GetWiki

{{short description|Football stadium in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England}}{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}{{about|the football ground in Middlesbrough}}

factoids

| fullname = Riverside Stadium| location = Middlesbrough, England TS3 6RS544211type:landmark|display=inline,title}}| built = 1994–1995| opened = 26 August 1995| renovated = 1998gbMiddlesbrough railway station>MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.>MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.>Middlesbrough| surface = Grass WORK=GAZETTELIVE.CO.UK, 25 February 2007, Arup Group>Arup | general_contractor = Taylor Woodrow WORK=MIDDLESBROUGH F.C., 21 March 2019, Middlesbrough F.C.>Middlesbrough (1995–present)Middlesbrough Women (2023–present)PUBLISHER=MFC.CO.UK, 26 August 2019, Norwich City F.C.>Norwich City, 28 December 2004)Overall: 35,000 (England national football team v Slovakia national football team>Slovakia, 11 June 2003)}}The Riverside Stadium is a football stadium in Middlesbrough, England, which has been the home of Middlesbrough since opening in 1995. Its current capacity is 34,742,WEB,weblink Middlesbrough, efl.com, 26 August 2019, WEB,weblink Riverside Stadium's new capacity confirmed after Boro's relegation to Championship, Brown, Mike, 8 July 2017, 14 July 2017, all seated, although provisional planning permission is in place to expand to 42,000 if required.Middlesbrough Women were affiliated into Middlesbrough in May 2023 and will now play selected matches at the Riverside Stadium.WEB,weblink Club Welcomes Middlesbrough FC Women, 26 May 2023, Middlesbrough Football Club, 26 May 2023,

