KCOM Stadium

KCOM Stadium
The Circle
Former names KC Stadium (2002–2016)
Location The Circle, Walton Street, Anlaby Road, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, HU3 6HU
Coordinates 53°44′46″N 0°22′4″W / 53.74611°N 0.36778°W / 53.74611; -0.36778Coordinates: 53°44′46″N 0°22′4″W / 53.74611°N 0.36778°W / 53.74611; -0.36778
Owner Hull City Council / KCOM
Operator Stadium Management Company (SMC)
Capacity 25,400 (Football and rugby league)[1]
Surface Desso GrassMaster
Construction
Broke ground December 2001
Opened October 2002
Construction cost £44 million
Architect The Miller Partnership
Tenants
Hull City A.F.C. (Premier League) (2003–present)
Hull FC (Super League) (2003–present)

The KCOM Stadium (also known as the Hull City Stadium due to UEFA sponsorship regulations) is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull, England. The stadium was previously called the KC Stadium, but was renamed as part of a major rebrand by the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider KCOM, on 4 April 2016.[2] Conceived as early as the late 1990s,[3] it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately £44 million. The stadium is owned by Hull City Council and operated by the Stadium Management Company (SMC),[4] who are looking to expand the stadium up to 32,000.

The bowl-shaped stadium contains a continuous single tier of seats with a second tier on the west side.[4] Its current capacity is 25,400.[1] The stadium accommodates fans of its two tenants, association football club Hull City A.F.C., which moved there from Boothferry Park,[5] and rugby league football club Hull F.C., relocated from the Boulevard.[6] The ground also hosts international association football and rugby league football competitions[7][8][9] and acts as a venue for concerts by musical artists, such as Elton John[10] and The Who.[11]

History

The KCOM Stadium

The idea of a new stadium for Kingston upon Hull, whose professional football club Hull City had played at Boothferry Park since 1946, was first mooted in 1997, but funds to finance such a project only became available when the city council sold a portion of its holdings in Kingston Communications.[3] The council provided most of the funds, more than £42 million, with the rest stemming from government single regeneration budget grants and from the Football Stadium Improvement Fund.[3]

The council appointed John Topliss to head the stadium construction project.[3] He and his team partnered with consulting firm Drivers Jonas to explore preliminary issues such as stadium location, seating capacity, and facilities offered. Stated Mr. Topliss: "We had a totally blank canvas and, working with consultants, made a thorough assessment of what was needed."[3]

The project team considered over a dozen sites, inside and outside of the city, before settling on The Circle in West Park.[3] Factors contributing to the decision include transport guidance, central government planning guidelines, existing athletic facilities, isolation from residential areas, and council ownership.[3]

The stadium under construction in 2002

The final recommendation of Drivers Jonas included additional facilities for both indoor and outdoor sports for the people of West Hull in addition to the main stadium, planned to seat from 25,000 to 30,000 spectators.[3] Professional services firm Arup Associates provided initial concept proposals for the stadium.[4] The Miller Partnership, an architectural and interior design firm, adopted these proposals during the stadium's design.[4]

In spite of obstacles during the course of the project, including Hull City A.F.C.'s receivership in 2001 (just after the granting of planning permission),[3] the stadium complex was completed on time (in fourteen months)[4] and on budget (at approximately GB£44 million).[4] The stadium opened its doors on 18 December 2002. Hull City beat Sunderland A.F.C. 1–0 in a friendly match to mark the occasion.[12] Steve Melton scored the goal, the first at the KC Stadium.[5]

Structure and facilities

Stand names and capacities
Stand Location Capacity
Smith & Nephew[13] North 4,000[4]
Ideal Boilers[14] East 6,000[4]
MKM[13][15] South 4,000[4]
Cranswick plc[16][17] Lower West 6,000[4]
Upper West 5,000[4]

The all-seater stadium consists of a single-tier, asymmetrical bowl that can seat approximately 20,000,[4] with a second tier on the Cranswick plc West Stand that can seat approximately 5,000.[4] Current capacity is 25,586.[4] Plans provide for future expansion to a capacity of approximately 30,000 by the addition of a second tier on the Ideal Standard Community East Stand.[4] Each stand has a name for corporate sponsorship purposes.[13] On 4 July 2011, Hull City revealed that the stadium's west stand would be sponsored by the local Cranswick plc under a two-year agreement,[16] which was extended on 26 July 2013.[17] On 10 July 2013 it was announced the east stand would be sponsored by Ideal Standard and become known as the Ideal Standard Community East Stand.[14]

