I believe the latest thinking is to rebuild the Southstand before 2018, as it would need doing prior to the planned North Stand rebuild in 2019 (isnt the Aussie Test in 2020?).

This is easily achievable given the cash required is sat in the bank and planning permission has been obtained.

Having said that I think its pretty unlikely the club would build the new Southstand they have planning permission for. They were baffled that they could only get planning for the most basic of structures from LCC (one that is not capable of raising extra income in any way as alluded to above).

Its more likely the first step will be a return to planning to try and get a capacity bump to something like the original 8000 (not 6000), with some basic bar and catering facilities (rather than the approved empty shell).

I thought the whole north stand was getting re-done, I didn't realise the rugby side was staying as it is!

Quote ="Sal Paradise"I thought the whole north stand was getting re-done, I didn't realise the rugby side was staying as it is!'" That is the intention. Test cricket will continue without the existing shared stand although YCCC is looking at the options to use the lower level even if the top part is out of action. The next ashes Test is in 2019 - already confirmed - so the aim is for any new stand to be finished in time for that. Plans have been shown on the YCCC website. yorkshireccc.com/news/view/2740/ ... masterplan

Quote ="Sal Paradise"I thought the whole north stand was getting re-done, I didn't realise the rugby side was staying as it is!'" That is the intention. Test cricket will continue without the existing shared stand although YCCC is looking at the options to use the lower level even if the top part is out of action. The next ashes Test is in 2019 - already confirmed - so the aim is for any new stand to be finished in time for that. Plans have been shown on the YCCC website. yorkshireccc.com/news/view/2740/ ... masterplan

Further to all this, I think it's interesting to note that apart from those clubs that share with soccer clubs, all the new grounds have a lower capacity than those they replaced.
Another reason not to relocate away from Headingley.

Is it a top class stadium though?

The club is not going to relocate from Headingley we all know that ,but if we did where would an appropriate site be?

No, but how many "top class" stadiums are there in the UK, across all sports?

Single figures, I would venture:

Wembley
Murrayfield
Cardiff (Millenium)
Old Trafford
Olympic Park
Etihad
Emirates

Most of the rest are either old stadia starting to look a bit tired, or medium sized new-builds with all the character and appeal of a used tissue.

Headingley doesn't need to venture into that bracket to attract/maintain visitors. It's always interesting to hear overseas players who have experienced its atmosphere talk about it in glowing terms, even when their new homes are much more salubrious - Wayne Collins this week being a perfect example.

Leeds don't need a 20k+ stadium when was the last time the crowd was >20k

Plenty of brownfield land in Leeds, but it's primarily south of the river. Otherwise, you're heading further out into the suburbs where transport links are poorer.

An ideal site would probably be somewhere along the A1/M1 link in the Colton/Garforth/Swillington kind of area. Good road access, decent bus links - you're just reliant on finding a friendly farmer happy to sell you the land you'll need and a compliant planning committee.

The other problem is that if the rugby side did decide it wanted to move, what would the value be of the current site with the cricket ground in situ? I would venture next to nothing, given you couldn't really build on it.

So any funding for a new stadium would have to be borrowed, either from the bank or from Mr Caddick.

I wasn't too impressed with Murrayfield when I was there, didn't think the facilities were all that cracking

For me though it's a fine line between holding nostalgic views and the need for 'new'. For me, I love Headingley as it has been a major part of my life however the need for 'new' is screaming loud and clear

Would people be happy with safe standing(rail seats) in a redeveloped south stand?

For an elite club Headingley is a disgrace - given all the success the club has had that has not been reflected in investment in facilities.

We get close to 20k and over a few times a year.

But with some good redevelopment in the stadium and facilities we could be close to averaging 20k every season. But as I said earlier I feel the club has really being dragging its heels in the last 5 years or so.

SJP?

Interested to know whether you class that as an 'old' stadium or a 'new'?

We'll not over 20k every year but we have had over in the recent past. And get pretty close on an annual basis

I'd like to see a two tiered with seating and boxes on top tier and safe standing on bottom.

Big problem with the south stand also is that when the crowd gets bigger than say 17k the south stand is packed in like sardines.

Not experienced it "in the flesh", although I have the others I listed.

It's a bit of a hotch-potch isn't it, much like the old Highbury? Some new bits, some older bits that had a lick of paint.

I'd say since the back end of the 90s that it has all been done over. Under the surface walking around, there are nooks and corners (if you are in the know) that are a tad 'older' but they are few and far between really.

If you are going to Magic Weekend (hope you are) you can have a look at it then

Headingley RL ground couldn't really be sold for very much what could be developed on what would be just a space between the roadside and cricket ground.I remember in the 1970s when LCC were making a serious bid for the 1978 commonwealth games they earmarked around a possible site around Wheatwood ringroad area .I think an ideal capacity for headingley after redevelopment would be 23-24K and its no good saying 'oh we don't get anywhere near that'but settling for 18k capacity is sending out the wrong messages, how many FA prem teams fill their stadiums

Just as long as the Roof in the South Stand isn't too high so it looses the Atmosphere.
I think that's why it makes Headingley one of the most Atmospheric Grounds certainly in Rugby League.

IIRC from the last planning application, the height of the South Stand would be limited to what it is now?

Agree with all you say but would put Lord's at the top of the list of UK stadiums, and it's also a stadium that benefits from keeping its traditions while building up and out and moving with the times. Of course it has had more money available to it than Headingley will have.

Any proposed development that takes Headingley to much more than 20k and the council planning department would have a fit.

Logistically, a 20k stadium in the most densely populated part of the city doesn't make a lot of sense. Headingley is already heavily congested even on non-matchdays. Encouraging 25k+ to the area is something that is very much off the LCC agenda.

Caught the end of it on look north but I am sure it mentioned that the cricket club might have to close their side of the north stand as it's unsafe? Surley if the cricket side is unsafe that would effect the north stand as well

The way some people moan about the Western Terrace is laughable. It is, like you say, one of the best viewing points for watching Rugby League in the game. As for people banging on about getting wet, it rarely rains on match days. Most of the time fans stand blissfully supping ale on balmy summer nights. I will record the amount of wet weather that fans have to endure on the said terrace and I'm sure most of the moaners will be silenced by the results. So far this season supporters have had a 100% fair weather experience. It may also surprise people to learn that it hasn't rained at Odsal for a Bradford v Leeds game for at least 12 years, not a drop. I've been to every one since 2003 and only ever come away with a suntan.