KC Stadium

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Kingston Communications Stadium
nickname = The Circle


location = The Circle, Walton Street, Anlaby Road, Hull, England HU3 6HU
broke_ground = 2001
opened = 2002
owner = Hull City Council
operator = Stadium Management Company
surface = Grass interwoven with astro-turf
construction_cost = £44m GBP
architect = The Miller Partnership
former_names =
tenants = Hull City A.F.C. (Premier League) (2003–present)
Hull FC (Rugby League Super League) (2003–present)
seating_capacity = 25,404 (Football and rugby league) cite web | title = The Kingston Communications Stadium - Facts | url = http://www.kcstadium.co.uk/feature.asp?catid=10&subcatid=1 | work = Kingston Communications Stadium | publisher = Stadium Management Company |year = 2007 | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ]

The Kingston Communications Stadium, often shortened to KC Stadium or just the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull (Hull), England. Conceived as early as the late 1990s,cite web
title =Full Circle
publisher =Kingston upon Hull City Council
work = Hull in print
year = 2003
url = http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/hullinprint/archive/december2002/full_circle.php
accessdate =2007-08-12] it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately GB£44 million. It is named after the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider Kingston Communications. The stadium is owned by Hull City Council and operated by the Stadium Management Company (SMC).

The bowl-shaped stadium contains a continuous single tier of seats with a second tier on the west side. Its current capacity is 25,404. The stadium accommodates fans of its two tenants, association football club Hull City A.F.C., which moved there from Boothferry Park, and rugby league football club Hull FC, relocated from the Boulevard. cite web | title = Club History 1950 - 2002 | url = http://www.hullfc.com/hullfc/contents/?page_id=496 | work = Welcome to the Official Hull FC Website | publisher = Hull FC | year = 2008 | accessdate = 2008-09-22] The ground also hosts international association football and rugby league football competitions and acts as a venue for concerts by musical artists, such as Elton John and The Who.

History

The idea of a new stadium for Kingston upon Hull was first mooted in 1997, but funds to finance such a project only became available when the city council sold a portion of its holdings in Kingston Communications. The council provided most of the funds, more than GB£42 million, with the rest stemming from government single regeneration budget grants and from the Football Stadium Improvement Fund.

The council appointed John Topliss to head the stadium construction project. He and his team partnered with consulting firm Drivers Jonas to explore preliminary issues such as stadium location, seating capacity, and facilities offered. Stated Mr. Topliss: "We had a totally blank canvas and, working with consultants, made a thorough assessment of what was needed."

The project team considered over a dozen sites, inside and outside of the city, before settling on The Circle in West Park. Factors contributing to the decision include transport guidance, central government planning guidelines, existing athletic facilities, isolation from residential areas, and council ownership.

The final recommendation of Drivers Jonas included additional facilities for both indoor and outdoor sports for the people of West Hull in addition to the main stadium, planned to seat from 25,000 to 30,000 spectators. Professional services firm Arup Associates provided initial concept proposals for the stadium. The Miller Partnership, an architectural and interior design firm, adopted these proposals during the stadium's design.

Outline planning permission for the project was granted in December 2000, with Birse Construction Limited named as the main contractor the following year. [ cite web | title = Circle construction log | url = http://www.ambernectar.org/construction.shtml | publisher = Amber Nectar | accessdate = 2008-09-22]

In spite of a number of obstacles during the course of the project, including Hull City A.F.C.'s receivership in 2001 (just after the granting of planning permission), the stadium complex was completed on time (in fourteen months) and on budget (at approximately GB£44 million). The stadium opened its doors on 18 December 2002. Hull City beat Sunderland A.F.C. 1–0 in a friendly match to mark the occasion. cite web | title = Home From Home | url = http://www.hullcityafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Stadium/0,,10338,00.html | publisher = Hull City AFC | accessdate = 2007-06-01] Steve Melton scored the goal, the first at the KC Stadium.cite web
title = History Of The Tigers
url = http://www.hullcityafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10338,00.html
work = Hull City afc: the tigers: Official Site
publisher = Hull City Football Club & FL Interactive Ltd.
date = 2007-05-18
accessdate = 2007-06-16]