Corporate hospitality is provided by 28 executive boxes located between the two tiers of the Cranswick plc West Stand,[4] while security of the stadium is handled using 57 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras that cover the stadium.[4] Over the summer of 2007, SMC installed an LED[18] screen in the Smith & Nephew North Stand to replace the old electronic scoreboard.[19] The screen has an area of approximately 40 m² (430 ft.²) and displays such content as live home game feeds, match highlights, interviews, and action replays.[19]

The stadium decorated with blue and gold accents.

The stadium's seats are mostly black, with a band of white and amber seats around the circumference.[4] White and amber seats form the word Hull in the north and south stands. In the Ideal Standard Community East Stand, the seats form an image of a coronet,[12] a symbol of the city that also appears in the club crest for Hull F.C.[6] and in the coat of arms of the city council.[20] Black, white, and amber were chosen to remain neutral toward the colours of its two tenants: black and white for Hull F.C. and black and amber for Hull City A.F.C.[4] The blue and gold of owner Hull City Council appear in the stadium's four external columns.[4]

The size of the playing surface is 114 x 74 metres (125 x 81 yd)[4] and made of rye grass with a 3% additive of artificial grass.[21] This provides ample room for a FIFA-regulation association football pitch of 105 x 68 metres (115 x 74 yd)[4] and a standard rugby league football pitch of 100 x 68 metres (109 x 74 yd).[4] The playing surface has an automated watering system and below-surface heating.[4]

Set within Hull's West Park, the stadium is the first in England to be built in a parkland setting.[21] The stadium complex also includes the 1,500 seat Bonus Arena, a skate park, two multi-use all-weather pitches, a community learning zone complete with classrooms, a health & fitness suite, a cyber cafe, and a library.[4]

The KCOM Stadium has received several honours. It was named the chief new development in Yorkshire at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Pro-Yorkshire Awards.[22] It was also on the shortlist for the Prime Minister's Award for Better Public Building[22] and received a high commendation in the British Construction Industry Awards in the Best Value category.[22] In a 2005 poll that was carried out by Drivers Jonas and decided by football fans from across the country, the KC Stadium was rated highest in comfort, services and view among all grounds in the Football League[23] and was also rated the most-improved venue.[23]

On 13 August 2013 a Goal Decision System by Hawk-Eye was installed in the ground ahead of the 2013–14 Premier League season which requires the use of goal-line technology to indicate if a goal is scored.[24]

Tenants

Hull City A.F.C. average attendances
Season League Attendance
2015–16 Championship 17,199[25]
2014–15 Premier League 23,557[26]
2013–14 Premier League 24,116[27]
2012–13 Championship 17,368[28]
2011–12 Championship 18,790[29]
2010–11 Championship 21,168[30]
2009–10 Premier League 24,390[31]
2008–09 Premier League 24,816[31]
2007–08 Championship 18,024[32]
2006–07 Championship 18,583[33]
2005–06 Championship 19,841[34]
2004–05 League One 18,027[35]
2003–04 Third Division 16,846[36]

Hull City A.F.C.

The stadium replaced Boothferry Park as home to Hull City Association Football Club, and was the backdrop for the club's recent climb through the English Football League.[5] It first hosted the club's home games during the second half of the 2002–03 season; the first competitive match was against Hartlepool United, a game that Hull City won by a score of 2–0.[37] Hull City, nicknamed the Tigers, attracted an average attendance of almost 17,000 in their first full season at the KC Stadium, 2003–04.[36] This figure is more than three times the average Third Division attendance for that season, and was only matched or exceeded by clubs in the Premier League and the First Division.[38] However, the level of support was not matched by on-field performances; the Tigers finished 13th in their first season at the KC Stadium.[39] However, in 2003–04 (their first full season at the new ground), Hull won promotion as Third Division runners-up, securing their place in the newly named League One (previously the Second Division).[5] A second successive promotion to the Championship, again as runners-up, followed in 2004–05.[5]

