the hallowed turf of the cricket and rugby pitches at Emerald Headingley.

Representatives from Leeds Rhinos Foundation and Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, who engage and work closely with thousands of young people, will be on hand to provide disability focused events and fun coaching sessions to pupils.

A ceremony will also be held for the official opening of the £45 million stadium redevelopment.

Included within the scheme is the new Emerald Stand, which boasts 4,300 seats, spectacular views, and state-of-the-art corporate facilities.

This year, Emerald Headingley will host four 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup matches, starting with England v Sri Lanka today, and a prestigious Ashes Test match against Australia in August.

Fans are invited as part of the England v Sri Lanka clash to enjoy a fanzone on Millennium Square, which will be arriving from today until Sunday 23 June.

Once the stadium’s sporting summer is over, people can enjoy Proms on the Pitch at the venue on September 21.

Featuring a 52-piece orchestra, fans will be able to watch on the rugby pitch, a stellar line-up headed by Lesley Garrett.

Event goers can buy tickets to either go on the pitch, stand on the terraces or book seats in either the new look South or North Stand in the rugby stadium to watch the event.

Tickets are on sale now from tickets.therhinos.co.uk or by calling 03714231315. They are also available from Leeds City Centre Box Office at leedstownhall.co.uk or by calling 0113 3760318.

Leeds City Council leader Councillor Judith Blake said: “Emerald Headingley is a sporting venue which is revered by people of all ages, not just in Leeds and the wider region, but right across the world.

“We are extremely proud that when people come to watch the Leeds Rhinos, Yorkshire CCC and other global international sporting events such as the Ashes Test this August, they will do so in a stadium which is looking truly magnificent.”

Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive, Gary Hetherington, said: “As the stadium approaches its 130th anniversary it is fitting to commemorate and celebrate the redevelopment with two events to be enjoyed and remembered for many years to come by the citizens of Leeds.

“Leeds City Council have always recognised the value of this stadium to the city and their role in promoting these events as city-wide celebrations will be appreciated by all local sports fans and others who take pride in Leeds.”

Yorkshire County Cricket Club Chief Executive, Mark Arthur, said: “This wonderful development at Emerald Headingley has returned Yorkshire CCC to the top table when major international cricket matches are allocated in this country.

“It would not have been possible without the support from Leeds City Council, for which we are very grateful.

“The cricketing world will see what has been achieved at Emerald Headingley over the next few weeks with the Cricket World Cup and the return of the Ashes after a ten year absence.”

 

 

 

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