Craven Park, Hull facts for kids
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| Former names | MS3 Craven Park KC/KCOM Lightstream Stadium KCOM Craven Park Hull College Craven Park |
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| Location | Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU9 5HE, England |
| Coordinates | 53°45′14″N 0°15′53″W / 53.75389°N 0.26472°W |
| Owner | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| Capacity | 11,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 1989 |
| Tenants | |
| Hull Kingston Rovers (1989–present) Hull Vikings (1995–2005) Hull United (2015–2016) |
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Craven Park is a sports stadium in Kingston upon Hull, England. It is also known as the Sewell Group Craven Park Stadium because of a sponsorship deal. This stadium is the home ground for Hull Kingston Rovers, one of the two professional rugby league teams in the city.
Contents
Discovering Craven Park
The Stadium's Beginning
Hull Kingston Rovers moved to this new stadium in 1989. Before that, they played at Old Craven Park on Holderness Road. The new Craven Park was special because it was the first rugby league stadium to have special hospitality boxes. These are private areas for guests to watch the games.
From 1995 to 2005, the stadium was also home to the Hull Vikings speedway team. Speedway is a type of motorcycle racing on an oval track. The Vikings left when the stadium was updated for Hull Kingston Rovers to play in the Super League.
The very first match at the new stadium was against Trafford Borough. A huge crowd of 8,500 people came to watch. Hull Kingston Rovers won that season and became Division Two champions.
Making Improvements
In 2006, the stadium and its pitch were greatly improved. This was done to help the club get back into the top division of English rugby league. There were talks in 2007 about moving Hull Kingston Rovers to a brand new stadium. However, the Hull City Council and the club decided to keep Craven Park. They made agreements to invest in and develop the stadium for many years.
The first step in improving Craven Park was adding a temporary North Stand with seats. This stand was rented from Wentworth Golf Club. It replaced an older, less suitable area for visiting fans.
Expanding the Stands
In 2008, during Hull Kingston Rovers' second season in the Super League, work began to make the East Stand bigger. This stand is where many fans stand to watch the games. The expansion added 1,120 more spaces, making its total capacity 4,750.
Plans for another expansion on the other side of the East Stand were put on hold in 2011. This was because building a brand new North Stand became the main priority.
The New North Stand
Construction on the new £8.2 million North Stand started in 2012. The temporary stand from Wentworth Golf Club was removed first. This new stand was meant to be finished by the middle of the 2013 season. The first match there was planned to be a derby game against Hull FC. However, there were disagreements between the club, Hull City Council, and the construction managers. This delayed the opening until 2014.
Because of these disagreements, the North Stand ended up being covered in sky blue rather than the red the club wanted. The club's director, Neil Hudgell, worried it would look like "a glorified office block." After it opened, the new North Stand was named the 'Colin Hutton North Stand'. This was to honor the former Hull KR coach and Great Britain national rugby league team coach.
Record Crowds and Challenges
In 2018, Craven Park set a new attendance record. A total of 12,090 fans came to watch Hull FC beat Hull Kingston Rovers in a Good Friday derby. This beat the old record of 11,181 from 2015.
In November 2018, one of the stadium's floodlights fell down. Hull Kingston Rovers called it a 'major incident'. Players and staff had to train at the University of Hull for a while. One pre-season match in 2019 had to be moved. The club returned to Craven Park in late January using a temporary floodlight.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, most Super League games in 2020 and early 2021 were played without fans. Only a few matches at Craven Park in 2021 had no fans. When fans with season tickets were allowed back in May 2021, there were still limits on how many people could attend. The club put up a temporary seated stand over the unused South Stand. This allowed 6,000 fans to watch while keeping a safe distance. This temporary stand was removed when social distancing rules ended. It was replaced by a food and entertainment area called 'Craven Streat'.
In September 2024, another temporary 1,000-seat stand was added. This was because many people wanted tickets for Hull KR's last regular match of the 2024 Super League season. This stand will be used again in August 2025 because home games have been selling out during the 2025 Super League season.
