Loftus Road facts for kids
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The Loft
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Loftus Road in 2025
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| Full name | Loftus Road Stadium |
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| Former names | Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium (2019–2022) |
| Address | South Africa Road |
| Location | Shepherd's Bush London, England W12 7PJ |
| Coordinates | 51°30′33″N 0°13′56″W / 51.50917°N 0.23222°W |
| Public transit |  White City Wood Lane Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Bush Market |
| Owner | Queens Park Rangers Football & Athletic Club Ltd |
| Capacity | 18,439 |
| Record attendance | 35,353 including standing (Queens Park Rangers v. Leeds United, 27 April 1974); 19,002 all-seated (Queens Park Rangers v. Manchester City, 6 November 1999) |
| Field size | 112 by 72 yards (102 by 66 m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | Electronic |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1904 |
| Opened | 1904 |
| Tenants | |
| Shepherd's Bush FC (1904–1915) Queens Park Rangers (1917–1931, 1933–1962, 1963–present) London Wasps (Guinness Premiership) (1996–2002) Fulham (2002–2004) AFC Wimbledon (2020) |
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Loftus Road is a famous football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, West London, England. It is the home ground for Queens Park Rangers Football Club, often called QPR. The stadium can hold 18,439 fans.
For a few years, from 2019 to 2022, it was known as the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. This was to honor a former QPR youth player, Kiyan Prince, who sadly passed away. Since October 2023, it has been called the MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium because of a sponsorship deal.
In 1981, Loftus Road was the first stadium in British professional football to use an artificial pitch. This special surface was called Omniturf. It was used until 1988, when a natural grass pitch was brought back.
Other teams have also played at Loftus Road. The Rugby union team London Wasps shared the stadium with QPR from 1996 to 2002. Premier League football club Fulham also played there from 2002 to 2004 while their own stadium was being rebuilt. Even the Jamaican and Australian national football teams have played matches here.
Contents
The Story of Loftus Road Stadium
Early Days and QPR's Arrival
The stadium first opened on October 11, 1904. It was originally used by an amateur team called Shepherd's Bush. This team stopped playing during the First World War.
QPR moved into Loftus Road in 1917. Their previous ground was taken over by the army. Back then, Loftus Road was mostly an open field with a small building. A stand from QPR's old ground was moved and set up in 1919. This became the Ellerslie Road stand.
Changes and Improvements Over Time
QPR actually left Loftus Road for a short time in 1931, moving to a bigger stadium nearby. But they lost a lot of money there, so they moved back to Loftus Road in 1933.
In 1938, a new covered area for 6,000 fans was built. This brought the stadium's total capacity to 30,000 people. The club bought the stadium and some nearby houses in 1948. This helped them own their home ground.
Floodlights were first used at Loftus Road in 1953 for a friendly game. These lights were updated several times over the years to make sure games could be played at night.
The Artificial Pitch Experiment
In 1981, something very new happened: an artificial pitch was installed. This was the first time a British professional football stadium used such a surface. Some players didn't like it much. QPR's goalkeeper, Peter Hucker, said it felt like "a bit of carpet over two feet of concrete." He found diving on it very painful.
However, during the years with the artificial pitch, QPR had some great successes. They reached two cup finals and won a league championship. Some people thought the pitch gave them an advantage. The artificial pitch was removed in 1988 and replaced with natural grass.
Modernizing the Stadium
Throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, Loftus Road was rebuilt and improved. New stands were added, making it a very modern stadium for its time. By 1981, it was one of the most advanced stadiums in Britain.
From 1994, Loftus Road became an all-seater stadium, meaning every fan had a seat. However, in 2022, the club brought back "rail seating" in some areas. This allows fans to stand safely during games, which many supporters enjoy.
Sharing the Home Ground
In 2002, Fulham paid QPR to share Loftus Road for two seasons. This helped QPR with their money problems. Fulham needed a temporary home while their own stadium, Craven Cottage, was being rebuilt.
Loftus Road also hosted a special FA Cup match in 2005. A non-league team, Yeading, played against the big Premiership club Newcastle United there. Yeading's own stadium was too small for such a big game.
In 2017, Loftus Road held a charity football match called 'Game 4 Grenfell'. This event raised money for the people affected by the terrible Grenfell Tower fire. Many celebrities and former players took part.
Honoring Legends and Community
In 2019, the stadium was renamed the 'Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium'. This was a way to remember Kiyan Prince, a young QPR player who died too soon. In December 2021, one of the stands, the Ellerslie Road Stand, was renamed the Stanley Bowles Stand. This honored a famous QPR player, Stanley Bowles.
