Cambridge United Football Club (CUFC), who compete in English Football League Two, are considering a move away from their present home, Cledara Abbey Stadium.
Cambridge bought the 8,000-seat stadium in 2022 but are planning to move if their redevelopment plans for a new 15,000-seat stadium do not come to fruition. The plans would have seen the stadium’s capacity increase from 8,000 to 12,000. However, it is understood that the investment would take two decades to see a return.
CUFC’s management team are allegedly identifying alternative sites by working with the council. To finance such a move, it is believed that the current stadium would need to be redeveloped.
CUFC issued a statement on their website which read: “At the end of January, Cambridge United submitted a formal representation to the Greater Cambridge Local Plan…”.
“Our representation supports the continued development of the Cledara Abbey Stadium, while also exploring the potential for a new, circa 15,000-capacity multi-purpose arena.
“A preferred option identified within the submission is a location at the proposed Cambridge East site. This follows the recent announcement of a new station at Cambridge East as part of the East West Rail project, which is due to open in 2031.”
Alex Tunbridge, chief executive of CUFC, said: “Our Local Plan submission has been made primarily to highlight the value of the club to the city and to ensure that Cambridge United is at the heart of key conversations about the future planning of Cambridge.
“Whilst the Cledara Abbey Stadium is our spiritual home, a financially viable and deliverable redevelopment is not straightforward for multiple reasons as Paul Barry made clear last autumn. For that reason, the Owners and Board are open minded about a potential future relocation.
“Any conversations about this potentially happening are at a very early stage. Remaining in the Abbey Ward or as close to it as possible would be our ambition, should redevelopment of the Cledara Abbey Stadium not be feasible.”
Image: CUFC
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