Bradford Bulls have reacquired the leasehold interest in the historic Bartercard Odsal Stadium more than a decade after it was sold to the Rugby Football League (RFL) amid the now Championship club’s financial problems at the time.
The announcement today (Friday) ends what has been a long-running process over the future of a venue which first opened in 1933 and is an iconic part of English rugby league. The Bulls were offered assurances over their long-term future at Odsal after the RFL announced in October 2023 that it was seeking to sell off the lease to the venue.
Odsal is owned by Bradford Metropolitan District Council but the RFL was forced to step in to assume the lease-hold interest in 2012 amid the financial troubles surrounding the Bulls. The RFL held the lease on a 150-year term, with the deal agreed with the Council on a peppercorn rent basis.
The RFL paid more than £1m (€1.19m/$1.24m) for the leasehold back in 2012. In the summer, the Bulls were said to be close to agreeing a deal, and it has been reported today that the final agreement represents significantly less than what the RFL originally paid out.
Rob Graham, RFL director of finance, facilities and central services, said in a statement: “We are pleased to have concluded the sale of Odsal Stadium to the Bradford Bulls. The RFL’s primary goal in taking ownership in January 2012 was to avoid an historic venue for rugby league being lost to the sport, and that has now been achieved.
“Ownership of the stadium was never envisaged as a permanent position, and we thank Jonathan Hyland and his team at Knight Frank for their professionalism in completing the sale of the lease.”
Real estate agency Knight Frank was engaged to assist in the process. The Bulls returned to Odsal in May 2021 after agreeing an initial 18-month occupancy deal to play at the venue. Bradford left Odsal in 2019 to groundshare with the Dewsbury Rams amid plans to develop a new home in the Yorkshire city.
Along with the Bulls, Odsal Motorsport is also a tenant of the stadium, with the rugby league club now set to be afforded greater control over its operations. Jonathan Hyland, a partner at Knight Frank, said: “We have now completed this complex and important deal. Lawyers have worked forensically through the final details to ensure each party was happy and a satisfactory decision was reached.
“The RFL was keen to sell the lease and the Bulls were keen to gain more autonomy and control over their ground, so the deal suited both parties.
“When we first announced that the Odsal lease was up for sale last October, there was a good deal of interest, which wasn’t surprising, since this was an absolutely fantastic opportunity to acquire one of the most famous sporting stadia in Yorkshire. Odsal has a wonderful history and is one of the jewels in the crown of the city of Bradford.”
Bradford Council in September 2022 spelled out plans to transform Odsal Stadium into the largest covered stadium in England, with a 25,000 capacity, as part of ongoing efforts to revitalise the venue.
The project had sought £50m in Government Levelling Up funding, but all four bids proposed by the Council were turned down. Odsal famously drew a crowd of 102,569 for the 1954 Challenge Cup final replay between Warrington and Halifax.
The stadium still attracted large crowds as the Bulls enjoyed great success in the 1990s and 2000s. However, the team went into administration in 2012 and was liquidated in 2017, forcing a rebirth in the lower leagues.
