The Championship club’s old stadium is now unrecognizable as a 2,000-seater rugby ground
The former stadium of a CHAMPIONSHIP club looks unrecognizable after being transformed into a rugby pitch with a capacity of just 2,000.
The Sheffield Olympic Legacy Stadium is the home of the Sheffield Eagles rugby league.
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It was built between 2021 and 2022 and opened two years ago following a £10 million construction project.
The arena seats 2,000 people and also hosts the American football team Sheffield Giants.
It was also the previous home of Sheffield United Women.
But it looked very different when Championship side Rotherham played there.
The Sheffield Olympic Legacy Stadium was built on the site of Don Valley Stadium, which closed in 2013 and was demolished a year later.
Opened in 1990, the £29 million arena was the second largest athletics stadium in the country, seating 25,000 spectators.
That number doubled for concerts and similar events.
But it also played host to Rotherham when the club was without a home for four years.
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Between 2008 and 2012, up to 10,000 fans were allowed in for each match before Rotherham moved into New York’s stadium – where they remain to this day.
However, Don Valley Stadium was closed by Sheffield City Council 11 years ago as part of a £50 million budget cut.
The site, which was previously renovated in 2008, was completely demolished.
But in 2014 it was announced that an Olympic Legacy Park would be built over the remains.
In addition to the new stadium, the site now also contains an indoor sports arena and various schools.
It now hosts the Sheffield Eagles, who had also played at Don Valley Stadium and were forced to share ground in Doncaster, Rotherham and Wakefield until the Legacy Stadium opens in 2022.
Captain Anthony Thackeray said ahead of the opening: “It has been a long time coming.
“It’s very important for the club, the fans and everyone involved.”
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