For over a decade, Queens Park Rangers have considered modernizing their stadium, and now redevelopment is finally in progress. QPR has been competing in the Championship since relegating from the Premier League in 2015, and last season they fought hard to retain their place in the second division.

Years of efforts to build a better venue

The Hoops are aiming to return to the top division, with their owners working to upgrade Loftus Road as part of their broader strategy. However, only three years ago, the West London club faced the possibility of leaving the Hammersmith and Fulham district after encountering difficulties relocating to a site near one of the country’s most famous prisons.

This comes despite Loftus Road recently being named England’s best stadium by Adrian Durham from talkSPORT, who awarded it the title after completing the 92 challenge. The challenge involves visiting all 92 stadiums across England’s top four leagues. I just love it. It’s another ground where, when things are going well, the atmosphere is fantastic. It’s how a stadium should be, right in the middle of a residential area. I love it, Durham said at the time. English football has fans all over the world, including in Japan. However, the people there often choose to be active online. Therefore they check out the offerings of a site that provides exclusive online casino bonuses for Japanese players and other attractive options.

In 2013, under manager Harry Redknapp, reports circulated that the Hoops were planning to move to a new 40,000-seat stadium—New Queens Park—proposed as part of a significant redevelopment project in Old Oak, West London, about four kilometers north of their current site. Former QPR chairman and majority shareholder Tony Fernandes, who led the club from 2011 to 2018, commented at the time, Loftus Road is—and always will be—a special place for the club and our fans, but we need a stadium with a capacity greater than 18,000. That season, however, QPR was relegated from the Premier League, and the Old Oak redevelopment plans, initially motivated by the upcoming High-Speed Rail 2 project, were halted.

© Patrick Hendriksen (cc: by-nc)

Close call with relocation

As the club embarked on its Championship journey, there were discussions about relocating to the soon-to-be renovated Linford Christie Stadium. The stadium, home to the Thames Valley Harriers and the youth football club Kensington Dragons, is adjacent to HMP Wormwood Scrubs. Renovation plans for the site included constructing a pool, new locker rooms, sports fields, and a new athletics track. However, in 2018, QPR announced that if building a new stadium at the LCS site were not feasible, they would have to search outside the district to secure a permanent home stadium.

In 2019, QPR warned that the club required assistance from the local council to redevelop Linford Christie Stadium, which is owned by the Hammersmith & Fulham Council and other stakeholders. If the council does not want QPR involved in the redevelopment, that’s their choice, said CEO Lee Hoos at the time. He also noted that any proposed redevelopment of Loftus Road itself wasn’t an option due to the lack of available space surrounding the stadium, as it is located within a residential area. However, the Hammersmith & Fulham Council accused QPR's owners of real estate speculation and lobbying to convert Loftus Road into residential property, allegations the club denied.

© Patrick Hendriksen (cc: by-nc)

"Project Big Ben": A new opportunity for Queens Park Rangers?

Recent reports from Mail Sport indicate that QPR executives are seeking new investors to fund the construction of a modern stadium to replace Loftus Road. This concept, named Project Big Ben, has been presented to potential buyers this year, with an emphasis on QPR’s strong London presence. The proposed site for the investment has been valued between £50 million and £64 million.

QPR’s current owners include Malaysian businessman Ruben Gnanalingam, who holds a 60% stake, British investment manager Amit Bhatia with just under 20%, and American businessman Richard Reilly, who owns 21% of the shares. According to sources close to QPR, the club envisions creating a modern, multifunctional stadium as part of a large-scale redevelopment of West London. However, there may still be ongoing, in-depth discussions with local city authorities regarding further analysis of potential stadium expansion.

© Patrick Hendriksen (cc: by-nc)

The rich history of Loftus Road

Loftus Road, located in Shepherd's Bush, has been home to The Hoops since 1917. In 1981, it became the first stadium in British professional football to install an Omniturf artificial pitch, which remained in use until 1988, when a natural grass field was reinstalled. The stadium was first used on October 11, 1904, by Shepherd's Bush, an amateur team disbanded during World War I. QPR moved to Loftus Road in 1917 after their Park Royal ground was requisitioned by the military in February 1915. The stadium has a seating capacity of 18,439, with four stands: the Loftus Road End (often referred to as The Loft), The Stanley Bowles Stand, the Bhatia Stand, and the Achilleus Security Stand. The upper tier is designated for visiting supporters, and the lower tier is also allocated to them when demand justifies it. Although not the smallest club in the league, this capacity would quickly be exceeded, just as it was previously in the Premier League.