Craven Park, Hull

Craven Park (currently known as the Sewell Group Craven Park Stadium for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby league stadium located in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Hull Kingston Rovers, one of two professional rugby league teams based in the city.

Not to be confused with Craven Park, Barrow-in-Furness or Old Craven Park.

Craven Park
Former namesMS3 Craven Park
KC/KCOM Lightstream Stadium
KCOM Craven Park
Hull College Craven Park
LocationKingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU9 5HE, England
Coordinates53°45′14″N 0°15′53″W
OwnerHull Kingston Rovers
Capacity12,225[1]
SurfaceGrass
Opened1989
Tenants
Hull Kingston Rovers (1989–present)
Hull Vikings (1995–2005)
Hull United (2015–2016)[2]

History

Hull Kingston Rovers moved to the new ground in 1989 from the Old Craven Park which was sited on Holderness Road.[3] The new stadium was the first in Rugby League to offer hospitality boxes. The stadium was the former home to the Hull Vikings speedway team, but they left when the ground was refurbished for Hull Kingston Rovers to use in the Super League. The first match was played against Trafford Borough with a full capacity 8,500 crowd to watch.[4] The club convincingly started the new era, and in that season were crowned Division Two champions.[5]

In 2006 the ground and pitch were substantially improved as the club sought a return to the top flight of English rugby league. Plans for Hull Kingston Rovers to move from Craven Park to a new purpose-built rugby league stadium to be constructed at a new, unconfirmed site were suggested in 2007, but shortly after this, Hull City Council, in partnership with Kingston Community Developments Limited and Hull Kingston Rovers, announced that terms for lease agreements had been reached to support the long-term future of Craven Park. These terms enabled investment and development of the stadium to move forward.

The initial phase of redeveloping Craven Park was the lease purchase of a temporary seated north stand from Wentworth Golf Club, replacing the use of the inadequate south terrace for visiting away fans.[6] Hull Kingston Rovers' second season in the Super League in 2008 coincided with work beginning on the extension of the standing terraced East Stand. This extension increased the capacity of the stand by 1,120 bringing its overall capacity to 4,750.[7] A similar extension to the opposite end of the stand, which would increase the capacity again by 1,200, was planned in 2009, but this expansion was placed on hold in 2011 as construction of a new North Stand took priority.[8][9]

Construction work on the new £8.2 million mixed facilities North Stand began in 2012 following the removal of the temporary Wentworth Golf Club stand. The new stand was initially projected to be completed halfway through the 2013 season with the opening match set to be a Hull FC derby,[10] however disputes between the club, Hull City Council and construction managers NPS saw the opening delayed to 2014. The disputes saw the North Stand cladded in sky blue rather than red as originally planned and club director Neil Hudgell fearing the stand would become a "glorified office block".[11] Following its opening, the new North Stand would be named the 'Colin Hutton North Stand' as a tribute to the former Hull KR coach and the Great Britain national rugby league team coach.[12]

A new attendance record was set at Craven Park in 2018, beating the previous record of 11,181 in the season opener against the Leeds Rhinos in 2015. 12,090 spectators attended the stadium to watch cross city rivals Hull FC defeat Hull Kingston Rovers in a Good Friday derby.[13][14]

A floodlight collapse in November 2018 saw Hull Kingston Rovers declare a 'major incident' and relocate players and staff to the University of Hull for off-season training. One pre-season match in 2019 was relocated and the club would return to Craven Park in late January using a temporary floodlight.[15]

The temporary seated South Stand in use in May 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic saw all Super League teams play behind closed doors at two neutral venues for a majority of the 2020 season and two rounds of the 2021 season, with only a handful of matches being played with no fans at Craven Park in 2021.[16] When crowds returned to season ticket holders only in May 2021, initial restrictions on crowd capacity would see the club erect a temporary seated stand over the disused South Stand, allowing a socially-distanced capacity of 6,000.[17] The temporary stand would be removed following the lifting of social distancing restrictions and replaced with a food and entertainment area on the site named 'Craven Streat', inspired by the fan park of Canadian Super League expansion team Toronto Wolfpack's Lamport Stadium and American football tailgate parties. The name references the Craven Street Football Ground, the site of Hull Kingston Rovers' first rugby league matches.[18]

