Introduction to the KC Stadium
Hull City played their first games at the Boulevard, before spending more than 40 years at Anlaby Road, adjacent to the Circle cricket ground. Boothferry Park was built in 1946, and remained the club’s home until 2002 when the Kingston Communications Stadium was built. Its non-commercial name is The Circle, though most people locally refer to it as “the KC”, and in 2010 was officially rebranded the “KC Stadium”.
Hull City Council funded the £43.5m stadium through its sale of shares in the local telecoms company, Kingston Communications. The Football Foundation provided a grant of £2m, but Sport England refused funding as it deemed the stadium too large for Hull.
It is situated in West Hull on the same grounds as the old Circle cricket ground in West Park, providing green surroundings. It’s owned by Hull City Council and run by the Stadium Management Company.
The first game at the newly opened stadium was played on 18th December 2002, a friendly against Sunderland which Hull City won 1-0. The first league game was played on Boxing Day – a 2-0 win against Hartlepool United in Division Three.
It is an enclosed all-seater stadium with an official capacity of 25,404. Most seats are black, with white and amber seats forming a stripe going around the middle of each stand, the city’s crown logo in the East Stand, two Kingston Communications logos in the West Stand, and “Hull” behind each goal. The West Stand is the largest with two tiers while the others remain, for now at least, one-tiered.
An extension may one day be built on top of the East Stand, if there is a continued demand and funding for it. Plans are at an early stage to build a 150-bedroom hotel and separate business centre on the stadium grounds at a cost of £20m, while at the same time extended the stadium capacity. Previous plans to build a casino on the site fell through when Hull was overlooked by the government.
The stadium is shared with rugby league team Hull FC, and has also hosted other events such as England Under-21 international football matches, international rugby league, and pop concerts for acts including Elton John, Bryan Adams, and REM.
An LCD screen replaced the scoreboard in 2007, measuring approximately 40 square metres, although away fans will struggle to see it as it is situated at the back of the North Stand.
Mission Statement
“To provide a first class venue capable of embracing all leisure activities, and encouraging participation by all sectors of our community. To offer permanent international standard facilities to all the professional sporting clubs of Hull.”
Capacity
North Stand (away fans) capacity: 4,000
South Stand capacity: 4,000
East Stand capacity: 6,700 (may be expanded by 5,000)
West Stand capacity: 6,000 lower tier + 4,300 upper tier = 10,300
Total capacity: 25,000
Disabled Facilities
160 disabled places (80 pitchside, 80 higher up). Ambulant disabled, hearing impaired and visually impaired also catered for.
Parking
600 car parking spaces at the stadium.
70 space car park for the sports hall.
Up to 1800 vehicles may park on the Walton Street ground.
Park & ride schemes also operating.
More information can be found in the Ground section of this website and at www.kcstadium.co.uk
