Rhinos seek fans’ backing for Headingley redevelopment

Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington has urged the club’s supporters to give their backing to plans to redevelop their Headingley ground.

Hetherington has called on the Rhinos fans to lodge their support for the project with Leeds City Council.

The club made its plans to redevelop both the rugby and cricket grounds public in February.

The Rhinos claim that the plans can only be delivered through the sale of two plots of land in Tingley and Weetwood.

This would apparently create over 200 new homes in the city of Leeds, with all of the net receipts from the sale of the site being invested in the improvements.

“Our supporters should be under no illusion that unless this project is approved, we will have missed a huge opportunity to complete the re-development of the site,” said Hetherington.

“Everyone is aware of the need to provide modern facilities for our supporters. During the 1990s football clubs in this country received millions of pounds of government funding to renovate their stadia.

“Unfortunately that is not available to us as a rugby stadium. Likewise, rugby clubs like Leigh, Hull FC and Salford have had stadiums built for them by their local councils costing in excess of £20 million.

“Without the development, the stadium will lose its cricket Test match status worth an estimated £4.8 million in visitor spend per annum.

“We have seen in recent times how much excitement events like the Tour de France, Rugby Union World Cup and the World Triathlon have brought to the city, all at a cost to the city.

“If we are unable to proceed with these re-developments, over a 100 years of international cricket and rugby league is at risk and, given the competition from other stadiums around the country, they are unlikely to return.

“I hope all our supporters can see the benefits that the whole project will bring to our city.”

Details of how to contact Leeds City Council can be found on the club’s official website.