History

The stadium was built to replace Ayresome Park after the Taylor Report, which required all top division football stadiums to be all-seater. After the report was delivered in January 1990, Middlesbrough needed an all-seater stadium by August 1994, and were unable to expand Ayresome Park outwards owing to its location in a residential area, and expanding the stadium upwards would have limited the club to a capacity of around 20,000 seats – the club wanted a considerably larger capacity. The decision was taken by club officials to build a new stadium; Teesside Development Corporation offered them the Middlehaven site by the River Tees for development.The new 30,000 seater stadium was constructed by Taylor Woodrow ConstructionWEB,weblink The Riverside Stadium Info, MFC.co.uk, Middlesbrough F.C., 9 April 2011, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140226012458weblink">weblink 26 February 2014, dmy-all, for £16 million, taking approximately nine months to complete after work began in the autumn of 1994. The name of the stadium was chosen by the club's fans, following a vote during the final game at Ayresome Park. The other choices available were Middlehaven Stadium, Erimus Stadium and Teesside Stadium. When first opened, the name was amended to Cellnet Riverside Stadium (and then BT Cellnet Riverside Stadium) as part of a £3 million sponsorship deal with Cellnet, but this deal ended after the 2001–02 season.WEB,weblink Middlesbrough FC news, Boro transfer rumours, fixtures and more from the Riverside - GazetteLive, www.gazettelive.co.uk, 16 April 2021, The first game was played against Chelsea in front of a 28,286 crowd (the highest home attendance in 14 years) on 26 August 1995.Boro 2 Chelsea 0, 26 August 1995 | Middlesbrough | History | Great Games |Great Games {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908081630weblink |date=8 September 2008 }} Middlesbrough won the game 2–0, with Craig Hignett taking the honour of scoring the first ever goal at the stadium, Jan Ã…ge Fjørtoft scoring the second. Their first season at their new stadium was also their first back in the Premier League following promotion after two seasons away.In their second season at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough were runners-up in both of the domestic cups, but a points deduction in the league meant that they were relegated from the Premier League.In 1998 – when Middlesbrough were promoted back to the Premier League at the first attempt – the capacity was increased by 5,000 by filling in the north and south-west corners at a cost of £5 million. This expansion gave the stadium a 35,100 capacity. Modernisation of the stadium since then has led to the seating being reorganised on several occasions with the stadium currently having a capacity of 34,000 (2017-18 season).NEWS,weblink Riverside Stadium's new capacity confirmed after Boro's relegation to Championship, Gazette Live Website, 8 July 2017, 14 July 2017, The club have the Council's permission to extend the stadium by another 7,000 if demand made it necessary, which would bring its capacity up to approximately 42,000.(File:Borobrick War Heroes.JPG|thumb|right|200px|War heroes in the Borobrick Road)In 2005 the club resurrected the old Ayresome Park gates which had been famously locked when the club went into liquidation. They were erected outside the Riverside Stadium as a reminder of the past. Another addition has been statues of former players, George Hardwick, Wilf Mannion & George Camsell in front of the old Ayresome park gates is the location for the "Borobrick Road", where fans could pay to have a message inscribed on a brick (often in memory of a deceased family member) to be added to the road. For Armistice Day 2008, a set of bricks commemorating 8 players who died in the World Wars was unveiled.www.mfc.co.uk {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825200833weblink |date=25 August 2010 }} Boro remember fallen heroesIn July 2008, planning permission was granted by Middlesbrough Council to construct a wind turbine at the site of the stadium, standing 125 metres high and capable of generating 3 megawatts of electricity. The turbine will be used to power the stadium, with the excess being sold to the National Grid.NEWS,weblink Boro wind turbine given go ahead, Evening Gazette, 8 July 2008, 8 July 2008, On 24 April 2012, it was announced that the stadium would host the only public warm up match for the Great Britain Olympic football team before the London 2012 Olympic Games against Brazil. Football stars including Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy, Thiago Silva, Neymar, Lucas Moura and Hulk all featured in the match in which Brazil outclassed Great Britain, winning 2–0.On 15 March 2013, it was announced that Conference National side Gateshead would stage a "home" game at the Riverside Stadium, after continual drainage problems at Gateshead International Stadium caused them to play their last 12 league games of the season at five different venues.NEWS,weblink Ebbsfleet Game at Boro, Gateshead FC, 15 March 2013, 15 March 2013, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130319131814weblink">weblink 19 March 2013, dmy-all, NEWS,weblink Hyde Game at Croft Park, Gateshead FC, 28 February 2013, 15 March 2013, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130302232920weblink">weblink 2 March 2013, dmy-all, NEWS,weblink Media Watch – Gateshead look at alternatives, Gateshead FC, 13 February 2013, 15 March 2013, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130623050244weblink">weblink 23 June 2013, dmy-all, Following the club's promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2015–16 season, the ground underwent a £5 million package of renovations designed to bring it up to the standards required of Premier League stadiums. Renovations included the installation of a large press box at the back of the East Stand, the construction of two permanent TV studios at the back of the South East Corner, with associated access and TV compound on the stadium's exterior, an internal reorganisation of the West Stand reception, tunnel and changing room area, new floodlights and refurbished concourse areas including the addition of new kiosks and card and contactless payment methods.File:MFC Riverside Exterior.JPG|Exterior viewFile:MFC Riverside Interior.JPG|Interior viewFile:George Hardwick Statue MFC.jpg|Statue of George Hardwick (1920–2004)File:Wilf Mannion Statue MFC.jpg|Statue of Wilf Mannion (1918–2000)File:Middlesbrough's Promotion 2015-16 (7 May 2016).png|2015-16 Promotion Celebrations

