Hull City Council - Press Releases
Council takes action on Airco Arena - 16/04/2015
Hull City Council has written to the Super-Stadium Management Company (SMC) requesting the immediate removal of the 3G pitch laid without its consent at the Airco Arena, so that this valued community facility can be reinstated for use by a variety of sports and "by any resident of Kingston upon Hull".
In a letter to Ehab Allam, Vice Chairman of the SMC, the Council confirms that the laying of the pitch without permission and for exclusive use by Hull City AFC is a breach of its lease and that - if the SMC fails to comply - legal action will be considered.
A further letter has been sent by the Council to Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League, highlighting that the SMC does not have a "legally enforceable agreement with the owner for exclusive use of an indoor artificial surface" - a key Premier League requirement for any club looking to attain Category 2 Training Academy status.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Brady, today restated his support for an alternative 'dome pitch' to be provided on the site of nearby hockey pitches and confirmed that the Council itself will apply for planning permission for such a facility in a bid to speed up the process should the Premier League determine that the Airco Arena does not comply with their academy assessment requirements and the SMC and Hull City AFC have to reconsider their position.
This planning application will mean that an alternative compliant facility could be delivered in time for the academy audit schedule the Club has indicated to the Council although, from the recent statement by the Premier League, it is now understood that this timeline has actually been set by the Club itself and not the Premier League. As a consequence, there is absolutely no reason why these dates cannot be amended to protect the interests of the existing community users whilst still allowing a facility to be developed very quickly that allows the Club to achieve Category 2 Training Academy status.
Councillor Brady said:
"In all good faith, having only being made aware of the issue when the Club served notice on the community users, we entered into discussions with the Club about the provision of an alternative facility that would meet the timetable and needs of all parties, whilst retaining the Airco Arena for community use.
"Despite this achievable alternative, the Club have changed the use of the Arena with scant regard for the impact on hundreds of people who use the facility day-in, day-out and the community sports clubs who are proud to call it their home. It's on their behalf that we take this action today.
"We remain steadfast in our support for Hull City and their ambition to establish a Category 2 Training Academy and we are confident that, working with them, the Premier League and other parties, we can make this happen. Our door is open and we are ready to continue our discussions with the Club about the dome pitch at any time."