Craven Park and adjacent land surrounding the stadium had previously been owned and operated by both Hull City Council and Kingston Community Developments Ltd, who had held a 250-year lease of the stadium, since Hull Kingston Rovers was rescued from administration in 2000.[19] Following a period of negotiations between the club and Hull City Council, Hull Kingston Rovers purchased full ownership of the stadium in March 2022, with the option to purchase 15 acres of surrounding land also included in the deal.[20]

With Craven Park under the ownership of Hull Kingston Rovers, the club plans to redevelop or improve parts of the ground. Plans have been proposed to build a sports campus, including new team training facilities, a 3G pitch, a gym and lecture hall, located on a site used for car parking near the South Terrace. The club also plans to demolish the Roger Millward West Stand and replace it with a new structure capable of hosting corporate facilities.[21][22] Other planned additions include a permanent electronic scoreboard and pitch-side electronic advertising hoardings.[23][24][25]

Layout

Colin Hutton North Stand
Colin Hutton North Stand

Capacity- 2,600 (seated)
The North Stand was originally a temporary stand from Wentworth Golf Club that was erected after the ground ceased being used as a speedway and greyhound racing venue.[6] In 2013, the new £8 million Colin Hutton North Stand opened for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup game between Papua New Guinea and France. The North Stand also houses the Enterprise Business Centre and Training Centre. There are 42 fully furnished offices which make up the Enterprise Units, all of which are located on different floors within the North Stand.

Hull College West Stand
Hull College West Stand

Capacity- 5,000 (seated)
The West Stand, also named after the club's greatest player Roger Millward, includes the main seated stand a small terraced area, 'The Colin McNicol Well', below executive boxes, which holds around 500 fans and is also home to a large mural, painted in 2018, that celebrates Hull's maritime heritage.[26] The stand houses the stadium's main changing rooms that were redeveloped before the 2014 season to improve the size and facilities of the changing room.[27] Inside the stand there is The Robins Nest, Flanagan's Bar, named after former player Peter Flanagan and The Harry Poole Bar for home and away fans. This is a restaurant with pitch side views and exclusive player and coach interviews after a match. The stand also houses the TV gantry.

Compendium Living East Stand
Compendium Living East Stand

Capacity- (standing)
The East Stand is considered the Kop end of the ground and is covered terrace that runs almost the full length of the pitch. The right side was extended in 2008,[7] and the left side is planned for future expansion, however the project was placed on hold in 2011 due to the development of the North Stand.[8][9]

'Craven Streat'
'Craven Streat', sited on the South Terrace

Previously a small bank of terracing at the south end of the ground. 'Craven Streat' offers live stage entertainment, Marquee with bars, local independent street food and big screen in a "relaxed festival atmosphere", the area has become a popular 'go-to' place for supporters to enjoy ahead of 80 minutes of Rugby League. The name of the new entertainment village takes its inspiration from the former Craven Street Football Ground, which the club departed almost 100 years ago.

Following the completion of the Roger Millward North Stand, the club proposed in 2015 to build a new South Stand and hotel to replace the disused terracing. Funding is yet to be acquired for the development.[28]

Naming rights

In 2011, local data communications company MS3 announced it had secured a five-year deal for the naming rights of Craven Park, the first such deal in the club's history. Fans of Hull Kingston Rovers voted on adopting either the name MS3 Craven Park or MS3 Stadium,[29][30] with the vote resulting in the stadium being renamed MS3 Craven Park.[31]

