Featured image credit: Barrow AFC
League Two club Barrow has hailed the completion of redevelopment work which brings its SO Legal Stadium in-line with English Football League (EFL) regulations.
The new-look SO Legal Stadium will be fully operational for Saturday’s home League Two fixture against Wrexham. Barrow initially revealed plans to increase the capacity back in May, as part of a renovation project that has taken place over the summer.
The away end capacity has been increased to just under 1,000 fans through the installation of 522 new covered seats in the northeast corner of the stadium. Barrow has also fitted 371 covered seats on the West Terrace for the use of home supporters.
Barrow appointed GL Events and HBP Ltd as contractors for the project, with Gadsden Consulting and Tape Design Ltd providing support. From this season, SO Legal Stadium’s Steelworks End is also in use again after 196 seats were installed over the summer. The improvements include elevated wheelchair bays.
The previous capacity of SO Legal Stadium, also known as Holker Street, was 5,449. The expansion keeps the stadium compliant with EFL regulations, which state that clubs must have 2,000 covered seats by their third season as a member of the League. The stadium only had 1,130 seats previously, with the 2023-24 season marking Barrow’s third consecutive campaign in League Two after promotion in 2020.
Bluebirds Trust representative and club director, Frazer Stewart, who headed up the works on the stands, said: “The project has been ongoing for around two and a half years so it’s great to finally see it come to fruition and it was wonderful to see them in action against Sutton (United). We can’t wait to see them full against Wrexham.”
Mayor of Barrow-in-Furness, Chris Altree, added: “Obviously the main thing is complying with the EFL guidance so now the club can settle and focus on matters on the pitch. Each year the club is taking big steps to be seen as an EFL club and not ‘little old Barrow’ so it’s about making sure everyone sees us as a proper football league club.”
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