England: QPR stadium returns to original name
source: StadiumDB.com; author: Mateusz Osmola
The home ground of London based Championship team Queens Park Rangers will be called Loftus Road Stadium again, starting from the next season. This brings an end to a three-year partnership with the Kiyan Prince Foundation, a charity after which the stadium has been named.
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Loftus Road has been carrying the name Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium during the years 2019-2022, as we reported here. It was the first case of renaming Rangers' home ground in its nearly 120-year history. It was done to honour the tragically deceased 15-year-old club youth player Kiyan Prince. The young boy was stabbed when he tried to break up a fight outside his school involving other students.
© Patrick Hendriksen (cc: by-nc)
His father, Dr Mark Prince, has set up a foundation named after his son, which aims to promote pro-social attitudes among young people and prevent violence. Referring to the growth of his organisation over the past three years, Mr Prince said: "My family and I, including all of us at KPF, would like to thank everyone involved at Queens Park Rangers, including the supporters, for honouring Kiyan and the work that the Kiyan Prince Foundation is doing.”
In May this year, Queens Park Rangers’ owners announced that their stadium would return to its iconic name before the start of the next Championship season. Appropriate signage has already been installed on the facade of the Londoners' arena bearing the new-old name of the venue.
© Patrick Hendriksen (cc: by-nc)
Loftus Road's history dates back to 1904, when Shepherd's Bush footballers started playing their matches there. Rangers have been the hosts of the stadium since 1917. They also used to play at the now defunct White City Stadium during the 1931/32, 1932/33 and 1962/63 seasons. The current capacity of the venue is 18,439 spectators. The attendance record was set in 1974, when Rangers' fixture against Leeds United was watched by 35,353 fans.
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