tructure and facilities

Hull FC

Hull FC play their home games at the stadium, having relocated from the Boulevard. During their time at the KC Stadium, they have consistently ended each season on a high note: in 2003, the team just missed play-off qualification; in 2004, the club finished third. They finished fourth in 2005, and enjoyed even greater success in the Challenge Cup, in which they beat the Leeds Rhinos in the final. cite web | title = Club History 2003 - To Date | url = http://www.hullfc.com/hullfc/contents/?page_id=473 | work = Welcome to the Official Hull FC Website | publisher = Hull FC | year = 2008 | accessdate = 2008-09-22] Hull FC reached the Super League Grand Final in 2006. cite web | title = 2006 Super League Grand Final | url = http://www.hullfcpics.com/pics_3550/2006-Super-League-Grand-Final.html | work = Hull FC Photo Prints | publisher = Hull FC | year = 2007 | accessdate = 2007-08-06] Attendances average around 14,000, but are often well above that figure when the club hosts local rivals Hull Kingston Rovers, cite web | title = Fixtures/Results 2007 | url = http://www.hullfc.com/index.php?/fixtures | publisher = Hull FC | accessdate = 2007-06-01 ] this local derby producing a record crowd of 23,004 for the 2 September 2007 fixture.

Other sporting events

The stadium has hosted several England Under-21s association football games; in fact, a crowd of 25,280 attended one under-21 match between England and the Netherlands in early 2004. cite web | title = Football Ground Guide: Hull City | url = http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/park/yfh45/hull.htm | work = The Internet Football Grounds Guide | publisher = Duncan Adams | date = 2007-04-06 | accessdate = 2007-08-06 ] The KC Stadium is now also a regular venue for international rugby league games, and has hosted Great Britain matches in both the Tri-Nations and the Ashescite web
title = What are the Ashes all about?
work = BBC Sport Academy
publisher = The British Broadcasting Corporation
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/rugby_league/features/newsid_3197000/3197488.stm
accessdate = 2007-08-05 ] competitions. The stadium hosted the 2004 Tri-nations match in which New Zealand lost by a score of 26–24.cite web
title = Gillette Rugby League Tri-Nations 2004
work = Virtual Rugby League Hall of Fame
publisher = Rugby League Hall of Fame
year = 2004
url = http://www.rlhalloffame.org.uk/tri04.htm
accessdate = 2007-08-05 ] The stadium also hosted the Tri-Nations game between Great Britain and Australia in 2005; the final score was 26–14 to Australia.cite web
title = Gillette Rugby League Tri-Nations 2005
work = Virtual Rugby League Hall of Fame
publisher = Rugby League Hall of Fame
year = 2005
url = http://www.rlhalloffame.org.uk/tri05.htm
accessdate = 2007-08-05 ] It is rumoured that World Wrestling Entertainment will be bringing their flagship Raw program to the stadium in 2009.Fact|date=May 2008

Concerts

As well as serving as a sporting venue, the KC Stadium also hosts musical events, including such artists as Sir Elton John,cite web
title = Concert Gallery
work = Kingston Communications Stadium
publisher = Stadium Management Company
year = 2006
url = http://www.kcstadium.co.uk/feature.asp?catid=22&subcatid=47
accessdate = 2007-08-05 ] Bryan Adams, R.E.M. and The Who.cite web
title = The Who Return To Rock Europe
work = Kingston Communications Stadium
publisher = Stadium Management Company
date = 2007-02-14
url = http://www.kcstadium.co.uk/newsstory.asp?id=636
accessdate = 2007-08-05 ] However, while performances by such artists as Elton John and Neil Diamond have sold out, other acts, such as R.E.M. and Bon Jovi, have failed to play to capacity crowds.cite web
title = Who Enjoyed the Gig?
publisher = Mail News & Media Ltd
work = thisishullandeastriding.co.uk
date = 2007-05-28
url = http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=136242&command=displayContent&sourceNode=228411&home%20=yes&more_nodeId1=136251&contentPK=17423976
accessdate =2007-09-01] As a result, stadium management is considering an end to the KC Stadium as a concert venue.

Photo gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.kcstadium.co.uk/ Kingston Communications Stadium (kcstadium.co.uk)]
* [http://www.kcstadium.com/ Kingston Communications Stadium (kcstadium.com)]