Images: Hull KR
Super League club Hull Kingston Rovers has announced plans for a major regeneration project covering the land around its home stadium, Sewell Group Craven Park.
The club has today (Tuesday) launched a consultation exercise for its proposals, which will mark the most significant changes to the stadium’s footprint since it opened in 1989.
If successful, the project would result in wide-ranging investment into sport and leisure facilities. The plans include the development of three training pitches, one of which would be available for public use, along with new outdoor sporting facilities and the rejuvenation of the Waudby Centre sports hall.
The plans also include two large-scale retail stores which are designed to be occupied by leading UK brands. Other features include the development of a retail terrace, open public spaces, and adequate car parking facilities. Initial future enhancements to the stadium itself have also been outlined.
The project is designed to drive investment into better facilities and amenities to promote health and wellbeing across East Hull and the wider city, while helping to “futureproof” Rovers’ ambitions on and off the pitch.
The proposals will provide a dedicated hub and place of work for Rovers’ men’s first team and the club’s academy pathway. The club anticipates that up to 314 new jobs could be generated when the scheme is fully operational.
Rovers chief executive Paul Lakin said: “This scheme aims to significantly enhance the stadium footprint and turn us into an impressive sporting campus in East Hull. When we purchased the stadium and option on surrounding land in 2022, we said Sewell Group Craven Park would be our forever home, and these proposals are testament to that.
“They will set a legacy, long beyond the current custodian’s ownership – securing the future of our club, bettering our city and opening up fantastic opportunities for local young people – providing the right investment and infrastructure to help them to lead happier and healthier lives.”
Stadiums are one of the criteria by which Super League clubs are judged as part of a new grading system set up by the IMG agency in partnership with the Rugby Football League (RFL). Rovers ranked fifth in the Super League gradings for 2025 and was one of nine clubs to achieve an A grade.
Rovers lost to Wigan Warriors in the Grand Final last season and the team is currently top of the league after four matches of the 2025 season.
Ahead of this season, Rovers announced a 1,000-seat extension of the East Stand at Craven Park in order to meet an increasing demand for match tickets. Demand for tickets at the stadium has soared following the club’s on-field success, with the club opening a 1,000-capacity temporary stand in the south end for the closing stages of the 2024 season.
Later this year, the stadium will host two Coldplay concerts, a notable coup for Rovers. These two shows and a series of 10 concerts at Wembley Stadium will be Coldplay’s only gigs in Europe this year.
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