On 25 January 2014, Hull Kingston Rovers announced that it had secured a new stadium naming rights partnership with local communications provider, KC.[32] Under a five-year agreement, Craven Park was renamed the KC Lightstream Stadium (following re-branding, it became the KCOM Lightstream Stadium), not to be confused with the KCOM Stadium in the west of the city. On 3 February 2017, it was renamed again, and was then known as KCOM Craven Park.[33]

On 21 August 2019, Hull Kingston Rovers announced a new partnership with Hull College, which would see the stadium renamed to Hull College Craven Park Stadium. This partnership also helped provide new training opportunities for academy players, as well as providing Hull Kingston Rovers players to pursue degrees at the college.[34]

On 18 January 2022, Hull Kingston Rovers announced a new name for Craven Park after confirming a two-year partnership with the Sewell Group. The deal would see the stadium be renamed to Sewell Group Craven Park.[35]

YearsSponsorName
2011–2014MS3MS3 Craven Park
2014–2016KCOMKCOM Lightstream Stadium
2017–2019KCOM Craven Park
2019–2022Hull CollegeHull College Craven Park Stadium
2022–Sewell GroupSewell Group Craven Park

Other usage

Concerts

Craven Park hosted its first concert in 2017, with 20,000 attending a concert starring the former vocalists of The Housemartins and The Beautiful South Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott on 3 June, supported by guests Billy Bragg and The Divine Comedy.[36]

Little Mix first performed at Craven Park to a crowd of 20,000 in July 2018 as part of their "Summer Hits Tour".[37][38] They were originally scheduled to perform again in June 2020 until the COVID-19 pandemic forced the 2020 tour's cancellation.[39]

Westlife were scheduled to perform at Craven Park on 10 July 2020 for their reunion "Stadiums in the Summer Tour" before the tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[40] Sir Tom Jones was also scheduled to perform at Craven Park on 13 June 2020, however the concert was initially cancelled, then rescheduled to 4 September 2021.[41][42][43]

Rod Stewart performed at Craven Park on 4 July 2023, supported by Culture Club, as part of the singer's 2023 UK tour.[44][45][46] They were followed two days later by The Who, who performed alongside a live orchestra at Craven Park on the first UK date of their "The Who Hits Back!" tour, supported by UB40, on 6 July.[47][48][49]

Association football

On 21 October 2015, it was announced that Non-League football team Hull United A.F.C. will play their home games at the stadium.[2]

Greyhound racing

The greyhound racing operation followed Hull Kingston Rovers to their new home from Old Craven Park after it closed in 1989.[50] The first race meeting was held on 11 November 1989.[51] The management team of John Kennedy and Roy Thickett had overseen the move and set up racing for Monday, Thursday and Saturday nights. The new circuit had a circumference of 415 metres and race distances of 290, 462, 490, 655 & 705 metres. Prentice Racing came in as new promoters during the nineties but the racing switched to the Boulevard Stadium in 2003.[52] Both the speedway and greyhound tracks were grassed over.

Track records

Distance
yards		 Greyhound Time Date
240Curaghator Lad14.7112 May 1998
290Handsome Dan17.5723 November 1989
462Gulleen Darkie28.655 February 1990
490Bally Fever30.221989
490Macsea Tom30.0517 May 1990
655Appleby Lantern41.435 March 1990
655Fearless Misty41.242002
705Hot News45.001989
705Dalcash Duke44.9812 July 1990
875Supporting Blue57.6729 November 1990
875Spenwood Gem57.3715 July 2001
1070Ridgefield Dream72.0020 March 1997

Speedway
Main article: Hull Vikings

Speedway arrived in 1995 hosting the Hull Vikings but finished in 2005.

Boxing

In 2015, Craven Park hosted the 'Rumble on the Humber', where after ten rounds, Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell defeated local rival Tommy Coyle, with crowds numbering around about 15,000.[53]

Quidditch

On 26 August 2017, Craven Park hosted the first ever Championship fixture of the Quidditch Premier League. The fixture involved eight teams from two regional divisions (North Division and South Division),[54] and the winners were the West Midlands Revolution.[55][56]

Rugby league internationals

Craven Park has hosted five rugby league internationals.

