Crusaders submit stadium plans
Celtic Crusaders Rugby League Football Club (CCRLFC) has unveiled plans for a new 15,000-capacity stadium in Bridgend, south Wales, as part of the proposed new £40m Island Farm Sporting Village.
A planning application for the new stadium has been submitted to Bridgend County Borough Council this week, which will also include bars, corporate hospitality suites, media suites and large indoor training facilities. The club was recently awarded a three-year licence to play in the Super League, and chief executive, David Thompson, said: "We are committed to providing our fans with a new state-of-the-art stadium and facilities worthy of the borough, the club and Super League.
"Having won a Super League licence for three years, people may have expected the club to sit back, but we are continuously striving to push the club forward and looking to improve wherever we can as evidenced by this application." The plans for the 130-acre (52.6-hectare) sports village, led by HD Limited, include a rugby union pitch for Bridgend Ravens Rugby Football Club, a football pitch for Bridgend Town Football Club, an indoor tennis centre and a boxing gym.
A 25-acre (10.1-hectare) country park is also outlined as part of the sports village project, incorporating woodland walks, cafes, and picnic facilities, as well as a piazza for outdoor entertainment events. HD Limited director, Nicholas Hegarty, said: "The aim of creating what is effectively a 'sports parkland' at Island Farm, is to provide Bridgend with an outstanding facility for watching or playing sports.
"As we have seen elsewhere, the development of a new stadium can be difficult and, at times drawn-out. However, we have now taken the first formal step."