Editing Valley Parade

{{short description|Football stadium in Bradford, home to Bradford City A.F.C.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2014}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Valley Parade
| image = [[File:Valley Parade, Bradford.jpg|240px]]
| caption = 
| fullname = University of Bradford Stadium
| location = Valley Parade <br> [[Bradford]] <br> [[West Yorkshire]] <br> BD8 7DY <br> England
| coordinates = {{coord|53|48|15|N|001|45|32|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| surface = Grass
| opened = 1886<ref name="f53">{{cite book |last=Frost |first=Terry |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |publisher=Breedon Books Sport |year=1988 |page=53 |isbn=0-907969-38-0}}</ref>
| record_attendance = {{formatnum: 39146}} ([[Bradford City F.C.|Bradford City]]–[[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], 11 March 1911)
| seating_capacity = 24,840<ref name="official website">{{cite web |url=https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/supporters/First-Time-Visitors/ |title=First Time Visitors |access-date=5 May 2024 |publisher=Bradford City official website |archive-date=5 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505064201/https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/supporters/First-Time-Visitors/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| owner = [[Gordon Gibb|Gordon Gibb pension fund]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/display.var.2158741.0.city_back_on_an_even_keel.php |title=City back on an even keel |date=1 April 2008 |access-date=2 April 2008 |work=[[Telegraph & Argus]] |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref>
| tenants = Football<br>[[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] (1903–1985, 1986-present)<ref name="official history"/><br>[[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.|Bradford (Park Avenue)]] (1973–1974)<ref name="f62"/><br>Rugby League<br>[[Manningham F.C.|Manningham RFC]] (1886–1903)<br>[[Bradford Bulls]] (2001–2002)<ref name="bulls"/>
| dimensions = {{convert|113|x|70|yards|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="official website"/>
}}

'''Valley Parade''', currently known as '''University of Bradford Stadium''' for sponsorship reasons, is an [[all-seater]] [[association football|football]] stadium in [[Bradford]], [[West Yorkshire]], England. The stadium was built in 1886 as the home of [[Manningham F.C.|Manningham Rugby Football Club]]; it remained so until 1903, when the club changed code from [[rugby league]] to association football, and became [[Bradford City A.F.C.]]. Valley Parade has since been Bradford City's home ground, and is now owned by the pension fund of the club's former chairman [[Gordon Gibb]]. The stadium has also hosted [[Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C.|Bradford (Park Avenue)]] for one season and the rugby-league side [[Bradford Bulls]] for two seasons, and has accommodated a number of [[England national youth football team|England youth team]] fixtures. In 1908, the football architect [[Archibald Leitch]] was commissioned to redevelop the ground when Bradford City were promoted to the [[Football League Division One|First Division]]. 

Few changes were made until a [[Bradford City stadium fire|fatal fire]] on 11 May 1985, when 56&nbsp;supporters were killed and at least 265 were injured. The stand had been officially condemned and was due to be replaced with a [[Structural steel|steel structure]] after the season ended. [[Oliver Popplewell]] published his [[Public inquiry|inquiry]] into the fire, which led to the introduction of new safety legislation for sports grounds across England. Following the fire, the stadium underwent a £2.6-million redevelopment and was re-opened in December 1986. 

The ground underwent significant changes in the 1990s and the early 2000s, and now has a capacity of 25,136. The attendance record of 39,146 was set in 1911 at an [[FA Cup]] tie against [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], making it the oldest-surviving attendance record at a [[The Football League|Football League]] ground in England. The highest attendance at Valley Parade, as it is now, is 24,343, was set at a pre-season friendly against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in 2019.<ref name="Club facts">{{cite web |title=Club facts |url=https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/bradford-city---club-facts/ |website=Bradford City AFC |access-date=27 January 2023 |archive-date=27 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127114004/https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/bradford-city---club-facts/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, the stadium's name was changed because of sponsorship from the [[University of Bradford]].

==History==
[[Manningham Rugby Football Club]],which was formed in 1876, played games at Cardigan Fields in the Carlisle Road area of [[Bradford]].<ref name="f53"/> When their ground was sold to facilitate the construction of Drummond School, the club bought one-third of the Valley Parade site in [[Manningham, Bradford|Manningham]],<ref name="official history">{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/transformation-of-valley-parade-252222.aspx |title=Transformation of Valley Parade |access-date=4 February 2013 |publisher=Bradford City official website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302060558/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/transformation-of-valley-parade-252222.aspx |archive-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> taking a short-term lease on the rest of the land in time to play there for the 1886–1887 season.<ref name="f53"/> The new ground and the road upon which it was built adopted the area's name Valley Parade, which was derived from the steep hillside below Manningham.<ref name="f53"/><ref name="official website"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bantamspast.co.uk/EarlyDays/chapter3valleypa.html |title=The Origins of Bradford City—Chapter Three: Valley Parade's first season |access-date=8 April 2008 |publisher=A History of Bradford City Football Club |first=David |last=Pendleton| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012210220/http://www.bantamspast.co.uk/EarlyDays/chapter3valleypa.html| archive-date=12 October 2007}}</ref> The land was previously a quarry, and formed part of a larger site that was owned by [[Midland Railway Company]].<ref name="f53"/>

