Toughsheet Community Stadium facts for kids
Exterior view of the stadium, February 2023
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| Full name | Toughsheet Community Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names |
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| Location | Burnden Way Horwich Bolton BL6 6JW England |
| Public transit |  Horwich Parkway |
| Owner | Bolton Wanderers |
| Operator | Bolton Wanderers (1997–present) |
| Capacity | 28,723 (sports) 40,000 (concerts) |
| Record attendance | 28,353 (sports) 34,731 (concert) |
| Field size | 110 x 72 yards (100.6 x 65.8 metres) |
| Surface | Desso GrassMaster |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1996–1997 |
| Opened | 1997 |
| Construction cost | £25m |
| Architect | Populous |
| Tenants | |
| Bolton Wanderers (1997–present) | |
The Toughsheet Community Stadium is a big sports ground in Horwich, England. It is the home of Bolton Wanderers F.C., a famous football club. This stadium opened in 1997 and has had a few different names over the years.
When it first opened, it was called the Reebok Stadium. This was because of a deal with the sports company Reebok. Later, in 2014, it became the Macron Stadium. This name came from another sports brand, Macron. In 2018, it changed its name again to the University of Bolton Stadium. Since July 1, 2023, it has been known as the Toughsheet Community Stadium. There is even a hotel that is part of the stadium. Some of the hotel rooms let you see the football pitch!
Contents
Stadium History
This stadium is designed so that everyone has a seat. It can hold almost 29,000 people. It was finished in 1997. The new stadium replaced the club's old ground, called Burnden Park.
Why a New Stadium?
By the 1980s, Burnden Park was getting old and falling apart. At its busiest, it could hold 60,000 fans. But parts of it were sold off to help the club pay its bills. Also, new rules came out in 1990. These rules said that all big football clubs needed stadiums where everyone had a seat. Bolton Wanderers decided to build a brand new stadium. They chose a spot in Horwich in 1995.
The main people who designed the stadium were Lobb Sports. A local company, Bradshaw Gass & Hope, helped with the plans. The company that built it was Birse Construction. The stadium cost about £25 million (which was a lot of money back then!). It is known for its unique roof design. The stadium was officially opened in 1997 by John Prescott. He was a politician who was the Deputy Prime Minister of the UK at the time.
Stadium Stands and Names
The stadium has four main sections, called stands:
- The Carrs Pasties (North) Stand is at one end.
- The South Stand (also called Franking Sense) is at the other end. This is usually where away team fans sit.
- The West Stand is along one side of the pitch.
- The Nat Lofthouse (East) Stand is on the other side. It is named after a famous player.
When the stadium was first named after Reebok, some fans didn't like it. They felt it was too much about money. But they got used to the name, especially since Reebok was a local company. The Macron name was used from 2014 to 2018. Then, the University of Bolton became the sponsor. Finally, in 2023, it became the Toughsheet Community Stadium. This new deal is planned to last for five years.
Football Firsts
Many exciting football moments have happened at the stadium.
- The very first official match was a Premier League game. It was between Bolton and Everton on September 1, 1997. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.
- The first player to score a goal at the stadium was Alan Thompson. He scored a penalty for Bolton against Tottenham Hotspur on September 23, 1997.
- The stadium hosted its first international match on September 6, 2002. This was a friendly game between the England under-21 team and the Yugoslavia under-21 team. It was a 1-1 draw.
- The first UEFA Cup match was played here on September 15, 2005. Bolton Wanderers won 2-1 against Lokomotiv Plovdiv. This was a big moment for Bolton, as it was their first competitive European match ever!
Other Events at the Stadium
The stadium is not just for football. It also hosts many other fun events.
Concerts
Many famous music artists have played concerts here. These include Oasis, Pink, Elton John, Coldplay, The Killers, Little Mix, and Rod Stewart. Coldplay even filmed parts of their music video for "Fix You" at their concerts here!
Other Sports
The stadium has also hosted other sports events:
- The UK Open Darts Championship has been held here.
- Boxing matches have taken place, including fights with local boxer Amir Khan.
- In 2011, it hosted a rugby union match.
- It was also a venue for the Rugby League World Cup in 2021.
Other Uses
The stadium's large event space, the Premier Suite, hosts mixed martial arts events. In 2019, a political rally was held here by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the stadium was used for Crown Court cases and as a place for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Snooker and Rugby League
A professional snooker tournament, the 2021 Champion of Champions, took place at the stadium in November 2021. The stadium has also hosted several rugby league matches, including international games and World Club Challenge matches.
Bolton Wanderers Free School
From 2014 to 2017, the stadium was home to the Bolton Wanderers Free School. This was a special school for 16- to 19-year-olds. It offered courses related to sports and used the stadium's facilities for teaching. It closed because not enough students joined.
Stadium Attendances
The stadium keeps records of how many people come to watch events.
Record Attendances
- The most people ever at a sports match was 28,353. This was for a football game against Leicester City on December 28, 2003.
- The lowest number of people for a competitive match was 1,540. This was for an Under 23s game in 2016.
- The most people for a concert was 34,731.
Nat Lofthouse Statue
Outside the stadium, there is a bronze statue of Nat Lofthouse. He was a very famous player for Bolton Wanderers. The statue was put up on August 24, 2013. It cost £100,000, which was raised through donations from fans and sponsors. The club owner, Eddie Davies, officially showed the statue to everyone. The artist who made the statue, Sean Hedges-Quinn, also created statues for other football stadiums.
Getting There
The stadium is easy to get to. It is only about 200 metres from Horwich Parkway railway station. This station is on the train line between Manchester and Preston. On match days, special trains run to and from the station. The club also arranges bus services from different parts of the area.
On days when there isn't a match, trains still run regularly. Many bus routes also stop near the stadium.
See also
In Spanish: Toughsheet Community Stadium para niños
