Inside Hillsborough Stadium’s summer revamp as new owners launch safe standing and major upgrades

Sheffield Wednesday's new owners have wasted little time making their mark, with extensive work now taking place across Hillsborough ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

After years of supporters voicing concerns over the condition of the stadium under previous ownership, the summer has brought a wave of upgrades both inside the ground and behind the scenes.

Hillsborough Stadium undergoing major revamp ahead of the new season

According to The Wednesday Word's Joe Crann, work is currently taking place in almost every area of Hillsborough Stadium, as Arise Capital Partners look to modernise the club's ageing infrastructure.

The North Stand remains a major focus, with roof works being carried out to ensure it meets safety requirements.

The scale of the project is such that Sheffield Wednesday previously requested an away fixture on the opening weekend of the League One season to allow additional time for completion if needed.

A brand-new pitch is also being installed ahead of the new campaign, while improvements to the stadium's water systems are underway after long-standing issues with capacity.

If you missed it yesterday, here's a breakdown of a lot of the work that's happening at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough, training ground and Megastore…

Rebranding, re-laying, repairing and much more: https://t.co/W79mZaB48W #SWFC

— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) June 9, 2026

Elsewhere, plans are in place for a safe standing trial in the T1 section. If successful, the club hopes to expand safe standing into areas of both the Kop and West Stand in future.

Supporters can also expect new signage throughout the stadium, reflecting the club's updated branding, while discussions continue regarding restoring Hillsborough's capacity to previous levels.

Away from the stands, upgrades are planned for the club shop, training ground facilities and stadium connectivity, with owner David Storch promising the installation of “world-class” WiFi.

FGG says: Exactly what Hillsborough has needed

This feels like the sort of attention Hillsborough has needed for years.

While not every improvement will be immediately visible to supporters, many of the projects focus on basic infrastructure that has been neglected for far too long.

From water systems and safety works to safe standing and stadium branding, there appears to be a clear effort to modernise the club from top to bottom.

For Owls fans, perhaps the most encouraging aspect is simply seeing investment and activity happening across the stadium once again.

After years of frustration under Dejphon Chansiri, Hillsborough is finally getting some of the care and attention that a stadium of its history and stature deserves.