The club spent £1,400 appointing designers to oversee the excavation and levelling of the land, and moved a one-year-old stand from Carlisle Road to the highest part of the new ground. The original ground comprised the relocated stand, a 2,000-capacity stepped enclosure with the players' changing rooms beneath the stand, the playing area, a [[track and field athletics|cinder athletics track]] and fencing to limit the capacity to 18,000. The playing field was made of [[track ballast|ballast]], ashes, soil and sods. The ground was officially opened on 27 September 1886 for a game against [[Wakefield Trinity]], which was watched by a capacity crowd, but construction work meant most of Manningham's early games were away fixtures.<ref name="f53"/>

On 25 December 1888, 12-year old Thomas Coyle was killed at the ground when the barrier under which he was sitting collapsed on him, breaking his neck. An inquest decided the death was an accident that happened due to the weight of spectators leaning on the barrier. The takings from the game, totalling £115, were distributed to Coyle's family and those of other boys who were injured in the incident.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000076/18881229/033/0009 |title=The fatal occurrence in a football field in Bradford |work=[[Leeds Mercury]] |date=29 December 1888 |page=9 |issue=((15,828)) |volume=125 |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>

[[File:Valley Parade Main Stand.PNG|left|thumb|The ground's current main stand]]

Manningham RFC continued playing until 1903, when financial difficulties caused by relegation at the turn of the 20th century<ref name="d1">{{cite book |last=Dewhirst |first=John |title=City Memories – An Illustrated Record of Bradford City A.F.C. |publisher=True North Books |year=1998 |chapter=chapter&nbsp;1 |isbn=1-900463-57-1}}</ref> prompted club officials to change codes from [[rugby league]] to [[association football]]. The first association-football game to be played at Valley Parade on 6 April 1903 was a promotional fixture between a side of West-Yorkshire footballers and [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]'s [[1903 FA Cup Final|1903 FA Cup]]-winning side. The game was organised to stimulate interest in the sport in Bradford and attracted 8,000 fans.<ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=12}}</ref><ref name="f54">{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=54}}</ref> The new football club, [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]], were elected to [[The Football League]]'s [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]] the following month.<ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=13}}</ref> Bradford City's first game at Valley Parade came on 5 September 1903 against [[Gainsborough Trinity F.C.|Gainsborough Trinity]], drawing a crowd of 11,000.<ref name="f54"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=170}}</ref> As a result of alterations first implemented in 1897,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bantamspast.co.uk/grounds/valley_parade.html |title=A History of Bradford City – Valley Parade |access-date =28 July 2009 |publisher =A History of Bradford City Football Club |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724013340/http://www.bantamspast.co.uk/grounds/valley_parade.html |archive-date=24 July 2009}}</ref> City players originally changed in a shed behind one end of the ground and visiting teams used the old rugby club's dressing rooms at the back of the nearby Belle Vue Hotel. After City's 5–1 defeat by [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] on 10 February 1906, United player [[Bob Bonthron]] was attacked as he left the ground. As a result, [[The Football Association]] (FA) closed the ground for 14 days, ordering City to switch its changing rooms to the nearby Artillery Barracks for the [[1906–07 in English football|1906–07]] season. Several supporters faced criminal proceedings for the incident.<ref name="f54"/>

[[File:Midland Road stand for Bradford City Football Club.jpg|thumbnail|The concrete Midland Road stand for Bradford City Football Club nearing completion in 1908.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/concreteconstruc05lond#page/16/mode/2up "Reinforced Concrete Football Stand at Bradford"], ''[[Concrete and Constructional Engineering]]'', Vol. V., No. 1, January 1910, pp. 16-22.</ref>]]

After Bradford City won the Division Two championship in [[1907–08 in English football|1907–08]], the club hurriedly reconstructed the ground to prepare for the club's first season in [[Football League First Division|Division One]]. Football architect [[Archibald Leitch]] was commissioned to design new [[terrace (stadium)|terracing]] in the paddock—a standing area in front of the 5,300-seat main stand that was built in 1908—and build a [[Spion Kop (stadia)|Spion Kop]] at the north side of the ground and an 8,000-capacity stand at the Midland Road end opposite the main stand. Further work was done to lower the railings, erect barriers, move the pitch and add extra turnstiles. The changing rooms were moved and a tunnel leading from the rooms underneath the Kop along the main-stand side of the ground was built.<ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |pages=54–55}}</ref> The total project cost £9,958,<ref name="f55">{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=55}}</ref> and raised the capacity to 40,000.<ref>{{cite book |last=Inglis |first=Simon |title=The football grounds of Great Britain |publisher=Willow Books |year=1987 |page=117 |isbn=0-00-218249-1}}</ref> The work was completed midway through the [[1908–09 in English football|1908–09 season]]. Following the work, the first match took place on 25 December 1908, when 36,000&nbsp;fans saw Bradford City host [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]].<ref name="d1"/> The improvements allowed Bradford City to set their attendance record of 39,146 on 11 March 1911 against [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] during the club's [[1911 FA Cup Final|FA-Cup-winning run]]. It is the longest-surviving attendance record at any league ground in England.<ref name="facts">{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/bradford-city-facts-251546.aspx |title =Club Facts |access-date =4 February 2013 |publisher =Bradford City official website |url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302060524/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/bradford-city-facts-251546.aspx |archive-date =2 March 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Valley Parade Midland Road.PNG|right|thumb|The Midland Road stand]]

