An Elland Road expansion has been on the agenda for several years, but rumours have increased since 49ers Enterprises first bought a minority stake in Leeds United in 2018.
In the summer of 2023, the group bought out then-majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani, and the group has big plans for the club, including the stadium.
Here is what we know so far about the possible Elland Road expansion.
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Does Elland Road need an expansion?
Leeds United are the only professional football club in the city of Leeds, which naturally means the club has a huge following. Not only that, but their success in the 1970s means that the club has quite a large overseas following, too.
Therefore, it isn't a surprise that Elland Road is sold out on a weekly basis. This isn't just a Premier League thing, either, as the stadium was full on a regular basis during their recent two-year stint in the championship.
As a result, you'd have to say that yes, Elland Road does need expanding to meet the ever-growing demand for Leeds tickets, as demonstrated by their 20,000+ strong season ticket waiting list.
The real question is how much bigger would suffice?
October 2025 update – New architects appointed
Leeds United have appointed new architects to oversee the Elland Road expansion project, despite KSS Design Group working on the blueprints for the stadium for several months. Leeds-based firm, BDP, have taken the job over, which coulds see a slight delay in construction work beginning.
BDP architect director Luke Harrison said:
“Elland Road is the heart of Leeds United and the city itself. We know what this club means to its supporters and the wider community, and that’s why we understand the responsibility to create a legacy here.”
“With our studio team in Leeds already shaping development across the city, we can really bring the stadium expansion into our design thinking and take it to the next level. Our aim is simple: to design a ground that honours the club’s history, tells its story, and gives Leeds United and its fans a stadium that matches their ambition for the future.”
July 2025 update – Planning application moves forward
On 8 July, Leeds officially submitted a planning application to the City Council, outlining the proposed improvements at Elland Road. The application includes work on the West Stand, alongside an outline proposal for the North Stand; together, they're designed to boost stadium capacity to approximately 53,000.
The club's redevelopment emerges as part of a larger push toward urban regeneration – something that we have seen in cities like Manchester and Birmingham.
The 49ers Enterprises, now part of Leeds' ownership group, has reportedly secured land options around Elland Road for future development, with a view of pumping significant investment into the area.
June 2025 update – Council submit new proposals for the area surrounding Elland Road
It was recently reported that the Leeds City Council have launched a refreshed consultation into the regeneration plans for the area surrounding Elland Road. The plans focus on a perimeter of approximately 30 acres around the Elland Road, and while not directly linked to the expansion itself, they are part of the same regeneration plan.
The council believes its plans, which include the potential to build up to 2,000 new homes, could attract multi-billion-pound investment into the area. Leeds Council will also consult local residents over potential improvements to car parking facilities and restrictions.
Deputy Leader for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, said: “Our proposals for Elland Road represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity of national significance to create a new neighbourhood, carefully integrated within South Leeds, which will deliver new homes, create jobs and provide major leisure opportunities, along with community and educational facilities that will benefit new and existing communities.”
As mentioned, these plans are directly related to the Elland Road expansion. The project is part of a wide regeneration scheme in the area and is expected to boost the local economy significantly.
May 2025 update – Elland Road mass transit link key to unlocking billions in investment
A return to the Premier League means Leeds United have a lot in store ahead of a busy 2025/26 season. The Peacocks finished top of the Championship with 100 points, ahead of Burnley on goal difference.
With Elland Road development being a top agenda item in the club's plans, a recent club meeting held on 8 May, attended by Leeds chief business officer Morrie Eisenberg and several council members, resolved to address the stadium's parking issue.
While speaking at the meeting, Eisenberg indicated that there was no guaranteed solution to the issue. He affirmed that the issue of parking is a shared responsibility between the club and the council and should be addressed in a couple of months.
At least 200 people have so far sent their feedback regarding Elland Road redevelopment to Leeds United. The council is set to review the formal application on 3 July 2025, before which the club is expected to share public feedback.
Meanwhile, transport bosses in the area have said that works at Leeds Stadium, which include a potential mass transit link, are key to unlocking billions of pounds in investment for the area. This, they say, will make Elland a busy destination throughout the year.
