“The trouble is” – Finance expert reveals issue Leeds United may face in Elland Road expansion plans
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire expects short-term pain for Leeds United in their bid to increase Elland Road’s capacity.
The club confirmed plans earlier this week to expand the Whites’ home ground to around 53,000 seats.
The stadium’s current capacity is 37,645, meaning this will be a significant increase on the existing infrastructure.
If the expansion goes as expected then Elland Road will become the seventh biggest club stadium in England, only behind the likes of Old Trafford, Anfield and the Emirates.
It is hoped that Leeds will have one of the finest modern stadiums in world football once the project is concluded in the coming years.
Kieran Maguire issues Leeds stadium warning
Daniel Farke Leeds United
Maguire expects that there will be some short-term pain for Leeds during the process of building the expansion to their stadium.
He believes that there will need to be a reduced capacity during construction for one to two seasons, which will have an impact on the team, as well as their matchday revenue.
“If you want to be at the top table you’ve got to have at least a 50,000, and this appears to be the decision which has been made by 49ers investment and Red Bull that Elland Road, which is a fierce and ferocious stadium and it creates an absolutely cracking atmosphere, and credit Leeds United fans for doing that,” said Maguire, via The Price of Football podcast.