Attendances for Hull City's league games at the KCOM Stadium have averaged above 16,000 in each full season they have played there. The stadium hosted Premier League football in the 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons, with all 20,500 available season tickets selling out shortly after Hull City's Championship play-off victory at Wembley Stadium.[40] The record attendance for a Premier League match is 25,030 set on 9 May 2010 for the last match of the season against Liverpool[41] beating the previous record of 25,023 set on 13 March 2010 against Arsenal.[42] While playing in the Championship, the record stood at 24,350 on 26 April 2008 for the visit of Crystal Palace,[32] beating that of 24,311 on 30 January 2007 for the visit of local rivals Leeds United.[33] Segregation between home fans and away fans prevents the stadium's stated capacity from being reached.

Plans have been prepared for the potential extension of the stadium following Hull City's promotion to the Premier League. 4,500 seats could be added in a second tier to the east stand, and 2,000 seats each in the north and south stands, giving the stadium a capacity of approximately 34,000.[43] In 2011, the club's owner Assem Allam announced that he wanted to buy the stadium freehold so he could develop, as he stated, "a sports park" on the site.[44][45]

Hull F.C. average attendances
Season Attendance
2015 11,343
2014 11,166
2013 11,640
2012 12,402
2011 12,483[46]
2010 13,731[46]
2009 13,244[46]
2008 13,432[46]
2007 14,606[46]
2006 10,866[46]
2005 10,604[46]
2004 11,458[46]
2003 11,598[46]

After Hull City Council refused, Allam stated "I had in mind £30 million to spend on the infrastructure of the club, to increase the stadium by 10,000 and to have commercial activities around the stadium – cafeterias, shops, supermarkets – to have all this to create income for the club so that in the future it can be self-financing and not relying on me."[47]

On 9 August 2013, Allam announced that the club will discard its 109-year-old name and, henceforth, be "marketed" as Hull City Tigers locally and Hull Tigers to national and international audiences.[47] Announcing the change in the Hull Daily Mail newspaper, he said: "'Hull City' is irrelevant...it is common. I want the club to be special. It is about identity. 'City' is a lousy identity. 'Hull City Association Football Club' is so long."[47] The club's Managing Director Nick Thompson urged supporters "to judge it in the fullness of time."[48] The announcement stated that all references to "AFC" on club branding will be phased out, although they will remain on the shirt crest during their first season back in the Premier League.[48]

Allam justified the name change as part of his plans to create "additional sources of revenue" for the club.[44] He dismissed fans' protests against the name change, stating "nobody questions my decisions in my business."[49]

Hull F.C.

Professional rugby league's Hull Football Club play their home games at the KCOM Stadium, having relocated from the Boulevard.[50] During their time at the KCOM Stadium, they have consistently ended each season on a high note: in 2003, the team just missed play-off qualification; in 2004, the club finished third.[50] They finished fourth in 2005, and enjoyed even greater success in the Challenge Cup, in which they beat the Leeds Rhinos in the final.[50] Hull FC reached the Super League Grand Final in 2006.[51] Attendances average around 14,000,[46] but are often well above that figure when the club hosts local rivals Hull Kingston Rovers,[52] this local derby producing a record crowd of 23,004 for 2 September 2007 fixture.[52]

Other sporting events

It hosted four England under-21 internationals. The results were as follows.

Date Opponents Result Attendance Part of
2 June 2003  Serbia and Montenegro 3 - 2 24,004 International friendly
17 February 2004  Netherlands 3 - 2 25,280[7]
25 March 2005  Germany 2 - 2 21,746 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 6
19 August 2008  Slovenia 2 - 1 International friendly

The KCOM Stadium is now also a regular venue for international rugby league games, and has hosted Great Britain matches in both the Tri-Nations[8] and the Ashes[9] competitions. The stadium hosted the 2004 Tri-Nations match in which New Zealand lost by a score of 26–24.[8] The stadium also hosted the Tri-Nations game between Great Britain and Australia in 2005; the final score was 26–14 to Australia.[53]

On Saturday 9 November 2013, the stadium hosted the England versus Fiji Rugby League World Cup match, in which England won 34–12 in front of an attendance of 25,114. Before the match, there was a minute's silence, followed by spontaneous applause, to mark the early death of former England International Steve Prescott.[54][55]