The list of international rugby league matches played at Craven Park is:[57]

Game#DateResultAttendanceNotes
115 November 2000 Morocco def.  Japan 12–82000 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament
23 November 2012 England def.  France 44–67,1732012 England vs France[58]
327 October 2013 France def.  Papua New Guinea 9–87,4812013 Rugby League World Cup Group B
44 November 2013 Samoa def.  Papua New Guinea 38–46,8712013 Rugby League World Cup Group B[59]
528 October 2016 Australia def.  Scotland 54–125,3372016 Rugby League Four Nations[60]

References
  1. "Stadium capacity increased". Hull Kingston Rovers. 15 April 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  2. "Hull United move to Hull KR's KC Lightstream Stadium". Hull Daily Mail. 21 October 2015. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  3. "Ground guide – Lightstream Stadium". Love Rugby League.com. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  4. "Sporting grounds for change". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 21 September 2004. Retrieved 5 March 2022 – via General OneFile.
  5. "Club Honours". Hull Kingston Rovers. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  6. "KR enjoy a small bit of Wentworth". Hull Daily Mail. 11 January 2007. p. 60. ProQuest 333625692.
  7. "KR to boost Craven Park capacity". BBC Sport. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  8. "North stand is 'number one priority'". Hull Daily Mail. 17 May 2011. p. 7. ProQuest 867262509. Unfortunately, due to planning issues, progress on the North Stand has seen proposals to develop the popular East Stand, adding an extra 1,200 standing spaces, placed on hold.
  9. Fewlings, Mark (20 August 2011). "Development still top priority at KR: North Stand hit by new delays, but project will go ahead". Hull Daily Mail. p. 36. ProQuest 884434830. [Mike] Smith explained: "The club has always maintained that the development of the north stand is a top priority and this remains the case. Currently, we are unable to move forward on the east stand extension as we are unable to ascertain at this stage the full extent of our contribution to the north stand project until the revised tendering exercise is complete."
  10. "Hull KR to open North Stand for second half of Super League 2013". This is Hull and East Riding. 16 October 2012. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  11. Baxter, Paul (27 February 2013). "Hull KR furious over 'shambolic' £8m North Stand project at Craven Park". This is Hull and East Riding. Archived from the original on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  12. "Super League: Hull KR name North Stand at KC Lightstream Stadium after Colin Hutton". Sky Sports News. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  13. "Super League: Hull KR 22-30 Hull FC". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  14. Westmorland, Gareth (23 January 2019). "How Hull KR's average attendances have replicated on-field rollercoaster ride in last 11 years". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  15. "Super League: Hull KR return to Craven Park after floodlight collapse". BBC Sport. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  16. Sadler, Martyn (2 March 2021). "Super League fixture list shows the road ahead". Total Rugby League. League Publications Ltd. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  17. Craven, Dave (11 March 2021). "Hull KR invest in new stand to reward "loyal" fans after Covid". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  18. Bazeley, Marc (15 March 2021). "How Hull Kingston Rovers are aiming to revolutionise the Super League matchday experiences". Sky Sports News. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  19. Young, Angus (18 December 2019). "Deal for Hull KR to buy Craven Park will be sealed very soon". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  20. Ibbetson, Stephen (28 March 2022). "Hull KR complete purchase of Sewell Group Craven Park home". Total Rugby League. League Publications Ltd. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  21. Walker, Callum (24 November 2022). "Hull KR planning major expansion to Super League stadium". Total Rugby League. League Publications Ltd. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  22. Shaw, Matthew (13 February 2023). "Craven Park reimagined with new Hull KR training facility to kickstart vast changes to huge campus". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  23. O'Brien, James (8 February 2022). "Paul Lakin provides positive update as Hull KR close in on Craven Park purchase". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  24. O'Brien, James (13 January 2021). "Paul Lakin Q&A as Hull KR CEO talks investment, stadium purchase, potential rebrand and more". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  25. O'Brien, James (28 March 2022). "Hull KR complete Craven Park purchase as Paul Lakin hails landmark moment". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  26. "The Nomad Clan Paint Huge Mural at Craven Park in Hull". Inspiring City. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  27. Mullan, Charlie (17 December 2013). "KR renovations will aid players". Hull Daily Mail. p. 49. ProQuest 1468684510.