Stadium details

The stadium is fully enclosed with every seat offering an uninterrupted view of the pitch. The four main stands are commonly known as the North, East, West and South stands. The corners are referred to as the North-East, North-West, South-East and South-West corners. Concourses run around the entirety of the ground with kiosks serving food and drink.The North stand backs on to the River Tees and at the back of the Stand is some of the vocal support is housed, and thus is also known as the New Holgate End in reference the Holgate End at Ayresome Park, where the similar vocal supporters were located.The West stand runs along the length of the pitch and is the stadium's largest stand. The stand contains a number of executive boxes along its length as well as restaurants etc. The stand houses the changing rooms, and the players tunnel emerges from the middle of the stand. White seating in the top tier spells out the club's nickname "BORO".The East stand greets the players as they walk out the tunnel. The main television gantry was relocated to the top of the stand from the west stand in 2016. White seating in the top tier of the stand spells out "MFC". The roof houses five flagpoles with various flags flying, usually representing the league and cup competitions the club are participating in, as well as a flag of the team crest. A new press box was installed at the back of this stand in preparation for the club's re-entry into the Premier League. The East stand houses a Family Zone (North East end) and also visiting supporters (South East Corner). Prior the 2016–17 season, two permanent television studios were installed at the back of the South East Corner, on either side of the existing giant TV screen. One effect of this was a reduction in overall capacity.The South stand previously housed visiting supporters (now relocated to the South-East corner), but since the 2013–14 season is currently occupied by home supporters. The stand houses the vocal Boro "ultras" group "Red Faction" who are known to organise tifo.WEB, Vickers, Anthony, 2018-10-13, Red Faction's 10-year journey from naughty step to pride of place,weblink 2023-12-27, Teesside Live, en,

Records and statistics

• Record Attendance (all teams): 35,000 England v Slovakia, 11 June 2003, (Euro 2004 qualifier)
• Record Attendance (Middlesbrough): 34,836 v Norwich City, 28 December 2004 (FA Premier League)

