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Eco-Power Stadium

Coordinates: 53°30′35″N 1°6′50″W / 53.50972°N 1.11389°W / 53.50972; -1.11389
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Eco-Power Stadium
Black Bank, The Moat, Keepmoat Stadium, KMS
Map
Full nameEco-Power Stadium
Former namesKeepmoat Stadium (November 2006–December 2021) Doncaster Community Stadium (Planning Permission)
LocationStadium Way, Lakeside, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England DN4 5JW
Coordinates53°30′35″N 1°6′50″W / 53.50972°N 1.11389°W / 53.50972; -1.11389
OwnerDoncaster Rovers Football Club
OperatorDoncaster Rovers Football Club
Capacity15,231
Record attendance15,001 v Leeds United
(1 April 2008)
SurfaceDesso GrassMaster
Construction
Built2006
Opened3 August 2007; 17 years ago (2007-08-03)
Tenants
Football
Doncaster Rovers (2007–present)
Doncaster Rovers Belles (2007–present)
Harrogate Town (2020)
Rugby League
Doncaster R.L.F.C. (2007–present)
Sheffield Eagles (2015, 2021)

The Eco-Power Stadium (formerly known as Keepmoat Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium in Doncaster, England, with a capacity of 15,231. It cost approximately £20 million to construct, as part of the wider Lakeside Sports Complex that it resides within which in total cost approximately £32 million, and is used by Doncaster Rovers, Doncaster Rugby League Club and Doncaster Rovers Belles Ladies Football Club.[1]

Facilities

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Stands

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Stadium seating area layout
Keepmoat Stadium at night

East Stand

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The East Stand is sponsored by Donasonic.[2] The area of the East Stand towards the South East corner is the Families area sponsored by First Bus Ltd. and is known as the "First" Families Stand.[3]

West Stand

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This is the main match-day reception area with the stand sponsored by Red Viking Rail, and is known as the "James Coppinger West Stand", after former Doncaster Rovers player James Coppinger.

South Stand

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The South Stand, popularly known as the Black Bank, is sponsored by Polypipe. For Doncaster Rovers matches this is the stand that houses the Black Bank (the ultras group of Doncaster Rovers supporters) and is decorated with flags and banners on match days, widely known for creating a fantastic atmosphere.[4]

North Stand

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The North Stand is sponsored by Pass Logistics.[5] The North Stand area closest to the East Stand is the usual location of visiting fans. Depending on the numbers of visitors, the availability of seats in this area are expanded westwards to meet demand.

Capacity

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The all-seater stadium holds 15,231 spectators,[6] 5,000 more than Belle Vue, with improved legroom and disabled access.[7] Amongst the facilities in the new stadium is a new fans' bar, created to ensure fans have a place where they can enjoy pre-match drinks.

The pitch itself incorporates a system of synthetic fibres interwoven with natural grass.[8] This helps to maintain the pitch's integrity and prevents the playing surface from deteriorating throughout the course of the season. The pitch however does not have an under-soil heating system in-place, despite being a modern construction.[9] This has resulted in the postponement of a match within the first year of full operation.[9]

Adjoining sports complex facilities and stadia

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A mini-stadium is situated beside the main stadium, featuring a six-lane running track and a 500-seat stand. The mini stadium is used by Doncaster Rovers Belles, Doncaster Rovers Reserves, Doncaster Athletics Club, Doncaster RLFC's academy team, and the Doncaster Mustangs American football team.

Sports

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Football

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The first game played by Doncaster Rovers in the new stadium was on 1 January 2007 against Huddersfield Town, whom they beat 3–0.[10] The game also saw the first three red cards in the new stadium.[11] Doncaster Rovers' centre forward Mark McCammon was the first player ever to score on the new pitch.

