LEYTON ORIENT have announced plans to build a “transformational” new stadium that will host entertainment events as well as football matches.
The O’s have played their games at Brisbane Road, currently known as the BetWright Stadium, since 1937.
But the ground only has a capacity of 9,271 and a new stadium build has been on the agenda.
And those plans were ramped up after the club were taken over by American firm GSG LOFC earlier this year.
The company’s CEO David Gandler, who is majority shareholder at Orient, is leading the stadium project.
He says it will “secure the club’s long-term future” and boost the community in East London.
Gandler said: “We are committed to building upon the club’s inspiring history and its legacy as a beacon of hope in our diverse and vibrant community.
“This project will not only secure Leyton Orient’s long-term future but will also lay the groundwork for a new home that delivers lasting value for the community and protects the club’s pledge to offering affordable football in the heart of East London.”
The club said they were hoping to provide a “world class destination for football, global sport, innovation and entertainment”, with a sports campus to go alongside the new ground.
Orient said a more modern stadium would support their ambitions to play in the Championship, while providing a “catalyst for economic growth and job creation”.
CEO Mark Devlin added: “A new venue is critical for us to continue our growth and success.
“While Brisbane Road holds a special place in our history, its current limitations prevent us from achieving our full potential both on and off the pitch.
“A move is a necessary evolution to help us achieve our ambition of one day competing in the Championship and to create a financially sustainable future for the club, our supporters and our community.”
Orient is working alongside Waltham Forest Council on the project, with a new housing development also earmarked as part of the plans.
The club hope to complete the new stadium in time for their 150th anniversary in 2031.
They said the next steps were to assess the feasibility of the project alongside the council before moving through legal and planning procedures.
Orient are not the only EFL club plotting a new ground in the upcoming years.
Oxford United recently announced plans to build a 16,000-seater stadium as they approach the end of their licence at the Kassam Stadium.
Meanwhile, Championship high-flyers Coventry are also considering building a new stadium on the site of nearby Butts Park Arena.
Read the full article here