Who Owns the Stadium?
Craven Park and the land around it used to be owned by Hull City Council and Kingston Community Developments Ltd. Hull Kingston Rovers bought full ownership of the stadium in March 2022. They also have the option to buy 15 acres of land nearby.
Now that Hull Kingston Rovers owns Craven Park, the club is making more improvements. The Roger Millward West Stand is planned to be taken down and rebuilt. The new stand will have modern facilities for businesses. The club has also asked Hull City Council to rename Poorhouse Lane, the road leading to Craven Park, to Phil Lowe Way.
In June 2025, more plans were submitted for a sports village east of the stadium. This includes three new rugby league training pitches, indoor courts for netball and basketball, and outdoor padel courts. There will also be a retail park along Preston Road with 400 car parking spaces.
Exploring the Stadium's Layout
RSV Colin Hutton North Stand
Capacity: 2,600 (seated) The North Stand was first a temporary stand. It was put up after the stadium stopped being used for speedway and greyhound racing. In 2013, the new £8 million Colin Hutton North Stand opened. It hosted a 2013 Rugby League World Cup game between Papua New Guinea and France. The North Stand also has the Enterprise Business Centre and a Training Centre. There are 42 offices inside the stand for businesses.
Roger Millward West Stand
Capacity: 2,800 (seated) The West Stand is named after Roger Millward, one of the club's best players. It has the main seated area and a smaller standing area called 'The Colin McNicol Well'. This area holds about 500 fans. There is also a large mural painted in 2018 that celebrates Hull's history with the sea.
The stand has the stadium's main changing rooms, which were updated before the 2014 season. Inside, you can find The Robins Nest, Flanagan's Bar (named after former player Peter Flanagan), and The Harry Poole Bar. The Harry Poole Bar is a restaurant with views of the pitch. It also hosts interviews with players and coaches after matches. The stand also has the TV gantry, where cameras are set up.
Wow Hydrate East Stand
Capacity: (standing) + 1,000 seated The East Stand is a covered area where fans stand. It runs almost the entire length of the pitch. The north side of the stand was made bigger in 2008. The south side is being extended by January 2025. This extension was planned earlier but put on hold. In September 2024, the club announced a temporary new seating area for up to 1,000 fans. This was due to high demand for tickets. This temporary stand will be used for the 2025 Super League season. After that, a permanent £1.5 million extension will be built in 2026.
'Craven Streat'
'Craven Streat' is located on what used to be a small terraced area at the south end of the stadium. This area was taken down before the 2025 season. 'Craven Streat' started in 2021 and offers live entertainment, a large tent with bars, street food, and a big screen. It was inspired by fan parks at other stadiums. The name 'Craven Streat' reminds people of the Craven Street Football Ground, where Hull Kingston Rovers first played rugby league.
After the North Stand was finished, the club suggested building a new South Stand with a hotel in 2015. In August 2024, work began on building a 3G pitch on the South Terrace. This is part of a new sports campus that will include training facilities, a gym, and a lecture hall. Plans to expand 'Craven Streat' were announced a month later. This was because the East Stand extension took up some of the fan park's space.
What's in a Name?
The stadium's name has changed several times because of sponsorship deals.
In 2011, a local company called MS3 made a five-year deal for the naming rights. This was the first time the club had such a deal. Fans voted to call it either MS3 Craven Park or MS3 Stadium. The name MS3 Craven Park was chosen.
On January 25, 2014, Hull Kingston Rovers announced a new partnership with KC, another local company. For five years, Craven Park was called the KC Lightstream Stadium. After KC changed its brand, it became the KCOM Lightstream Stadium. This stadium is different from the KCOM Stadium on the west side of the city. On February 3, 2017, it was renamed again to KCOM Craven Park.
On August 21, 2019, Hull Kingston Rovers partnered with Hull College. The stadium was then called Hull College Craven Park Stadium. This partnership also helped academy players get training and allowed Hull Kingston Rovers players to study at the college.