Doncaster's first loss at the stadium came five days later at the hands of Bolton Wanderers when they defeated the Rovers 4–0 in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup.[12]

On 14 January 2007, Doncaster Rovers Belles' first match in the main stadium resulted in a 5–2 defeat to Leeds United, before a crowd of 1,797.[13] Vicky Exley was the first Belle to score on the new pitch.[14] The official opening of the Keepmoat Stadium was on 3 August 2007, with Doncaster Rovers playing a Manchester United XI in front of a crowd of 13,080. United won the game 2–0.[15]

On 19 June 2012, it was confirmed that Doncaster Rovers had secured a 99-year operating lease from Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council to lead the management of the stadium with a view to improving operating results across the stadium sports partnership.[16]

The stadium hosted the final of the 2012–13 FA Women's Cup.[17]

The highest ever attendance at the Keepmoat stadium was 15,001 for the visit of Leeds United.[18] Rovers also achieved attendances of over 14,800 at the Keepmoat Stadium in games against Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United.

On 3 March 2010, it hosted England’s under-21s 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 9 match against Greece’s under-21s. The hosts lost 2–1 with the visitors goals coming from Kyriakos Papadopoulos on the 28th minute and Yiannis Papadopoulos on the 49th minute while Nathan Delfouneso scored for the hosts on the 80th minute.

Since the EFL require all matches to be played on grass pitches, the stadium was used for all of Harrogate Town's matches for the first month of their 2020–21 season whilst the club replaced their synthetic pitch at Wetherby Road.[19]

On 30 November 2021, England's women's team hosted Latvia's women's team at the stadium, beating them by a record margin of 20-0.[20]

Rugby League

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The opening game played by Doncaster in the new stadium was against Sheffield Eagles, to whom they lost 16–10 in front of 5,400 spectators. Sheffield Eagles' (and former Dons') Richard Newlove was the first player to score try at the new stadium.[21]

On Sunday 27 July 2008, the stadium hosted a semi-final of the Rugby League Challenge Cup between Hull F.C. and Wakefield Trinity. Hull beat Trinity 32–24 in front of a crowd of 14,716.

The stadium hosted the opening match of the 2009 Gillette 4 Nations on Friday 23 October between co-hosts England and France attracting a crowd of 11,529.

The stadium hosted the semi-final of the Rugby League Challenge Cup between Castleford and Leeds on Sunday 7 August 2011, Leeds winning 10-8 in front of 13,158 fans; another Challenge Cup Semi-Final between Hull F.C. and Wigan took place at the stadium on 29 July 2016, Hull running out 16-12 winners. Wigan would return to the stadium for the first semi-final of the 2024 Challenge Cup against Hull Kingston Rovers, taking place on 18 May 2024.[22]

The Dons local rivals, Sheffield Eagles, used the stadium as their temporary home during the 2015 rugby league season.

In 2021, the stadium played host to three group games of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

Rugby league test matches

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Date Winners Result Runners-up Attendance Part of
23 October 2009  England 34-12  France 11,529 2009 Rugby League Four Nations
17 October 2022[23]  France 34-12  Greece 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup
23 October 2022[24]  Samoa 72-4  Greece
31 October 2022[25]  Papua New Guinea 36-0  Wales

Music

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There have also been a variety of concerts held in the stadium, including two in July 2007 featuring Ronan Keating, Bryan Adams and McFly. In July 2008 there was also a show by Sir Elton John and his band. On 30 July 2011, Irish vocal pop band Westlife held a concert for Gravity Tour supporting their album Gravity. In 2017, Doncaster born singer Louis Tomlinson filmed part of the music video for his hit single, Back to You, featuring Bebe Rexha, in the stadium. The Killers were set to play the stadium in May 2020, but the date was postponed to May 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other events

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In September 2008, the stadium was used to host the BAFL (British American Football League) finals known as "Britbowl".[26] In mid June 2009 opened its facilities to accommodate corporate events and private functions, the first of which being the marriage reception of Wesley and Claire Vaughan, June 2009. In November 2010, darts superstar Dennis Priestley held a darts exhibition at the stadium. On 11 May 2013, an IBF Bantamweight World Title boxing match between Jamie McDonnell and Julio Ceja took place at the stadium, with McDonnell the winner. On 27 July 2013, an MMA event hosted by UCFC has held at the stadium, the main event was between Ian Freeman and Ricco Rodriguez. On 28 April 2016 it was announced that Rugby Union team Doncaster Knights would use the Keepmoat for a maximum of six games the following season if they were to win promotion to Premiership Rugby. This would allow work to be undertaken on their home ground of Castle Park in order to bring it up to at least the minimum seating capacity of 10,000 required by the RFU and the Professional Game Board (PGB) for a premiership venue.[27] However, the Doncaster Knights did not achieve promotion that season.

