Bundesliga side RB Leipzig bought its Red Bull Arena home stadium. Red Bull already owns the team and holds the naming rights to the venue. According to industry outlet Máquina do Esporte, the brand will pay €70M ($83.4M) to current Owner Michael Kölmel. However, the sum has not been officially released by either party. A statement by RB Leipzig said that the club intends to "increase the capacity of the ground to 50,000 spectators from its current 42,959" (SOCCEREX, 9/14).
Welsh Rugby Union Championship side Pontypool CEO Ben Jeffreys accused the WRU of "effectively holding up" a £1M ($1.34M) redevelopment of the club's ground because of "uncertainty" over whether the Welsh Premier Division "will continue to be ring-fenced" beyond the '18-19 season. Jeffreys and his multi-millionaire father, Peter, are "poised to plough upwards of seven figures" into the club with plans including "a new clubhouse, changing rooms and a 3G pitch at the famous old ground" (WALES ONLINE, 9/14).
Cricket is "set to win the race to open Perth Stadium," with the Western Australia state government and Cricket Australia "confident of holding" a one-day int'l at the venue in January. Australia is due to host England in Perth on Jan. 28 -- a week after the A$1.4B ($1.12B) stadium opens -- with the match scheduled at the WACA Ground "if the Burswood venue is not ready." WA Sports Minister Mick Murray said that "a final decision would be made in November but construction was on track to allow the one-dayer to go ahead" (WEST AUSTRALIAN, 9/13).
Leeds-based G&H Building Services was appointed to "deliver the mechanical and electrical design and build" of Headingley Stadium's £40M ($53.6M) redevelopment. Headingley Stadium is home to Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league side Leeds Rhinos and rugby union side Yorkshire Carnegie. The multi-million pound scheme "will see a new South Stand on the rugby ground and a new joint stand overlooking both the rugby pitch and cricket ground" (BDAILY, 9/14).