In 2009, the KC Stadium was shortlisted as a possible venue for games at the 2018 FIFA World Cup should England win the right to host it, but when the list of venues was announced on 16 December that year, the KC Stadium was not included.[56]

It has also played host to two exhibition Twenty20 cricket matches between Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Lashings World XI.[57]

Concerts

As well as serving as a sporting venue, the KCOM Stadium also hosts musical events, including such artists as Sir Elton John,[10] Bryan Adams,[58] Neil Diamond,[59] R.E.M.,[60] Bon Jovi,[61] and The Who.[11]

JLS have also performed here in front of 20,000 fans as part of their 2010 JLS Tour.

Rod Stewart performed at the stadium on 14 June 2016.[62]

Rugby League Test Matches

List of test and International tournament matches played at KCOM Stadium since its opening in 2002.[63]

Game# Date Result Attendance Notes
1 15 November 2003 Australia  def.  Great Britain 23–20 25,147 Played as part of the 2003 Ashes series
2 20 November 2004 Great Britain United Kingdom def.  New Zealand 26–24 23,377 Played as part of the 2004 Tri-Nations
3 19 November 2005 Australia Australia def. United Kingdom Great Britain 26–14 25,150 Played as part of the 2005 Tri-Nations
4 5 November 2006 England  def.  Samoa 38–14 5,698 Played as part of the 2006 Federation Shield
5 3 November 2007 Great Britain United Kingdom def. New Zealand New Zealand 44–0 20,324 Played as part of the 2007 All Golds Tour
6 12 November 2011 England England def. New Zealand New Zealand 28–6 23,447 Played as part of the 2011 Four Nations
7 9 November 2013 England England def.  Fiji 34–12 25,114 Played as part of the 2013 World Cup
8 1 November 2015 England England def. New Zealand New Zealand 26–12 23,526 Played as part of the 2015 NZ tour of Britain

References

  1. 1 2 "Premier League Handbook Season 2013/14" (PDF). Premier League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Hull's KC Stadium to change name to KCOM Stadium". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Full Circle". Hull in print. Kingston upon Hull City Council. 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 "About the KC Stadium". KC Stadium. KCStadium.co.uk & SMC. 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "History Of The Tigers". Hull City afc: the tigers: Official Site. Hull City Football Club & FL Interactive Ltd. 18 May 2007. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Hull FC's Boulevard Stadium memorial unveiled". BBC News. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Under-21 International". Sky Sports. 19 August 2008. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 Lawrenson, David (21 November 2004). "Carney keeps Lions' eye on the final ball". guardian.co.uk. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  9. 1 2 "What are the Ashes all about?". BBC Sport Academy. The British Broadcasting Corporation. 20 October 2003. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
  10. 1 2 "Slide Shows: Elton John at the KC". This Is Hull & East Riding. Northcliffe Media Ltd. 2006. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  11. 1 2 "KC Stadium in talks over music festival". This Is Hull & East Riding. Northcliffe Media Ltd. 23 March 2009. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Home From Home". Hull City AFC. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 "Seating Plan" (PDF). KC Stadium. KCStadium.co.uk & SMC. 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  14. 1 2 "New Sponsor For East Stand". The Tigers Official website. Hull City A.F.C. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "MKM Extend Sponsorship". The Tigers Official website. Hull City A.F.C. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  16. 1 2 "New Sponsor for the KC Stadium's West Stand". The Tigers: Official Website. Hull City Football Club & FL Interactive Ltd. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 5 September 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  17. 1 2 "Cranswick PLC Extend Stand Sponsorship". The Tigers: Official Website. Hull City A.F.C. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "Scotland v Italy". displayled.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  19. 1 2 "Big Screen Installed". Hull City AFC: the Tigers: Official Site. Hull City Football Club & FL Interactive Ltd. 9 August 2007. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013. Note – this reference incorrectly quotes the screen is made of LCDs.
  20. ↑ "College of Arms Newsletter, August 2004: Recent Grants of Arms". The College of Arms. August 2004. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
  21. 1 2 "About the stadium". BBC – Humber Sport – Stadium Facts. The British Broadcasting Corporation. 2007. Archived from the original on 6 October 2003. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  22. 1 2 3 "Another award goes to...". Hull in print. Kingston upon Hull City Council. 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  23. 1 2 "City has 'best' football stadium". The British Broadcasting Corporation. 2 September 2005. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
  24. ↑ "GDS Arrives at the KC". The Tigers Official Website. Hull City A.F.C. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  25. ↑ "Championship 2015/2016 » Attendance » Home matches". worldfootball.net. 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  26. ↑ "Premier League 2014/2015 » Attendance » Home matches". worldfootball.net. 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  27. ↑ "English Premier League Stats: Team Attendance – 2013–14". ESPN FC. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  28. ↑ "Football League: FLC Attendance, 2012–2013". The Football League. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  29. ↑ "Football League: FLC Attendance, 2011–2012". The Football League. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  30. ↑ "Football League: FLC Attendance, 2010–2011". The Football League. Archived from the original on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  31. 1 2 "Statistics". Premier League. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  32. 1 2 "Championship Attendance Stats". Tips Daddy. English Football League. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  33. 1 2 "Championship Attendance Stats". Tips Daddy. English Football League. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  34. ↑ "Championship Attendance Stats". Tips Daddy. English Football League. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  35. ↑ "Football League: FL1 Attendance, 2004–2005". The Football League. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
  36. 1 2 "Football League: FLD3 Attendance, 2003–2004". The Football League. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  37. ↑ "2002/2003: Hull City: Match: Fixtures & Results". Hull City AFC: the Tigers: Official Site. Hull City Football Club & FL Interactive Ltd. 2003. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  38. ↑ "Average Attendances – English Football Divisions – 1994/95-2005/06". The Political Economy of Football. Jez Booker. 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
  39. ↑ "2002/2003: Hull City: Match: Table". Hull City AFC: the Tigers: Official Site. Hull City Football Club & FL Interactive Ltd. 2003. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  40. ↑ "Hull City sell out season tickets". BBC Sport. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2008.
  41. ↑ Reekie, Harry (9 May 2010). "Hull 0 – 0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  42. ↑ Dawkes, Phil (13 March 2010). "Hull 1 – 2 Arsenal". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  43. ↑ City Magazine. No. 49. Hull City AFC. September 2009. p. 39. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  44. 1 2 Young, Colin (6 May 2013). "It'll be MY promotion party, says Allam". The Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  45. ↑ "Allams plan to buy KC Stadium from Hull City Council". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  46. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Super League Statistics – Hull FC". RLFANS.COM. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  47. 1 2 3 Sanghani, Radhika (9 August 2013). "'Hull City irrelevant', says owner Assem Allam". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  48. 1 2 "Hull City AFC change name to Hull City Tigers". BBC Sport. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  49. ↑ "Hull City: Tigers chairman dismisses fans' protests". BBC Sport. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  50. 1 2 3 "Club History 2003 – To Present". Welcome to the Official Hull FC Website. Hull FC. 2008. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  51. ↑ "Previous Winners". engage Super League. Super League (Europe) Limited. 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  52. 1 2 "SLStats: Hull FC 2007 Summary". RLFANS.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  53. ↑ Lawrenson, David (20 November 2005). "Lions never in hunt". guardian.co.uk. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  54. ↑ "Rugby League World Cup 2013 fixtures announced". Code 13 Rugby League. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  55. ↑ "Rugby League World Cup 2013: England 34–12 Fiji". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  56. ↑ "Milton Keynes chosen for England's 2018 World Cup bid". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  57. ↑ "International Cricket Returns to the KC Stadium". East Riding News. East Riding of Yorkshire Council: p. 24. June 2004.
  58. ↑ "Music Live Band Reviews". thisisULL.com. www.thisisULL.com. 2004. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  59. ↑ "Neil Diamond Concert Setlist". Event Reviews. setlist.fm. 2005. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  60. ↑ "REM at the KC stadium". Event Reviews. BBC Humber. 2005. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  61. ↑ "Music Reviews". thisisULL.com. www.thisisULL.com. 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  62. ↑ "Rod Stewart - The Hits 2016 Concert - Live At The KC Stadium". Hull City A.F.C. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  63. ↑ "KC Stadium". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
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