Stadium investment: Barrow AFC installs two new stands to meet EFL criteria
10 Sep 2023
— Blog
More than 1,000 new seats have been installed at Barrow AFC's SO Legal Stadium to meet EFL membership criteria. The club secured £1 million of investment for two new stands with the legal assistance of our corporate team.
The stadium, which SO Legal has sponsored since 2022, needed at least 2000 seats by its third consecutive season in the league to make the club compliant with the English Football League (EFL) rules.
Earlier this year, the club submitted its proposals to Westmorland and Furness Council to renovate the ground, with the local owners funding part of a £1 million seating project.
Our corporate law team oversaw the legal aspects of the process, assisting the club in documenting the investment from the Premier League Stadia Fund and all the appropriate disclosures.
Our legal expertise helped the club raise the necessary funds from the grant funders whist mitigating legal risks and ensuring a smooth process for the club and its owners.
SO Legal Stadium renovations
The work on the ground commenced over the summer months, with the old terracing flattened and over 1000 new seats installed.
The improvements also included elevated wheelchair bays as part of the club's commitment to improving facilities for all supporters at the SO Legal Stadium.
Local firms had to flatten the old terracing before replacing it with a new concrete pad and installing drainage.
The club worked closely with several businesses throughout the project, including JCP, HBP, Gadsden Consulting, Keith Wilson Electrical Contractors, S Lancaster Electrical, and FFRAS.
The Mayor of Barrow-in-Furness, Chris Altree and club captain Niall Canavan had the privilege of opening the new stands ahead of the first home game of the 2023/2024 season.
Contact our solicitors
We have solicitors in Cumbria, Brighton, London, and East Sussex, and a diverse client base, including football clubs, national retail and restaurant chains, commercial agents, property agents, developers, and private individuals.
We have a dedicated sports law team that works at all levels, from grassroots to professional - whether it's a young player looking to sign their first professional contract, a foundation seeking legal advice, or a league club developing new facilities.
Looking for expert
legal advice?