CAPACITY at Warrington Wolves Halliwell Jones Stadium could hit 22,000 within the next decade, the Guardian can exclusively reveal.

Chief executive Andy Gatcliffe says there is a four stage plan to increase capacity at the ground, which celebrates its 10th anniversary next year, with extra seats and hospitality.

But ahead of Monday’s crucial table-topping clash with derby rivals Wigan, he says those plans could be mothballed unless the ground sells out - and does so on a consistent basis.

He added: “This is the biggest game of the season, the one everyone wants to see.

“You have got to be there for this game.

“From a club point of view we made an investment of £1.2million two years ago to fill in the corners and raise the capacity because the fans were demanding it.

“Now we need to sweat this asset and if we cannot sell out for this game, it is a worry.

“I understand the economic conditions, but this is massive. People come for Wembley or the Grand Final, we need them now too.”

His call echoes that made by club owner Simon Moran last week.

And Monday’s match with Wigan is being themed This is the One - a play on one of Stone Roses’ most famous songs, a band now promoted by Mr Moran.

Mr Gatcliffe said if games such as the crunch clash between the sides first and third in Super League do sell out, it will put pressure on the board to start fresh work on the ground.

The capacity rose to 15,300 following work on two of the corners last January.

The next four stages are:

  1. Designs have been drawn for taking the roof on the North Stand higher and adding in a new level of hospitality boxes. All of the existing boxes are currently sold out.
  2. Adding a level seating above the terracing on the South Stand.
  3. Early stage discussions have taken place over adding a hotel to the North East corner of the stadium.
  4. The final improvements would see the final two corners filled-in - similar to the work done last year.


Each phase of work would increase capacity by around 2,000 taking the overall size of the ground to 22,000 to 23,000.

But he issued a warning.

“We can only get to this extra capacity and investment once we have sold out each new section to capacity,” Mr Gatcliffe said.

Around 11,000 tickets have been sold already for the Wigan game and Mr Gatcliffe says it is time the new capacity was reached for the first time.

“We see ourselves as one of the best supported teams in the league, we are ahead of the rest for away following.

“Now we need to see that support at home. Leeds have sold well on a Monday night and we hope to as well.

“Our media partners pay good money for games to be on TV so we have to back them and this is when the game is taking place.

“It is now important we pack the ground out. Make more noise than Wigan and outshout them. Nobody can be allowed to dominate us on our pitch.”