  28. "Hull KR plan new South Stand at KC Lightstream Stadium". Hull Daily Mail. 27 February 2015. Archived from the original on 24 August 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  29. Cushnan, David (15 September 2011). "New dawn for Hull Kingston Rover's Craven Park". SportsPro. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  30. "Fans to choose new name for Craven Park". Love Rugby League. 13 September 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  31. "New name for Hull KR ground". Sky Sports News. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  32. "Hull KR: Craven Park becomes KC Lightstream Stadium". Hull Daily Mail. 24 January 2014. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  33. "Hull KR's Lightstream Stadium to be renamed KCOM Craven Park". Hull Daily Mail. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  34. "Hull KR's KCOM Stadium to be renamed Hull College Craven Park". Hull Daily Mail. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  35. "Sewell Group puts its name to Hull KR stadium". Business Live. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  36. Robinson, Hannah (3 June 2017). "Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott make it happy hour again for 20,000 fans at KCOM Craven Park in Hull". Hull Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  37. "Little Mix to play at KCOM Craven Park in 2018". Hull Kingston Rovers. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  38. Blosse, Benjamin (13 July 2018). "Amazing pictures show spectacular way Little Mix finished incredible Hull concert". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  39. Kitching, Sophie (22 April 2020). "Little Mix cancel summer tour including Hull Craven Park date". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  40. Mutch, Michael (22 April 2020). "Westlife's Hull gig cancelled after 90s pop sensations scrap entire tour amid coronavirus crisis". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  41. "Tom Jones announces huge Hull gig at Craven Park". Hull Daily Mail. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  42. "The show will go on this summer!". Hull Kingston Rovers. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  43. Lucas, Hannah (5 September 2021). "Legendary Sir Tom Jones gives Hull a night to remember forever". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  44. Appleyard, Joe (13 February 2023). "Hull KR announce another major concert as Rod Stewart to play Craven Park gig". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  45. Appleyard, Joe (23 March 2023). "Boy George & Culture Club create star-studded line-up for Hull KR concert". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  46. Hall, Deborah (6 July 2023). "Rod Stewart The Hits UK Tour 2023 review: Legend's message to Hull as he rocks city with belting hits and dazzling outfits". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  47. Wilkes, Emma (30 January 2023). "The Who announce 2023 orchestral tour – with UB40 at regional shows". NME. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  48. Appleyard, Joe (30 January 2023). "Hull KR announce rock music icons The Who to play special Craven Park concert". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  49. Steel, Andrew (7 July 2023). "Gig review: The Who at Sewell Group Craven Park". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  50. "Closures and openings over the past 10 years, July 1993, page 18". Greyhound Star. 1993.
  51. Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 64. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
  52. Hobbs, Jonathan (2003). Greyhound Annual 2004. Raceform. p. 158. ISBN 1-904317-21-9.
  53. "Luke Campbell beats Tommy Coyle in 'Rumble on the Humber' fight". ITV. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  54. "Divisions & Teams". Quidditch Premier League. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  55. "West Midlands Revolution crowned Champions!". Quidditch Premier League. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  56. "West Midlands Revolution crowned champions of first ever Quidditch Premier League". ITV News. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  57. Craven Park at Rugby League Project
  58. Hudson, Elizabeth (3 November 2012). "Autumn International Series: England 44–6 France". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  59. "Rugby League World Cup 2013 fixtures announced". Code 13 Rugby League. 23 July 2012. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  60. "Hull KR's Lightstream Stadium to host Australia v Scotland Four Nations opener". Hull Daily Mail. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Craven Park.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.