Council approves Huddersfield Giants owner’s bid to buy Shay Stadium

Huddersfield Giants owner Ken Davy’s proposed acquisition of The Shay Stadium, which is home to Halifax Panthers and FC Halifax Town, has been approved by Calderdale Council.

Councillors had considered both Davy’s bid for the ground and a separate offer from “Shay Stadium Working Group” made up of supporters who submitted an initial business proposal to run the stadium as a not-for-profit entity who would lease The Shay.

The working group’s proposal would have required an ongoing financial commitment from the council. Council officers recommended that Calderdale Council’s Cabinet should go ahead with the proposals submitted by Davy.

The council previously agreed to stop running the stadium by 1 April 2025 to save £161,000 per year, and to remove the additional annual cost of up to £500,000 to meet the stadium’s running costs and health and safety needs.

Davy had expressed an interest in the Halifax ground in order to move the Giants there temporarily from 2026 while a new stadium is developed in Huddersfield.

He had said The Shay would receive “major investment” to bring it up to Super League standard.

Work on installing a hybrid pitch is due to begin in summer 2025 with Davy providing interest-free loans to fund this.

A statement released by FC Halifax Town says: “There will need to be detailed discussions around the understanding of the transaction between Calderdale Council and Mr Davy.

“Speaking from an FC Halifax Town perspective there are a raft of questions that will require detailed answers in conjunction with the two parties involved in the sale and those tenants within the stadium.

“This will also require the agreement of third party associations of which all of these discussions are in progress.

“As and when information is available to make public to our fans we will.

“Our very best efforts will be made to preserve the long term security of the football club and hopefully ensure the opportunity for everyone to enjoy the benefits of an enhanced environment.”