On January 18, 2022, Hull Kingston Rovers announced a new name for Craven Park. They made a two-year deal with the Sewell Group. The stadium was renamed Sewell Group Craven Park.
| Years | Sponsor | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2011–2014 | MS3 | MS3 Craven Park |
| 2014–2016 | KCOM | KCOM Lightstream Stadium |
| 2017–2019 | KCOM Craven Park | |
| 2019–2022 | Hull College | Hull College Craven Park Stadium |
| 2022– | Sewell Group | Sewell Group Craven Park |
Other Events at Craven Park
Music Concerts
Craven Park hosted its first concert in 2017. About 20,000 people attended to see Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott on June 3. They were supported by Billy Bragg and The Divine Comedy.
Little Mix performed at Craven Park in July 2018 for their "Summer Hits Tour". About 20,000 people were in the crowd. They were supposed to perform again in June 2020, but that tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Westlife was scheduled to perform in July 2020, and Sir Tom Jones in June 2020. Both concerts were cancelled or rescheduled due to the pandemic. Sir Tom Jones eventually performed on September 4, 2021.
Rod Stewart performed at Craven Park on July 4, 2023, with Culture Club as support. Two days later, The Who performed with a live orchestra on July 6.
Coldplay performed two nights at Craven Park on August 18-19, 2025. They were supported by Hull rapper Chiedu Oraka and singer-songwriter Ayra Starr. These concerts were their only European dates for 2025 outside of Wembley Stadium. Ten percent of ticket money from each night was given to the Music Venues Trust. Hull was chosen for the tour because of its "authenticity, working-class roots, and passionate spirit."
Football Matches
On October 21, 2015, it was announced that the Non-League football team Hull United A.F.C. would play their home games at Craven Park.
Greyhound Racing
Greyhound racing moved to the new Craven Park in 1989, just like the rugby team. The first race meeting was on November 11, 1989. Races were held on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday nights. The track was 415 meters around. Racing continued until 2003 when it moved to the Boulevard Stadium. Both the speedway and greyhound tracks were then covered with grass.
Rugby League Challenge Cup
On January 28, 2025, Craven Park was chosen to host a 2025 Challenge Cup match. This was because Johnny Whiteley Park was not suitable. The amateur team West Hull A.R.L.F.C. played against the Super League team St Helens. Over 5,000 fans attended the match on February 8, 2025. Kick-off was delayed because stadium officials had to open the gates for free entry to many fans who wanted tickets.
| Game | Date | Result | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025; Round 3 | 8 February 2025 |  St Helens def. West Hull A.R.L.F.C. 38–0 |
5,000+ |
Speedway Racing
Speedway racing came to Craven Park in 1995 with the Hull Vikings team. It ended in 2005.
Boxing Matches
In 2015, Craven Park hosted a boxing event called 'Rumble on the Humber'. Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell fought local rival Tommy Coyle. Campbell won after ten rounds. About 15,000 people watched the fight.
Quidditch Games
On August 26, 2017, Craven Park hosted the first-ever Championship game of the Quidditch Premier League. Eight teams from two regions played. The West Midlands Revolution won the championship.
International Rugby League Games
Craven Park has hosted five international rugby league matches.
| Game# | Date | Result | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 November 2000 |  Morocco def.  Japan 12–8 |
2000 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament | |
| 2 | 3 November 2012 |  England def.  France 44–6 |
7,173 | 2012 England vs France |
| 3 | 27 October 2013 | France def.  Papua New Guinea 9–8 |
7,481 | 2013 Rugby League World Cup Group B |
| 4 | 4 November 2013 |  Samoa def. Papua New Guinea 38–4 |
6,871 | 2013 Rugby League World Cup Group B |
| 5 | 28 October 2016 | .svg){kind=small} Australia def.  Scotland 54–12 |
5,337 | 2016 Rugby League Four Nations |