In 2023, a bar in the stadium was renamed the "Forever Rs bar." It celebrates former QPR players, managers, and coaches. It's a place for fans to gather and see club history.
The Future of Loftus Road
For many years, there have been talks about whether QPR would make Loftus Road bigger or move to a new, larger stadium. The current stadium holds 18,439 fans.
In 2011, the club's chairman said they were looking into building a new, bigger stadium in West London. In 2013, QPR discussed moving to a new site called Old Oak Common. The new stadium was planned to be called New Queens Park. However, these plans faced some challenges.
Stadium Names Over the Years
- 1904–2019: Loftus Road Stadium
- 2019–2022: Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium
- 2022–2023: Loftus Road Stadium
- 2023–present: MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium
Stadium Layout and Features
Loftus Road can hold 18,439 people. It has four main stands:
- The Loftus Engineering Stand (also called The Loft)
- The Stanley Bowles Stand
- The Bhatia Stand
- The Achilleus Security Stand
Fans often feel very close to the action at Loftus Road. This is because the stadium is quite compact. All four modern stands connect without gaps, making it feel like a tightly enclosed space. Most stands have two levels, except for the Stanley Bowles Stand.
The Bhatia Stand
The South Africa Road stand, known as the Bhatia Stand, is the largest. It has two levels and includes special executive boxes. This stand also holds the team dugouts, changing rooms, club offices, and the club shop.
The Loftus Engineering Stand
The Loft End, or Loftus Engineering Stand, is behind one of the goals. It was built in 1981. The lower part of this stand became a Family Stand in 2012. QPR often tries to score goals at this end in the second half, as it's thought to bring good luck! This stand also has a new scoreboard. Since 2022, parts of the Lower Loft have rail seats for safe standing.
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The Stanley Bowles Stand
This stand, formerly the Ellerslie Road stand, was rebuilt in 1972. It's a single-level stand and is known for its lively atmosphere. Many of QPR's loudest fans sit here. It also has rail seats for safe standing. This stand is popular for its great views of the pitch.
The Achilleus Security Stand
At the west end of the stadium is the Achilleus Security Stand. The upper part of this stand is usually where away fans sit. For league games, the lower part is for home fans. However, for cup matches, away fans might use both levels.
Other Events at Loftus Road
Loftus Road has hosted more than just football.
Rugby and Boxing Matches
The professional rugby union team London Wasps played their home games here from 1996 to 2002. They even won a championship in their first season at Loftus Road!
The stadium has also been a venue for boxing. A famous boxing match took place here on June 8, 1985. Irish boxer Barry McGuigan fought Eusebio Pedroza for a world championship title. McGuigan won in front of a huge crowd of 27,000 fans.
International Football Games
Loftus Road has hosted many international football matches. It became a popular "neutral" venue for friendly games between different countries.
- In 2002, Nigeria played Jamaica.
- In 2006, Australia played Ghana.
- In 2007, Denmark played Australia.
- In 2008, Australia played South Africa.
- In 2010, South Korea played Ivory Coast.
The stadium also hosted the 2015 Saudi Super Cup. This was the first time this competition was held outside of Saudi Arabia.
| Date | Team #1 | Score | Team #2 | Ref |
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| 2002 | Nigeria | 1–0 | Jamaica | |
| 2006 | Australia | 1–1 | Ghana | |
| 2006 | Trinidad and Tobago | 2–0 | Iceland | |
| 2007 | Denmark | 3–1 | Australia | |
| 2008 | Australia | 2–2 | South Africa | |
| 2010 | South Korea | 2–0 | Ivory Coast |
Rugby League Matches
Loftus Road has also hosted two international rugby league games:
- In 2004, Australia played New Zealand.
- In 2005, Great Britain played New Zealand.
Getting to Loftus Road
There are several ways to reach Loftus Road using London Underground trains.
- The closest station is White City on the Central line, about a five-minute walk.
- Wood Lane on the Hammersmith & City line is also very close.
- Shepherd's Bush Market is another option on the Hammersmith & City line.
- You can also use Shepherd's Bush on the Central line or Shepherd's Bush for Overground and Southern trains.
Many London Bus routes also pass near the stadium. Buses like the 228, 283, 260, 207, and SL8 can take you close to Loftus Road.
See also
In Spanish: Loftus Road para niños
