Leeds United are set for a major boost as exciting news emerges about Thorp Arch and about the club increasing the capacity at Elland Road.
What's the story?
After Angus Kinnear initially revealed plans for the expansion of Elland Road back in October 2019 when Marcelo Bielsa's side were celebrating their centenary year, it appears the Whites may finally get to see some significant improvements on their stadium capacity.
Leeds had originally planned to expand the capacity of Elland Road to 50,000 whilst also relocating the Thorp Arch academy to a former high school site close to the site of their stadium.
However, Leeds have now changed these plans as they look to expand Elland Road into a 55,000 seater stadium by expanding into the space at the Fullerton Park site next to the stadium.
This means that the Thorp Arch academy will remain in its current location and a community sports hub will now be built at the high school site.
A report from LCC's director of city development to the council's executive board said: "Following the promotion of LUFC to the Premier League and the club securing investment from the San Francisco 49ers', the club have reviewed their stadium development ambitions and want to preserve their ability to deliver an expanded 55,000-seater stadium at Elland Road, as opposed to a 50,000 seat capacity previously agreed."
Meanwhile, LCC leader councillor James Lewis added: "The fantastic return of Leeds United to the Premier League has proved to be a great boost to not just fans, but also the city as a whole.
"We remain committed to working with the club constructively in terms of any ambitions they might have in terms of increasing the capacity of Elland Road in the future, which is why following discussions, we agreed to look at what options could be available to move the proposed Parklife project from Fullerton Park to another location."
Fans will be buzzing
At its current capacity of 37,792, Leeds have the 11th largest stadium in the Premier League, behind the likes of Everton and Aston Villa.
But the proposed increase at Elland Road to something around 55,000 would see them shoot right up that table, and virtually into the top-five, with Manchester City's Etihad Stadium currently seating about 55,017 fans.
A bigger stadium doesn't necessarily mean, or translate into success, but what it does do is send a major statement that the club mean business and are looking forward to establishing themselves as a real force.
It would be an indication that Leeds are serious about breaking up the Premier League's 'big six' and getting into Europe, and that their ambitions on the pitch are being matched by their efforts off it.
Not only will Leeds fans have an even bigger opportunity to go see their team play given the increased capacity, but it would also prove to them that those at the club are doing everything in their power to take Leeds forward.
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Whites fans will surely be absolutely buzzing at the latest development that the Thorp Arch academy won't be moving and that there will be more seats in the expanded stadium instead.
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