Inside EFL giants’ abandoned stadium plan to build 40,000-seater new home next to infamous PRISON
QUEENS PARK RANGERS were once close to leaving their iconic ground and moving to a stunning new home next door to a prison.
Loftus Road has been the Championship club’s home since 1917 and they remain there today.
But back in 2013, QPR chiefs had plans drawn up to ditch the 18,439 capacity stadium for a new 40,000-seater.
At the time, the Hoops were in the Premier League and managed by legend Harry Redknapp.
QPR wanted to increase their revenue and then chairman Tony Fernandes was keen to build a new stadium.
The local council were eyeing a major regeneration project in the Old Oak area – just two-and-a-half miles from Loftus Road.
Fernandes was keen to seize the opportunity to move across West London, unveiling plans for a stadium dubbed New Queens Park.
Incredible computer-generated photos were released to show fans what the ground would look like.
One stand has three tiers and there are several new-build apartments overlooking the stadium.
The plot of land used would have seen QPR move just up the road from prison Wormwood Scrubs.
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Fernandes said at the time: “Loftus Road is – and always will be – a special place for the club and our supporters, but we need more than an 18,000 capacity.
“Not only will this give us a top quality stadium to cater for QPR’s needs as the club progresses and grows over the years ahead, but we are very excited about being the driving force behind creating one of the best new urban places in the world.
“This will be the catalyst for the regeneration of a forgotten area.”
However, the plans never made it any further after the club were relegated to the Championship in 2015.
Yet they did look at moving stadiums again in 2018, when they looked at redeveloping the Linford Christie Stadium.
The local running track and football pitch is a mile away from Loftus Road and is next door to HMP Wormwood Scrubs and Hammersmith Hospital.
But a year later, QPR announced they were abandoning plans to modernise the Linford Christie Stadium.
The club remain keen on replacing Loftus Road and are reportedly looking for investors to pump cash into “Project Big Ben”.
They want to “produce a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose stadium, as part of a major regeneration in West London.”
What we know about the 'new' Old Trafford
MANCHESTER UNITED plan to build a new stadium rather than redevelop Old Trafford.
The decision was made after a number of fact-finding missions to other stadiums including the Bernabeu and Nou Camp.
The cost of the project is expected to be a staggering £2billion.
A capacity of 100,000 is expected.
It is felt that a club of United’s standing should have a new state-of-the-art facility.
The new stadium will be built on land adjacent to the Red Devils’ current home.
United are looking to not only build a stadium but regenerate the area of Trafford where the ground will stand.
There had been plans to KEEP Old Trafford rather than demolish it, and use it as a scaled down second venue.
However, it’s looking increasing likely that it will in fact be entirely demolished.
The club consulted with 30,000 fans about what to do and believe there is roughly a 50-50 split on staying or moving.
The club have appointed the architects Foster + Partners to come up with a “masterplan”. The company were behind Wembley Stadium.
Old Trafford has been United’s home since 1910.
The target is for completion by 2030.