Saracens Plans To Redevelop Stadium

Saracens has confirmed it will be entering into discussions with the London Borough of Barnet about the possibility of relocating the club and developing Barnet Copthall Stadium into a new multi-purpose sports venue.??

The proposed new stadium would also become an athletics venue and potential training centre for the 2012 Olympic Games as well as a Premiership rugby ground.??

The proposals would refurbish the existing main building to the west of the site and create a new permanent stand to the east, which would be used by spectators of athletics meetings and rugby matches.

Demountable stands would also be in place during the winter season to facilitate up to 16 Saracens fixtures.??

The move would see Saracens play all home games on an artificial pitch – something that chairman Nigel Wray thinks would benefit the team and the local community.??

‘Saracens would use the artificial turf pitch around 16 times per year, and the rest of the time – up to 350 days per year – the field could be used by schools, local clubs and the wider community,’ he said.??

The ground will be designed with permanent seating to accommodate approximately 3,000 spectators for athletics events which, with the demountable stands, would increase the capacity of the ground to 10,000 to accord with the requirements of Premiership Rugby.