stadium:mk
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| Denbigh Stadium | |
 View towards the North Stand as of 09 June 2009 in a England U21 international. |
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| Full name | stadium:mk |
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| Location | Denbigh, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 52°00′34″N 00°44′00″W / 52.00944°N 0.733333°WCoordinates: 52°00′34″N 00°44′00″W / 52.00944°N 0.733333°W |
| Broke ground | 17 February 2005 |
| Built | 2007 |
| Opened | 29 November 2007 (first game 18 July 2007) |
| Owner | Inter MK |
| Surface | Desso GrassMaster |
| Architect | Populous (formerly HOK Sport Venue Event) |
| Main contractors | Buckingham Group Contracting |
| Capacity | 32,000 all seated (proposed), 22,000 initially, 45,000 if new tier added |
| Field dimensions | 105 m x 68m |
| Tenants | |
| Milton Keynes Dons F.C., Marshall MK Lions | |
stadium:mk (also known locally as "Denbigh Stadium"[1][2]) is a football ground in the Denbigh district of Milton Keynes, (ceremonial Buckinghamshire), England. Designed by Populous (formerly HOK Sport),[3] it has completed phase one construction by civil engineering company Buckingham Group Contracting. It is the home ground of Milton Keynes Dons F.C..
The stadium was officially opened on 29 November 2007 by The Queen.[4]
The initial configuration of the stadium uses only the lower tier to hold 22,000, but using the upper tier there is provision to increase the capacity to 32,000.[5] However, should it be needed there is also an option to increase the maximum capacity to 45,000 with the introduction of a new tier. When complete the design will comply with UEFA's Elite Stadium specifications and includes a Desso GrassMaster playing surface.
The complex plans include an Arena:MK, an indoor arena that was to be the home of the Marshall Milton Keynes Lions professional basketball team from 2008. Unfortunately, the retail developments that would have provided enabling funding have been deferred due to the national economic situation, leaving the Lions searching for an alternative arena.[6]
The stadium was first proposed in May 2002, when Wimbledon FC were given permission to relocate to Milton Keynes from their original home some 60 miles away in South London. It was originally planned that the new stadium would be ready for the 2004–05 season, but it was to be another three years after this date before the stadium was opened. In the meantime, Wimbledon had played at the National Hockey Stadium and had been refounded as Milton Keynes Dons.
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[edit] Stadium Size
Initially there were concerns that the size of stadium:mk may have been too optimistic. Although attendances have increased since leaving the National Hockey stadium, the stadium has yet to sell out. With the average attendance (just over 10,000) during the 2008-2009 Coca Cola League One season being less than half the ground capacity, the capacity increase is looking unlikely in the short term.
[edit] Early events
Although Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the stadium in November 2007, it hosted its first game on 18 July 2007, a match against a Chelsea XI, which resulted in a 4–3 win for the home side. Later in July an England Legends XI took on a World Legends XI in a match in memory of the late England footballer Alan Ball. In November 2007 the stadium hosted its first FIFA sanctioned international football match when the England Under 21 team hosted their Bulgarian counterparts in a UEFA Euro 2009 qualifier. Since then, the stadium has been used a number of times to host England Under 21 internationals, such as a June 2009 warm-up game for the 2009 Under-21 European Championship against Azerbaijan Under-21's (which England won a resounding 7–0).[7] The stadium was used as a centrepoint for the 40th birthday celebrations of Milton Keynes which took place during 2007.
The stadium also marked another first on 8 May 2008 when it hosted its first rugby union fixture. Guinness Premiership side Saracens entertained Bristol away from their regular Vicarage Road ground, due to Watford F.C. playing at home in the 2008 Championship play-off semi-final.
[edit] Cowshed
The South stand of stadium:mk is known as the Cowshed by Dons fans, as Milton Keynes is well known for its Concrete Cows. This nickname was also used for the home end at the Dons' previous ground.
[edit] Gallery
 The view of the pitch towards the South Stand |
 The South (Cowshed) stand of Denbigh Stadium as of 16 May 2007 |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Minutes of Milton Keynes Council See item 5a.
- ^ Youtube animation of the build
- ^ Sports Venue Technology - Wimbledon FC Relocation to Milton Keynes
- ^ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2007/11/30/queen_mk_2007_feature.shtml The Queen visits Milton Keynes
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/6366309.stm Milton Keynes stadium is on track]
- ^ Winkelman can't guarantee arena! - MK Citizen 26 November 2008
- ^ "Rampant England in seventh heaven". MK Dons Official website. 2009-06-08. http://www.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~1688823,00.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
[edit] External links
- Stadium official website (Under construction).
- www.buckinghamgroup.net. Website of Buckingham Group Contracting.
- Aerial shot of the site in 1999
- 3D Model of stadium:MK in Google Earth - Modeled by Sam Johnson
- Aerial shot of the site in 2005
- (The dual carriageway across the north of the pictures is the A5 and its junction with the A421 is shown. Watling Street (former A5) runs diagonally across the picture from lower right and the West Coast Main Line railway runs up the left hand side. Bletchley railway station is just out of shot to the lower left (SW).
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Football League One venues, 2008–09
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