{{col-begin}}{{col-4}}{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center width=60%"|+League attendances (pre 1998 extension)! style="width:12%;"| Season! style="width:20%;"| League! style="width:10%;"| Position! style="width:12%;"| High! style="width:12%;"| Low! style="width:12%;"| Average! style="width:12%;"| Capacity{{efn|All seats per safety certificate (including seats unavailable for sale due to segregation).}}! style="width:10%;"| % Full1995-96Premier League1230,01127,88229,28330,00098%1996-97Premier League1930,21529,48529,84830,00099%1997-98First Division230,22829,41429,99430,000100%{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center width=60%"|+League attendances (post 1998 extension)! style="width:12%;"| Season! style="width:20%;"| League! style="width:10%;"| Position! style="width:12%;"| High! style="width:12%;"| Low! style="width:12%;"| Average! style="width:12%;"| Capacity{{efn|All seats per safety certificate (including seats unavailable for sale due to segregation).}}! style="width:10%;"| % Full1998-99Premier League934,68733,38734,38635,10098%1999–00Premier League1234,80031,40033,39335,10095%2000–01Premier League1434,69627,96530,74735,10088%2001–02Premier League1234,35824,18928,45935,10081%2002–03Premier League1134,81427,44331,02535,10088%2003–04Premier League1134,73826,72130,97735,10088%2004–05Premier League734,83629,60332,01235,10091%2005–06Premier League1431,90825,97128,46335,10081%2006–07Premier League1233,30823,63827,73035,10079%2007–08Premier League1333,95222,96326,70835,10076%2008–09Premier League1933,76724,02028,42934,988HTTPS://WWW.MFC.CO.UK/CLUB-COMMUNITY/CLUB/RIVERSIDE-STADIUM >TITLE=MFC.CO.UK » CLUB » RIVERSIDE STADIUM ACCESS-DATE=2 APRIL 2020, 81%2009–10Championship1127,34214,03819,94834,98857%2010–11Championship1223,55013,71216,26934,98846%2011–12Championship727,79414,36617,55834,98850%2012–13Championship1628,22913,68316,79434,98848%2013–14Championship1223,67912,79315,74834,74245%2014–15Championship433,38114,97019,56234,74256%2015–16Championship233,80619,96624,62734,74271%2016–17Premier League1932,70427,31630,44933,746HTTPS://WWW.PREMIERLEAGUE.COM/CLUBS/13/MIDDLESBROUGH/STADIUM>TITLE=PREMIER LEAGUE 2016/2017 » CLUBS » STADIUMS ACCESS-DATE=2 APRIL 2020, 90%2017–18Championship529,43322,84825,54434,000HTTPS://WWW.GAZETTELIVE.CO.UK/NEWS/TEESSIDE-NEWS/BOROS-RIVERSIDE-STADIUM-CAPACITY-APPROVED-14885954 >TITLE=GAZETTE LIVE » BORO'S RIVERSIDE STADIUM CAPACITY APPROVED AHEAD OF 2018/19 SEASON ACCESS-DATE=2 APRIL 2020, 75%2018–19Championship730,88121,01623,217HTTPS://WWW.WORLDFOOTBALL.NET/ATTENDANCE/ENG-CHAMPIONSHIP-2018-2019/1/ >TITLE=CHAMPIONSHIP 2018/2019 » ATTENDANCE » HOME MATCHES ACCESS-DATE=20 JULY 2019, 34,000HTTPS://WWW.GAZETTELIVE.CO.UK/SPORT/FOOTBALL/FOOTBALL-NEWS/RIVERSIDE-STADIUM-CAPACITY-CONFIRMED-MEETING-16532501 >TITLE=GAZETTE LIVE » RIVERSIDE STADIUM CAPACITY TO BE CONFIRMED AT MEETING AHEAD OF BORO'S 2019/20 SEASON ACCESS-DATE=2 APRIL 2020, 68%2019–20Championship1725,31317,96119,933{{efnPUBLISHER=WORLDFOOTBALL.NET, 16 September 2020, 34,000HTTPS://WWW.GAZETTELIVE.CO.UK/SPORT/FOOTBALL/FOOTBALL-NEWS/RIVERSIDE-STADIUM-CAPACITY-CONFIRMED-MEETING-16532501 >TITLE=GAZETTE LIVE » RIVERSIDE STADIUM CAPACITY TO BE CONFIRMED AT MEETING AHEAD OF BORO'S 2019/20 SEASON ACCESS-DATE=16 SEPTEMBER 2020, 59%2020–21Championship101,0001,0001,000{{efnPUBLISHER=WORLDFOOTBALL.NET, 7 July 2021, 34,000HTTPS://WWW.GAZETTELIVE.CO.UK/SPORT/FOOTBALL/FOOTBALL-NEWS/RIVERSIDE-STADIUM-CAPACITY-CONFIRMED-MEETING-16532501 >TITLE=GAZETTE LIVE » RIVERSIDE STADIUM CAPACITY TO BE CONFIRMED AT MEETING AHEAD OF BORO'S 2019/20 SEASON ACCESS-DATE=16 SEPTEMBER 2020, 3%2021–22Championship729,83217,93121,825HTTPS://WWW.WORLDFOOTBALL.NET/ATTENDANCE/ENG-CHAMPIONSHIP-2021-2022/1/ >TITLE=CHAMPIONSHIP 2021/2022 » ATTENDANCE » HOME MATCHES ACCESS-DATE=21 JUNE 2022, 34,00064%2022–23Championship432,18722,12426,012HTTPS://WWW.WORLDFOOTBALL.NET/ATTENDANCE/ENG-CHAMPIONSHIP-2022-2023/1/ >TITLE=CHAMPIONSHIP 2022/2023 » ATTENDANCE » HOME MATCHES ACCESS-DATE=8 JULY 2023, 34,00077%2023–24Championship831,71623,54526,905HTTPS://WWW.WORLDFOOTBALL.NET/ATTENDANCE/ENG-CHAMPIONSHIP-2023-2024/1/ >TITLE=CHAMPIONSHIP 2023/2024 » ATTENDANCE » HOME MATCHES ACCESS-DATE=14 MAY 2024, 34,00079%|The above does not include attendances for cup competitions or play off matches.Notes:{{notelist}}{{col-end}}

