Salford Community Stadium

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"Salford City Stadium" redirects here. For the stadium of Salford City F.C., see Moor Lane.

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Salford Community Stadium
File:Salford Community Stadium Logo.png
File:Salford City Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 3076639.jpg
Salford Community Stadium
Full name Salford Community Stadium
Former names Salford City Stadium, AJ Bell Stadium
Location 1 Stadium Way
Barton-upon-Irwell
M30 7EY
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Owner City of Salford Community Stadium Ltd.
Executive suites 12-20 person hospitality boxes and 1 banqueting suite (up to 750)
Capacity 12,000[1]
Record attendance 11,247 (Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers) 27 December 2014[2]
Field size 122m x 86m
Surface Grass
Scoreboard Electronic
Construction
Built 2010–11
Opened 2012
Construction cost £26 million[1]
Architect AFL Architects
Structural engineer SKM
Main contractors Buckingham Group[3]
Tenants
Rugby League
Salford Red Devils (2012–)
Rugby Union
Sale Sharks (2012–)
Football
Manchester United FC Reserves (2013–14)
American Football
Manchester Titans (2014)
Website
www.ajbellstadium.co.uk

The Salford Community Stadium is a rugby stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell, England,[4] built to replace Salford rugby league club's ground the Willows for the 2012 season. Sale Sharks rugby union club have also played at the stadium since the 2012–13 season.

Development and financing

In 2005, Salford City Council approved plans for the Reds to move from the Willows to the brownfield site at Barton.[5]

The stadium was originally to be developed by Red City Developments, with construction to be complete for the start of the 2009 season.[6] However, RCD went into administration in July 2008.[7]

Salford City Council formed a joint venture company with Peel Group[1] to develop and deliver the £16 million stadium,[3] which is part of the a £26 million development[3] close to the Manchester Ship Canal and the M60 motorway.

Planning permission was granted in March 2010 for a 15,000-capacity stadium.[8]

Sale Sharks confirmed their move to the stadium in April 2012,[9] signing a 25-year lease.[10]

In 2013, Peel Group and Salford City Council each lent £600,000 in emergency funding to the stadium. The council is still owed £20 million for building the stadium, and is already owed £1.5m by the Salford City Reds who play at the stadium.[11]

In 2014, SCC and Peel lent a further £410,724 to the stadium.[12]

In December 2022 Salford City Council announced their intent to acquire Peel Group's 50% share in the stadium's operating company, following the rejection of a joint bid from Salford City FC and Sale Sharks,[13] with the intention to use the future development of the site to improve the community offering, and create opportunities to pay off the £37million in debt the stadium had accrued.[14] In November 2023, Salford Red Devils opposed the deal, citing a lack of progress with the council in 3 years of negotiations for a new lease on more favourable terms.[15] In December 2023, Salford Red Devils were granted a short term extension to allow them to complete the 2024 Super League season at the stadium.

AJ Bell Stadium

On 13 September 2013, it was announced that investment platform AJ Bell had secured a nine-year stadium naming rights partnership with Sale Sharks Rugby Club. The deal saw Salford City Stadium re-branded and renamed AJ Bell Stadium. The deal concluded following the 2022-23 rugby union season, and the stadium has since reverted to its original name.[16]

Facilities

The stadium capacity (since inception) has accommodated a crowd of 12,000. However, with further construction, the space exists to expand the capacity to 20,000 spectators.[3] The stadium has areas designated for standing supporters. This partial-standing design is similar to the Halliwell Jones Stadium, home of Warrington RLFC.

File:Salford City Stadium - Home of Salford Reds RLFC - geograph.org.uk - 2865528.jpg
Salford City Stadium in 2012

There are four stands:

  • West Stand (main stand) including changing rooms, media centre, hospitality boxes, banqueting suite; capacity 4,500
  • North Stand – all-standing, usually the away end; capacity 2,500
  • Toshiba Stand (East) - all seating, capacity 2,500
  • AO Stand (South/THE SHED)– all-standing, home to hardcore Reds fans; identical to the North Stand, capacity 2,500

The seats in the West and East Stands are red (for Salford) and blue (for Sale).