April 2025 update – Leeds unveil concept images
In late April 2025, Leeds United released concept images of an “Enhanced Elland Road”.
This came after the Leeds City Council unanimously agreed to the regeneration project, and will now be discussed further on 8 May at a Plans Panel meeting.
Much of the work proposed will take place in the North and West Stands; however, the club have also revealed that some renovations will be made to the South Stand too.
A statement from the club read: An evolution of what makes Elland Road great, the revitalisation of the West and North Stands, along with changes to the South Stand, will provide greatly improved general admission and hospitality facilities, to help meet the demand for tickets, with 26,000 supporters currently on the club’s season ticket waiting list.”
Leeds also announced that fans will now have the opportunity to attend a public exhibition at the Centenary Pavilion at Elland Road, which will be open from 22 May to 23 May.
There will also be two consultation events open to the public in the month of May. The first of which will be hosted at The Holbeck Club on 13 May, and the second will be hosted at The Dragon Pub on 19 May.
January 2025 update – Leeds to accelerate Elland Road redevelopment
Top executives at Leeds United remain committed to modernising Elland Road in line with the club's ambitions. So while redevelopment timelines remain flexible, everything is pegged on the club's financial health and earning promotion back to the Premier League.
The Peacocks are currently top of the Championship. However, the promotion race remains tight, so a lot may change in the coming weeks. They have been the best home team, losing just once in 15 home matches.
Author and Sports Finance expert Dan Plumley opines that in the wake of at least 20,000 fans on the Leeds ticket waiting list, the club has no choice but to expand Elland Road. It is the only way of accommodating the swelling number of supporters looking to attend matches.
In the 2022/23 season, the club's matchday income was approximately £30 million, equivalent to around £1.5 million per matchday. With that, an expanded Elland Road will bring in more money to the club, especially in the wake of the financial crunch that has hit most football clubs in Europe.
Leeds United is now owned by 49ers Enterprises after the English Football League approved a £170 million takeover.
December 2024 update – Elland Road atmosphere key in expansion plans
Leeds United released a statement in September 2024 confirming that Elland Road will be expanded and that the new capacity will be 53,000.
The expansion aims to modernise Elland Road while preserving the intense atmosphere that the stadium has always been famed for. The expansion work will focus on the North and West Stands and will be executed in phases to ensure minimal disruption.
The statement read:
“The existing stadium has a capacity of 37,645 seats, with regeneration set to increase that to circa 53,000, with greatly improved general admission and hospitality facilities.
“The club, along with owners 49ers Enterprises, have brought in specialist acoustic consultants to ensure Elland Road’s unique atmosphere is retained. A local transport consultant has been commissioned to help plan access routes and manage traffic flows during construction.
“Critically, the club and the professional team will also be looking closely at matchday travel plans to ensure an improvement in the experience for both residents and supporters arriving at the ground.”
When will Elland Road be expanded?
Now that Leeds are back in the Premier League, these plans could be accelerated, particularly if the club can dig in and establish themselves as regulars in the division.
However, the club's chairman, Paraag Marathe, has gone on record in the past to say that the plans aren't dependent on which division he club is in. Back when the club were in the Championship, he said:
“It’s been reported that nothing’s going to happen until we get to the Premier League — that’s a little bit of a myth. We still have all of the make-ready work we have to do before shovels are in the ground, it really doesn't matter if we are in the Championship or the Premier League.
“If you ask me a year from now, it might be a little bit more complicated because at that point, I’d be ready with a shovel.”
The plan, as present, is for the project to be completed by the end of 2028.
What would an expanded Elland Road look like?
If the San Francisco 49ers' home stadium, Levi's Stadium, is anything to go by, Elland Road could become a futuristic phenomenon. However, Marathe is keen to ensure that the ‘magic and electricity' of Elland Road isn't lost. He recently told reporters:
“I’ll be honest with you, the main thing is to protect the magic and electricity that is in Elland Road. Players of other clubs, if they are going to list the three worst places that they want to play on the road for an away match, Elland Road is probably one, two, or three for them. I don’t want to take that away.”