Scunthorpe United Stadium – design description

New stadium for Scunthorpe United is to be built in a new spot, but very close to current Glanford Park, just 900 meters south. Initial configuration should see capacity of 12,000 people, but with a chance to increase to 18,000, should such demand exist.

Apart from the main stadium (12,000 capacity initially with potential to reach 18,000), Scunthorpe United plan to have up to 10 secondary football fields beside it. Five of them will reach full size, half will be significantly smaller. They will provide both the playing conditions for reserve/youth teams and United’s training academy. Altogether the site will be around five times the size of existing Glanford Park’s surface, including parking sites.

The club are hoping to erect the steel-based structure in several months and within a tight budget of £18 million. Much of the cost (up to 50%) would be covered with external funding programs, like the EU or football funds.

The design was carried out by Frank Whittle Partnership, a company with a couple of British stadiums in their portfolio. For the Iron architects suggest a curvy bowl with significant domination of the main stand. Though incorporated into the bowl, the stand’s roof is to span beyond the stadium, creating an arch and adding to the dynamism.