Doncaster Lakeside Sports Complex

See our photos of the new stadium which Doncaster is building at the Lakeside area, near the old airfield site. What was once fields ad hedges has became a major building area and work has started in the autumn of 2005. A visitor centre will be available for people to view the work in progress on the sports complex. It is the home of Doncaster Rovers F.C. where all there home fixtures are played. It held its first sporting fixture on 27 December 2006 (Doncaster Lakers RLFC v Sheffield Eagles RLFC).

It cost approximately £ 32m to construct, and will be used mostly for football matches and will be the home ground of Doncaster Rovers F.C., Doncaster Lakers R.L.F.C. and Doncaster Belles L.F.C.. The all-seater stadium will hold just over 15,000 spectators, and is considered state-of-the-art for a stadium of its size, with excellent facilities, legroom, and disabled access.

The stadium itself is sponsored under a long-term contract by Keepmoat plc, a company specialising in social housing. They will have the rights to the naming of the stadium.

A mini-stadium is situated beside the main stadium, featuring a running track and a 500 seat stand. The mini stadium is for Doncaster Rovers Belles and the Rovers reserves and Lakers academy teams.

Facilities

The stadium itself is sponsored under a long-term contract by Keepmoat, a company specialising in social housing. They have the rights to the naming of the stadium.

A mini-stadium is situated beside the main stadium, featuring a six-lane running track and a 500 seat stand. The mini stadium is used by Doncaster Rovers Belles, Doncaster Rovers reserves, Doncaster RLFC's academy team, and the South Yorkshire Mustangs American football team.

The all-seater stadium holds 15,231 spectators, 5,000 more than Belle Vue, with improved legroom and disabled access. Amongst the facilities in the new stadium is a new fans' bar, created to ensure fans have a place where they can enjoy pre-match drinks.

The pitch itself incorporates a system of synthetic fibres interwoven with natural grass. This helps to maintain the pitch's integrity and prevents the playing surface from deteriorating throughout the course of the season. The pitch however does not have an under-soil heating system in-place despite being a modern construction. This has resulted in the postponement of a match within the first year of full operation.

Football

The first game played by Doncaster Rovers in the new stadium was on 1 January 2007 against Huddersfield Town, whom they beat 3-0.[8] The game also saw the first three red cards in the new stadium.[9] Doncaster Rovers' centre forward Mark McCammon was the first player ever to score on the new pitch.

The first defeat came at the hands of Carlisle when they narrowly beat Doncaster 2-1. The heaviest defeat seen at the stadium was inflicted by Swansea in which they won 4-0

Rugby League

The opening game played by Doncaster in the new stadium was against Sheffield Eagles, to whom they lost 16-10 in front of 5,400 spectators. Sheffield Eagles (and former Dons') Richard Newlove was the first player to score try at the new stadium.[10]

On Sunday 27th July 2008 the stadium hosted a semi-final of the Carnegie Challenge Cup between Hull FC and Wakefield Wildcats. Hull won 32-24.

[edit] Other events

There has also been a variety of other events held in the Keepmoat Stadium, including two concerts in July 2007 featuring Ronan Keating and Bryan Adams. There was an Elton John concert in July 2008.

*information courtesy of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia