New Oxford United Stadium
 | |
| Location | The Triangle, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°48′20″N 1°16′41″W / 51.80553035469939°N 1.278190645198567°W |
| Public transit |  Oxford Parkway |
| Owner | Oxford United F.C. |
| Operator | Oxford United F.C. |
| Capacity | 16,000[1] |
| Construction | |
| Opened | TBD |
| Construction cost | £130m-150m (estimated)[2] |
| Architect | AFL Architects[3] |
| Tenants | |
| Oxford United (planned) | |
| Website | |
| oufcstadium | |
The New Oxford United Stadium is a proposed multi-purpose stadium to be built in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. It would become the new home of EFL Championship club Oxford United, replacing the club's current home, the Kassam Stadium, where they have played since 2001.[1]
Planning history
[edit]Stratfield Brake plan
[edit]Oxford United have been planning to move out of the Kassam Stadium for several years. In 2022, the club made a proposal for a new 18,000-capacity home at Stratfield Brake, near Kidlington.[4] Over the next two months, Oxfordshire County Council consulted locals and received an 80% backing on the project. However, only 38% of respondents local to the proposed site were in favour of the plan.[5][6] After talks continued into 2023,[7] the club chose to move the project to a preferred adjacent site, known locally as 'the Triangle'.[8][9]
The Triangle plan
[edit]On 9 October 2023, the club released mock-up images of what the stadium might look like at the Triangle.[10] The images also came with the news that the project's capacity had dropped to 16,000 spectators and had a completion deadline set for 2026, when the lease at the Kassam Stadium is set to end.[10] Immediate reaction to the new plan saw mixed reviews,[11] and three months later the design was changed to better align with public feedback.[12]
A planning application was submitted on 15 February 2024, with the hope of being the first "all-electric" stadium in England. This will be achieved through the help of solar panels and a low carbon energy supply.[13][14] The club's chairman, Grant Ferguson, announced that the application had to be successful if it was to be ready for 2026. As the expiring lease at the current stadium cannot be extended, if the project is not completed in time, Oxford will have to move elsewhere.[15]
The first steps to reaching an agreement were made on 22 April 2024,[16] but less than two months later the club were told the plans needed "more detail".[17] The current plan includes not only the new stadium but a "180-bedroom hotel and 1,000 capacity conference and exhibition centre". As many as 1,000 jobs will be created as a result, whilst the project is hoping to generate approximately £32m annually through tourism.[18]
The Triangle plan was set to face an important planning hearing on 3 July 2025, as Oxford's future hung in the balance.[19][20] Ahead of the hearing, the club wrote an open letter to locals to highlight the benefits that the new stadium would bring to the area.[21] In July 2025, questions were raised about the Triangle location after a nearby area was designated as ancient woodland.[22]
Transport
[edit]Oxford Parkway has been cited by the club as the main transport link for the new stadium,[23] with the proposal of a footbridge to connect the two together.[24]
East West Rail (EWR), due to commence services in late 2025, will make the new stadium easily nationally accessible by rail via Milton Keynes Central on the West Coast Main Line. In addition to regular services from London and Oxford via the Chiltern Main Line, EWR will help Oxford United's stated aim of having 90% of fans travel to the Triangle by non-car means.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Oxford United Stadium Planning Update". Oxford United F.C. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United: New all-electric ground will cost £130m-£150m". BBC Sport. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ "AFL Architects submits plans for Oxford United stadium". Building.co.uk. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United: Stratfield Brake site proposed for new 18,000-capacity stadium". BBC Sport. 10 January 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United: New stadium in Kidlington backed in consultation". BBC News. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United: Club seeks move from the 'cursed' Kassam Stadium". BBC News. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Opinion split as Oxford football stadium critics want more talks". BBC News. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United alternative stadium site proposed". BBC News. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United: Legal challenge over new football club stadium site". BBC News. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Oxford United Football Club unveils designs for new stadium". BBC News. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Kidlington community has mixed feelings to Oxford United stadium designs". BBC News. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United changes new stadium designs after public feedback". BBC News. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United's new stadium is the first in England to be 'all electric'". BBC News. 15 February 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United submit plans for new 'all-electric' stadium". BBC News. 23 February 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United: Club 'back to square one' if stadium plans denied". BBC News. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United and county council 'heads of terms' agreed". BBC News. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United told 'more detail' is needed for stadium plans". Oxford Mail. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "A New Year Stadium Update From Jonathon Clarke". Oxford United F.C. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "July date for Oxford stadium plans". BBC Sport. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ ""The future of the Club hinges on the new stadium." – Oxford United CEO Delivers Stark Warning". Oxford United F.C. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Club writes open letter addressing stadium concerns". BBC News. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ^ Gudge, Ethan (18 July 2025). "Stadium proposal questioned over ancient woodland". BBC News. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ "Oxfordshire's Top Public Transport Operators Support New Stadium Bid". Oxford United F.C. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "Oxford United Stadium Update". Oxford United F.C. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2025.