Other uses

International matches

Association football

Like its predecessor Ayresome Park, the Riverside Stadium has played host to international football. During the construction of the new Wembley Stadium, the England national football team toured the country, playing at varying grounds. The Riverside was chosen to host the Euro 2004 qualifying match against Slovakia on 11 June 2003.NEWS,weblink Riverside to host Slovakia clash, BBC Sport, 30 January 2003, 18 May 2008, England won the match 2–1 with a brace from Michael Owen after Vladimír Janočko had put Slovakia ahead. The match is also notable for pitting Middlesbrough's England defender Gareth Southgate against their own Slovakian striker at the time, Szilárd Németh.NEWS,weblink Clockwatch: Euro 2004 qualifiers, BBC Sport, 11 June 2008, 18 May 2008, In April 2021, it was announced that the Riverside Stadium would host two England friendly matches, against Austria and Romania, in preparation for the Euro 2020 Championship.NEWS,weblink Middlesbrough to host England friendlies, BBC Sport, 16 April 2021, In February 2022, the Riverside Stadium hosted 2 games of the Arnold Clark Cup, an invitational women's association football tournament featuring England, Canada, Germany and Spain.NEWS,weblink Arnold Clark Cup: England want to make tournament 'our own' says captain Leah Williamson, BBC Sport, 16 February 2022, {| class="wikitable"! Date !! !! Result !! !! Competition !! Attendance 216–1 >21|215–0 >212002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification >|ENG}} 2–1 {{fb2004 UEFA European Football Championship qualification >WORK=BBC SPORT, 16 February 2022, 213–1 >21|212–0 >212006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification >|214–0 >212013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification >|GBR}} 0–0 {{fbwWORK=BBC SPORT THEFA.COM/TEAMGB LONDON2012.COM, 16 February 2022, GBR}} 0–2 {{fbuBRA}} 2012 London Olympic Men's Friendly 24,721HTTPS://WWW.GAZETTELIVE.CO.UK/SPORT/FOOTBALL/FOOTBALL-NEWS/BRAZIL-WORLD-CUP-STARS-RIVERSIDE-7265147>TITLE=THE BRAZIL WORLD CUP STARS WHO PLAYED AT THE RIVERSIDE STADIUMACCESSDATE=16 FEBRUARY 2022, 2121WORK=BBC SPORT, 16 February 2022, 21212019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification >WORK=BBC SPORT, 16 February 2022, ENG}} 1–0 {{fb|ENG}} 1–0 {{fb| 17 February 2022 {{fbwSPA}} 2022 Arnold Clark Cup 17 February 2022 {{fbwCAN}} 2022 Arnold Clark Cup 8,769HTTPS://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/SPORT/FOOTBALL/60402710>TITLE=ENGLAND WOMEN 1-1 CANADA WOMENACCESSDATE=8 JULY 2022,

Rugby League

The Riverside Stadium was one of the venues for the 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup, hosting the penultimate group D match between Tonga and the Cook Islands. Tonga won by 92 points to 10 and thus qualified for the quarter-finals as group winners whilst the Cook Islands were eliminated from the competition.NEWS,weblink Tonga 92-10 Cook Islands: Tonga close Rugby League World Cup group in style, BBC Sport, 31 October 2022, {| class="wikitable"! Date !! !! Result !! !! Competition !! Attendance TON}} 92–10 {{rl2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup >| 8,342

