England: York Stadium delayed further, opening in 2018?

source: BBC.co.uk; author: michał

England: York Stadium delayed further, opening in 2018? It was due to open this year, then in 2017, but may not be ready until mid-2018. Also, its final price will be significantly higher than expected. A BBC report.

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The 8,000-capacity York Community Stadium was originally forecast to cost £37m and open in 2016, later in Spring 2017. However both the cost and timing had to change. Price first went beyond £41m and now is expected to reach £44.2 million.

York City Football Club said despite the "frustrating" wait there was now "room for optimism". Jason McGill, York City chairman, said: "It's in the hand of the executive now and there is room for optimism.

"From a football club's point of view, we will be looking at using the stadium for games at the start of the 2018/19 season and pre-season matches in July to open the stadium."

The council's contribution to the scheme is now more than £14m, compared to an original estimate of £8m, which it planned to borrow.

The authority's executive is to be asked to approve a further £5.4m of borrowing and provide £1m from its venture fund to bridge the gaps at a meeting on 17 March. The stadium, which will be home to York City Football Club and York City Knights Rugby League Club, was first proposed in 2009.

York Community Stadium

York Community Stadium

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