York’s long-delayed new stadium may not be ready until October.
Fifteen years after plans were first proposed to create the new stadium, it was hit by fresh delays in February.
Now outgoing council leader Cllr Ian Gillies has said that he would be “disappointed if it wasn’t ready in the autumn” but he said he “would hope that it would be ready by October”.
City of York Council said it was unable to confirm an opening date and declined to comment on the progress of the scheme.
Developers are currently on the site of the stadium’s leisure complex, where work is being carried out to install seats in the West Stand and the swimming pools are being tiled.
No explanation
York City Knights will also not be able to move in during the current rugby league season as previously planned.
We revealed in February that the 8,000-seat stadium and leisure centre had been hit by fresh delays.
The site was due to open in July but the council were not able to say whether the project has been delayed by weeks or by months, or explain the reasons for the hold-up.
The Knights were due to play their last two home games of the current Betfred Championship season – against Bradford Bulls on July 20 and Featherstone Rovers on August 18 – at the Community Stadium, but were told this will not happen.
The delay means the clubs will continue to play at Bootham Crescent until the new stadium is ready. Both York City and York City Knights have been unavailable for comment.
A planning application to build 80 new homes on the ground was submitted by developers Persimmon at the end of January.