The New York Stadium, not located in New York City but in England’s Rotherham, is steadily nearing completion. The opening of the stadium will be eagerly anticipated by Rotherham fans who currently have to travel to their temporary home in Sheffield every other week after the club left Millmoor in 2008.
The name New York Stadium, which the club presented in December last year, is not just a marketing ploy to appeal to an American market, but is founded in the history of the site the stadium stands on. This site used to belong to the Guest and Chimes steel factory which manufactured the typical fire hydrants which can be found on the streets of New York. New York is also the historical name of the area surrounding the stadium.
Construction of the £20 million stadium started in June 2011 and is currently progressing according to schedule, which means that it will be completed easily in time for the start of the 2012/2013 season.
The stands of the fully-enclosed stadium have been erected, the roof has been installed, and the first seats have been placed. Progress can be followed via the webcam on The Millers’ website.
The stadium will initially be able to hold 12,000 spectators, but can be expanded with a further 4,000 seats if attendances justify such move. The two-tiered main stand will be slightly large than the other single-tiered stands. The architects have chosen the let the roof come down in a stair-like fashion to adjust for the difference in height.
Photos: © themillers.co.uk