Newly-promoted club warned stadium they only moved into in 2021 is already “too small” for ambitions

York City have only just celebrated their long-awaited return to the Football League, but questions are already being asked about whether their current stadium can support the club’s long-term ambitions.

The Minstermen sealed promotion back to League Two in dramatic fashion last month, yet local MP Luke Charters believes the club may eventually need a bigger home despite only moving into the York Community Stadium in 2021.

York City told LNER Community Stadium is too small after promotion to League Two

York City’s return to the EFL has reignited debate over the future of the club’s stadium situation.

The club currently play at the 8,500-capacity LNER Community Stadium, which they share with rugby league side York Knights.

Opened in 2021, the venue replaced Bootham Crescent and was initially seen as a major step forward for the club after years of uncertainty.

However, local MP Luke Charters believes York may already outgrow the ground if the club continues progressing.

“We need to get all the stakeholders together to talk about this next season,” he said. “The current stadium is too small for our ambitions, we’ve outgrown it.”

York’s attendances have steadily increased since the move. Their average crowd rose from 3,448 in 2021/22 to 6,657 during the 2025/26 National League title-winning campaign, with the highest attendance reaching 8,219, close to capacity.

The stadium also hosts academy games for Hull City, Leeds United and Sheffield United alongside York Knights fixtures.

FGG says: York City concerns about long-term growth are understandable

Right now, the LNER Community Stadium isn’t ‘too small' in any practical sense.

With average crowds just under 6,700, there is still room to spare, even if a return to League Two could see demand rise significantly next season.

The concerns that do exist are rooted in wider issues, and they’re far easier to understand.

The stadium’s out‑of‑town location has never won universal approval from both home and away fans. Compared with the much more central Bootham Crescent, matchday travel can feel like an effort, and the lack of pubs, bustle and football culture around the ground inevitably affects the atmosphere.

Then there’s the question of ownership and control. York City do not own the stadium, and shared‑use venues often come with limitations on expansion, on revenue streams, and on long‑term planning. That uncertainty naturally makes supporters uneasy.

For now, promotion and momentum matter far more than stadium debates. But if York continue climbing the pyramid, these conversations won’t fade away, they will only become more pressing.