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Leeds United issue Elland Road redevelopment update with families' support as mural wall comes…

Leeds United received the support of the families of Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight before removing changing rooms that featured a mural in tribute to the murdered pair.

Leeds have had the old changing rooms in Fullerton car park taken down as part of the ongoing redevelopment work at Elland Road stadium. Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight were murdered in Istanbul having travelled to support their beloved club in European action in April 2000. One of the walls of the changing rooms featured a mural with the names of the Leeds supporters, who also have a plaque outside the East Stand.

Planning permission for a new West Stand was granted by Leeds City Council earlier in the year and work began last month, with the demolition of the former ticket office and LUTV studio. The club’s proposals, which include a second phase for a new North Stand, will take the stadium’s capacity to around 53,000 when complete.

The club has issued an update to supporters on the work that has been carried out so far, including the planned start on a corridor that will enable the existing West Stand to be at full capacity for the 2026/27 campaign.

The club statement read: "Leeds United are pleased to share further developments around the ongoing enhancement of Elland Road Stadium, as part of a regular monthly feature to keep supporters up to date on the project.

"Work officially began last month starting with the demolition of the West Stand Banqueting Suite, with more information able to be found here.

"The building that housed the Leeds United Ticket Office and the LUTV Studio has also been knocked down over the last few weeks, meaning the club can now commence the reduced level dig. This involves excavating the ground below to reach the formation level, which will serve as the base for our construction work.

"Piling activities will therefore take place across the next few months as we start work on the corridor that is being created to enable the existing West Stand to be used at full capacity during the season, as the new West Stand is built over the top of the current structure.

"This new corridor will ensure the safe access of supporters to their seats in the West Stand on matchdays and will be split into three areas – with one for hospitality guests, one for General Admission home fans and one for away supporters.

"Our new hospitality facility, that has been constructed behind the North Stand, is now ready to be fitted out ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League season, ready for any of our West Stand hospitality customers that have been relocated for the duration of the project.

"In addition, with the full support of the families of Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, the old changing rooms that were located in Fullerton Car Park and featured a tribute mural, that had been derelict since the club’s training facilities relocated to Thorp Arch, have been taken down.

"The broadcast compound that usually houses our TV crews and trucks on matchdays to enable games to be streamed live around the world has also been removed from Fullerton Car Park and this area will now be located across the road from the North Stand."

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