The development also includes offices, player facilities, concessions, community resources and two community outdoor sport pitches, a gym and the Sale Sharks Club Shop.

Events

Rugby league

The Reds played their first league game at the new stadium against Castleford on 4 February 2012; Castleford won 10–24.[17]

The 2012 Challenge Cup Semi Final was held at the stadium on 15 July 2012 – Warrington beat Huddersfield 33–6.[18]

The 2012 Autumn International Series Final took place at the stadium on 11 November 2012, attendance was 7,921.[19]

On 7 November 2013 the stadium hosted the Rugby League World Cup match between Scotland and USA. A crowd of 6,041 watched Scotland beat the USA 22 – 8.[20]

Summary

List of test and International tournament matches played at AJ Bell Stadium since its opening in 2012.[21]

Game# Date Result Attendance Notes
1 11 November 2012 England  def.  France 48–4 7,921 2012 Autumn International Series Final
2 7 November 2013 Scotland  def.  United States 22–8 6,041 Played as part of the 2013 World Cup

Rugby union

Sale Sharks' first game at the stadium was a friendly on 24 August 2012 against Leinster Rugby, which ended 10–10.[22] Their first competitive game was against Saracens on 8 September 2012. The score was Sale 16–23 Saracens and the attendance was 7,451.

The stadium served as one of the two venues for the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[23] England beat Ireland 45-21 in the final at the stadium.

2025 Rugby World Cup

In August 2023, the stadium was confirmed as one of eight host venues for the 2025 Rugby World Cup.[24] During the tournament, it will be known as The Salford Community Stadium.[25]

Other sports

File:Salford City Stadium layout.jpg
Stadium layout

American football

BAFA National Leagues side Manchester Titans held a trial game at the Stadium against Crewe Railroaders on 1 June 2014. It was stated that they could hold future fixtures inside the stadium if the trial was successful.[26] The Titans beat the Railroaders 69–0 and the attendance was 1,349.[27]

Association football

For the 2013–14 season, Manchester United have announced their under-21 team will be playing all their home games at the stadium.[28]

The stadium also hosted England women's Euro 2013 qualifying match against the Netherlands on 17 June 2012.[29][30]

Attendances

Salford Red Devils
Sale Sharks
League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest
2012 Super League 12[lower-alpha 1] 4,442 6,891 2,380 2012–13 Premiership 11 6,291 8,783 4,307
2013 Super League 13 3,125 5,383 1,989 2013–14 Premiership 11 6,350 10,092 5,372
2014 Super League 13 4,738 7,102 2,903 2014–15 Premiership 11 6,660 11,247 4,753
2015 Super League 11 4,167 6,561 1,972 2015–16 Premiership 11 6,152 7,687 4,236
2016 Super League 11 3,625 5,089 1,958 2016–17 Premiership 11 6,202 8,828 4,299
2017 Super League 11 4,480 6,527 2,678 2017–18 Premiership 11 6,274 10,050 4,510
2018 Super League 11 2,966 5,568 2,248 2018–19 Premiership 11 6,586 8,535 5,290
2019 Super League 14 3,676 5,393 2,368 2019–20 Premiership 11 7,175 8,579 0 (behind closed doors)
2020 Super League 11 2,784 4,796 0 (behind closed doors) 2020–21 Premiership 11 466 (limited games with fans) 2,800 (restricted capacity) 0 (behind closed doors)
2021 Super League 10 2,000 4,000 0 (behind closed doors) 2021–22 Premiership 12 5,948 8,214 3,697
2022 Super League 13 4,529 6,041 2,607 2022–23 Premiership 10 6,619 10,136 3,969
2023 Super League 13 5,383 7,854 3,836 2023–24 Premiership 9 9,675 3,842

Notes

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References

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External links

Preceded by
The Willows
1901–2011
 Salford Red Devils
home ground
2012–present		 Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
Edgeley Park
2003–2012
 Sale Sharks
home ground
2012–present		 Succeeded by
current

Template:Salford Red Devils

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