Wasps RFC Stadium – design description

Who are Wasps RFC?

Wasps RFC is a well-known rugby club, with traditions dating back to the 1860s. The team has had several notable successes, including six English Championships and two victories in the (former) Heineken Cup, Europe's premier competition.

The team was tied to London for many years. It wasn't until 2002 that the club moved to High Wycombe, located between London and Oxford, and in 2014 came a move to distant Coventry (to the Ricoh Arena).

Due to financial problems, the team did not enter Premiership Rugby in the 2022/23 season. In late 2022, the club was purchased by Christopher Holland, who made efforts to reactivate the team.

When were plans announced to build a new stadium for Wasps RFC?

In October 2023, the club announced its intentions to build a new stadium that would become home to Wasps RFC. The facility is to stand in Swanley, Kent County, on the southeastern outskirts of Greater London.

What does the concept for a new stadium for Wasps RFC entail?

The initial concept for the new stadium was prepared by Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson. The state-of-the-art stadium would have a capacity of 24,000 spectators, with training facilities, club buildings, a hotel and parking lots planned around it as well. The estimated cost of the development is £100 million.

The construction of the new stadium is part of a plan to rebuild the team and bring it back to the competition. Its implementation would also mark the permanent return of Wasps RFC to the London area. In November 2024, the club announced that it had secured land for the future development.