Rotherham risk move to New York

This will be the last season that Rotherham United play their home games at Don Valley Stadium. Scheduled to be completed by the 11^th July, The Millers will relocate to the New York Stadium, in the heart of Rotherham. The ground is named after the local area, as in the 18^th century, steel was exported to America to build fire hydrants in New York. The ground will cost £20 million pounds and will have the capacity to seat an initial 12,000 people, with the possibility to expand in the future.

Described as a “soulless venue” by press officer Matt Young, Don Valley Stadium sits in the heart of an industrial estate. However Rotherham’s new ground is located “in the heart of the city” and is part of the plan to “bring the team back to the town.” However, with Rotherham currently averaging an attendance of 3,706 for their home games; 12,000 seems a long way away. Due to the new location, the club believes that they can attract average attendances of “8,000 people in the first year”.

Darlington F.C. opened the Darlington Arena in 2003, which was built to seat 25,000 fans at a cost of £18 million pounds. The club is now in administration and last season, recorded a mere average home attendance of 1,886. “The chairman wants promotion next season” says Matt Young, “or the manager will be under pressure.” But The Millers would surely need to attain promotion twice in order to achieve the 9,500 average attendances that local rivals Barnsley and Doncaster enjoy in the npower Championship.

At Rotherham United’s first home, Millmoor; the never finished ‘Main Stand’ still lies in a half-built state. The stand would have been able to seat an extra 4,500 fans, all seated and covered, and was due to be completed during the 2006–07 season. But this had still not come to fruition by the time Rotherham United entered administration in March 2008, and the ground became disused.

At a cost of £20 million pounds, it seems like no expense will be spared in the construction of this “iconic” new stadium. Assistant press officer Ben Shepard noted its “sloping design” and the New York Stadium will even contain “poly-carbonate in the roof to keep in the atmosphere.” In short, this is a big statement from a club who want to achieve big things. But as Rochdale A.F.C. have proven, a promotion can take as long as 41 years.