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York community stadium opening could be delayed by another two months

Still not open – the LNER Community Stadium. Photograph: YorkMix

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It’s looking like another football season might be all but over by the time the York stadium is able to open.

The LNER Community Stadium was set to be handed over to City of York Council today (Tuesday, February 4). But not one of the three essential test events have happened yet.

GLL – the stadium operators – said more details about when the events will take place will be revealed in the next few weeks.

Speaking on BBC Radio York council leader Cllr Keith Aspden said:

  • GLL will announce it over the coming weeks – and certainly in the next two months in terms of seeing those test events at the stadium.

    And then it’s really important that the council works with the contractors, and GLL as the leisure operators, to make sure it then runs as well as it can do for residents in the city.

Work towards opening

It’s a wee bit behind schedule… the Community Stadium sign that used to be on Jockey Lane in Huntington
If it takes another two months, that might mean York City first potential stadium home game would be their penultimate match of the season – barring playoff games – against Spennymoor Town on 13 April.

York City Knights had hoped to play all their season at the ground. At the moment the club’s website is saying the game against London Broncos on 8 March would be their first at LNER Community Stadium.

A two-month delay might knock that back till the Whitehave game on 10 April.

A spokesman for GLL said: “GLL are continuing to work with our partners building contractor Buckingham Group and other key stakeholders towards the successful opening of this great new stadium for York.

“We are rearranging the three test events which have to occur to enable a safety certificate to be issued and before the fist game can be played.

“We shall be giving further details of these as soon as we are able in the coming weeks.”

The test events were scheduled to take place in January but stadium bosses confirmed they had been cancelled.