Concerts

On 1 June 2019, Take That performed at the Riverside Stadium in front of 32,000 fans, as part of their 2019 30th Anniversary tour. They were supported by Rick Astley, the first time a concert had been held at the stadium.On 1 June 2022, The Killers, supported by the Manic Street Preachers, played at the stadium in front of 33,000 fans as part of the UK leg of their Imploding the Mirage tour.WEB,weblink PICTURES: Thousands flock to Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough to see The Killers, The Northern Echo, June 2022, 22 June 2022, On 5 June 2023, the Arctic Monkeys, supported by The Hives and The Mysterines, played at the stadium in front of 32,000 fans.WEB,weblink Riverside Gig Hands The Town A £1m Boost, 20 June 2023, Middlesbrough FC Website, 8 July 2023, {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"! style="width:100px;"| Date! style="width:350px;"| Artist(s)! style="width:80px;"| Attendance 1 June 2019Take That, Rick Astley,HTTPS://WWW.GAZETTELIVE.CO.UK/WHATS-ON/MUSIC-NIGHTLIFE-NEWS/LIVE-TAKE-THAT-MIDDLESBROUGH-RIVERSIDE-16355570DATE=2 JUNE 2019ACCESS-DATE=20 NOVEMBER 2019, 32,000 1 June 2022The Killers, Manic Street Preachers,HTTPS://WWW.GAZETTELIVE.CO.UK/NEWS/TEESSIDE-NEWS/FANS-SCRAMBLING-ARCTIC-MONKEYS-TICKETS-25147635WORK=TEESSIDE LIVE, 3 October 2022, 33,000 5 June 2023| Arctic Monkeys, The Hives, The Mysterines, 32,000 24 May 2024Take That, Olly Murs,HTTPS://WWW.MFC.CO.UK/NEWS/2023/SEPTEMBER/22/TAKE-THAT-TO-RETURN-TO-THE-RIVERSIDE-IN-2024/WORK=MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL CLUBACCESS-DATE=11 OCTOBER 2023, 8 June 2024James Arthur, McFly, Lauran Hibberd,HTTPS://WWW.MFC.CO.UK/RIVERSIDE-EVENTS/JAMES-ARTHUR-HOMECOMING-SHOW/WORK=MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB, 31 January 2024,

Milestone matches

{{footballbox collapsible|date = 26 August 1995British Summer Time>BSTEngland}} Middlesbrough|score = 2–0|report = Chelsea F.C.>Chelsea {{flagicon|England}}Craig Hignett>Hignett {{goalJan Åge Fjørtoft>Fjørtoft {{goal|77}}|goals2 = |stadium = 1995–96 FA Premier League First Match|attendance = 28,286Stephen Lodge (referee)>Stephen Lodge}}{{footballbox collapsible|date = 7 February 1996Greenwich Mean Time>GMTEngland}} Middlesbrough|score = 0–0|report = Wimbledon F.C.>Wimbledon {{flagicon|England}}|goals1 = |goals2 = 1995–96 FA Cup>1995–96 FA Cup R4 First FA Cup Match|attendance = 28,915|referee = Roger Dilkes}}{{footballbox collapsible|date = 11 June 2003British Summer Time>BSTEngland}} England|score = 2–1|report = Slovakia national football team>Slovakia {{flagicon|Slovakia}}|goals1 = |goals2 = |stadium = UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying Stadium Record Attendance (all teams)|attendance = 35,000|referee = }}{{footballbox collapsible|date = 28 December 2004Greenwich Mean Time>GMTEngland}} Middlesbrough|score = 2–0|report = Norwich City F.C.>Norwich City {{flagicon|England}}|goals1 = |goals2 = |stadium = 2004–05 FA Premier League Stadium Record Attendance (Middlesbrough)|attendance = 34,836|referee = Howard Webb}}{{footballbox collapsible|date = 17 September 2023British Summer Time>BSTEngland}} Middlesbrough|score = 0–0|report = Stockport County L.F.C.>Stockport County {{flagicon|England}}|goals1 = |goals2 = 2023–24 FA Women's National League#Division One North>2023–24 FA Women's National League Division One North First Middlesbrough F.C. Women's Match|attendance = 2,177|referee = }}

See also

• Development of stadiums in English football
• Lists of stadiums

References

{{Reflist|2}}

External links

{{Commons category|Riverside Stadium}}

• {{Structurae|id=20039528 |title=Riverside Stadium}}

{{Middlesbrough F.C.}}{{Premier League venues}}{{EFL Championship venues}}{{2021 RLWC Venues}}{{Middlesbrough}}{{Authority control}}