Naming rights

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When construction began on the stadium, a planning permission application was made under the name “Doncaster Community Stadium” with many people speculating that this would be the official name.

However, prior to the stadium’s opening, Keepmoat Homes,[28] was unveiled as the stadium’s first sponsor. Keepmoat Homes would go on to sponsor the stadium for the first 15 years spanning between November 2006 and December 2021.

On 14 December 2021, Doncaster based construction company Eco-Power was announced as the new naming rights holder, taking effect from 27 December 2021, initially until the end of 2025.[29]

Awards

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At the Stadium Business Awards 2010, the stadium received the award for Best Matchday Experience.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ ""Keepmoat Stadium" new name for centre-piece of £32million Lakeside Sports Complex". Stadium Management Company, Doncaster (Press release). 20 November 2006. Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  2. ^ "DCLT", web
  3. ^ "DCLT", web
  4. ^ "Black Bank - About us". Archived from the original on 3 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Away guide: Doncaster Rovers". Chesterfield FC. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Doncaster Rovers – Keepmoat Stadium". Yorkshire Evening Post. 27 June 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Doncaster Rovers". National Association of Disabled Supporters. Archived from the original on 4 September 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  8. ^ "Feature: Media Information Architecture Week Yorkshire". Architecture Week. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  9. ^ a b "United 'left in the dark' by Rovers". Yorkshire Evening Post. 16 February 2008. Archived from the original on 26 December 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  10. ^ "First day at Keepmoat". BBC South Yorkshire. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  11. ^ "Doncaster vs Huddersfield". Huddersfield Town Official Website. 1 January 2007. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  12. ^ "Doncaster Rovers Match Report – Doncaster Rovers 0 – Bolton Wanderers 4". Doncaster Rovers Official Website. 6 January 2007. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
  13. ^ Leighton, Tony (15 January 2007). "Belles ring changes at new home". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  14. ^ Leighton, Tony (14 January 2007). "Leeds deny Donny on stadium debut". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  15. ^ "A taste of things to come". Doncaster Today. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  16. ^ "Rovers welcome Keepmoat lease". Yorkshire Post. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  17. ^ "FA Women's Cup final: Arsenal Ladies beat Bristol Academy". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  18. ^ "Doncaster Vs Leeds United". Doncaster Rovers Official Website. 1 April 2008. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011.
  19. ^ "Harrogate Town: Doncaster Rovers groundshare for EFL newcomers". BBC Sport. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  20. ^ "England 20-0 Latvia: Ellen White sets all-time scoring record with hat-trick". BBC Sport. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Eagles spoil Dons' opener at Keepmoat". Doncaster Today. 28 December 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  22. ^ "Challenge Cup semi-finals: Doncaster and St Helens to host semi-final ties". BBC Sport. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  23. ^ "France 34v12 Greece". RLWC2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Samoa 72v4 Greece". RLWC2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  25. ^ "Papua New Guinea 36v0 Wales". RLWC2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  26. ^ "Thunder are Champions!". Archived from the original on 1 November 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  27. ^ Hoden, Liam. "Doncaster Knights to ground share with Rovers if they win promotion to the Premiership". The Star. Johnston Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  28. ^ "Doncaster announce stadium name". BBC South Yorkshire. 21 November 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2007.
  29. ^ Lewis, Genevieve (14 December 2021). "Doncaster Rovers announces new stadium naming rights partner". The Stadium Business. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
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