Luton release incredible design pictures for new-look 23,000-seater stadium so they can compete in Premier League
LUTON have unveiled stunning design plans for their new-look stadium fit for the Premier League.
The Hatters are on the verge of returning to the top flight for the first time since 1992, and the first time since the creation of the Premier League.
And ahead of the Championship play-off final against Coventry on May 27, the club have released the pictures of their final design for their new 23,000-seater stadium at Power Court.
The new ground will be located just over a mile down the road from their current home at Kenilworth Road - which has drawn criticism ahead of potentially becoming a Prem ground as it sees fans enter the stadium THROUGH neighbours' gardens.
The new stadium would be situated in the heart of Luton town centre and act as the centrepeice for a regeneration programme on a 20-acre site by Luton Railway Station.
Luton also revealed on their club website that the groundworks for the new stadium should begin by the turn of the year.
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This is due to the progress being made with the relocation of the existing primary sub-station in the middle of the site, along with plans to open up the River Lea.
They estimate the construction period to take 24-30 months.
Luton chief executive Gary Sweet, who told Prem stars such as Erling Haaland to embrace Kenilworth in an interview with SunSport, spoke of his excitement on the project.
He said: "We’re delighted the infrastructure element is underway allowing us to develop the detail of the stadium’s design and, in particular, work hard to capture the core characteristics that makes Kenilworth Road so atmospheric, so intimate and so special to us.
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"This season, perhaps more than any other, has demonstrated the incredible relationship we all have with The Kenny and that has been the driving force behind our design work...
"We know everyone is desperate for the new stadium to open – as are we!
"It’s clearly a hugely complicated project but the main aim has always been to maintain the architectural quality and to deliver a stadium that replicates an essential, unique character we are all so familiar with but also fit and ready to grace the Premier League stage."
The designs shared by the club represent the first phase of the build, yielding a 19,500 strong capacity with a third as safe-standing.
This will be followed by a second phase which can see an expansion of 4,000, which can be developed depending on demand.
Michael Moran, Luton's chief operating officer, added: "The next phase now is an engagement with Luton Council and key stakeholders such as the Environment Agency and Historic England as we take them all through our detailed design process.
"We are also engaging with contractors as we finalise certain construction features but our target for completion is 2026, regardless of the Club’s league position.
"We also mustn’t lose sight of the fact the stadium is to be accompanied by a whole new town quarter for Luton with 1,200 homes, leisure, restaurants, bars, retail and community space.
"It is incredibly exciting to be at the forefront of the Borough’s wider regeneration plans."