On 17 March 1932, Bradford City paid [[Midland Railway Company]] £3,750 for the remaining two-thirds of the site to become outright owners of the ground, which was now 45&nbsp;years old.<ref name="f56">{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=56}}</ref> The stadium had remained almost unchanged since 1908, and did so until 1952,<ref name="d1"/><ref name="f55"/> when its capacity was reduced after examinations of the foundations were ordered following the 1946 [[Burnden Park disaster]]. The investigation resulted in the closure of half of the Midland Road stand, whose steel frame was sold to [[Berwick Rangers F.C.|Berwick Rangers]] for £450, and a smaller replacement stand was built at Valley Parade in 1954.<ref name="f56"/> Six years later, the stand was again demolished because of continuing foundation problems.<ref name="f57">{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=57}}</ref> Six years later, all four stands at Valley Parade were able to be opened for the first time. To enable construction of a new stand on the Midland Road side of the ground, the club directors had the pitch moved {{convert|3|yd|m}} closer to the main stand. The new stand was then the narrowest in the league.<ref name="f57"/> Further improvements to the stand were made in 1969, ready for the club's FA Cup tie with [[Football League First Division|Division One]] side [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] on 3 January 1970,<ref name="f57"/> which ended in a 2–2 draw in front of 23,000 fans.<ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=280}}</ref> The cost of the work forced the club to sell Valley Parade to [[Bradford Corporation]] for £35,000, but it was bought back in 1979 for the same price.<ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |pages=57–58}}</ref>

From 1908 to 1985, the club carried out other work on the rest of the ground.<ref>{{cite book
|last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |pages=55–58}}</ref> These works included the introduction of [[Floodlights (sport)|floodlights]] in English football. Valley Parade's first floodlights cost £3,000 and were mounted on telegraph poles running along each side of the ground, and were first used for a match against [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]] on 20 December 1954.<ref name="f56"/> The floodlights were replaced in 1960 and again used for the first time against Hull City; in 1962, one floodlight collapsed and an FA Cup match against [[Gateshead F.C.|Gateshead]] went ahead with only three pylons, prompting an FA inquiry.<ref name="f57"/> In 1985, the football-ground writer [[Simon Inglis]] described the view from the main stand, which was still the same as when it was in 1908, as "like watching football from the cockpit of a Sopwith Camel" because of its antiquated supports and struts.<ref>{{cite book |last=Inglis |title=The football grounds of Great Britain |page=118}}</ref>

[[File:Valley Parade 1990s.jpg|thumb|left|Valley Parade during the early 1990s, after it had been redeveloped following the [[Bradford City stadium fire|fire]], but before further work at the end of that decade]]

On 11 May 1985, 56 people died and at least 265 were injured in the [[Bradford City stadium fire]] at Valley Parade's main stand; it was one of the [[List of accidents and disasters by death toll#Sporting events|UK's worst sporting disasters]]. The fire started 40&nbsp;minutes into the club's final game of the [[1984–85 in English football|1984–85]] season against [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]. The main stand was destroyed in nine minutes.<ref name="f53"/><ref name="bbc fire">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/11/newsid_2523000/2523561.stm |title=BBC On this day – 1985: Fans killed in Bradford stadium fire |access-date=16 March 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 May 1985 |archive-date=25 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525070438/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/11/newsid_2523000/2523561.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> For the next season and the first five months of the [[1986–87 in English football|1986–87]] season, Bradford City played home games at [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]]'s stadium at [[Elland Road]], [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]'s ground at [[Leeds Road, Huddersfield|Leeds Road]] and [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford Northern]]'s [[Odsal Stadium]], while Valley Parade was rebuilt.<ref name="f60-61">{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |pages=60–61}}</ref> The Huddersfield-based firm J Wimpenny carried out the £2.6&nbsp;million work, which included funding from insurance pay-outs, [[The Football League]] stadium grants, club funds, and a £1.46&nbsp;million Government loan obtained by the Bradford MPs [[Geoffrey Lawler]] and [[Max Madden]]. A new, 5,000 all-seater main stand that was longer than the previous structure, was built. The Kop was covered for the first time and increased to a 7,000 capacity. Other minor work was carried out to the ground's other two stands.<ref name="f59-60">{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |pages=59–60}}</ref> On 14 December 1986, 582&nbsp;days after the fire, The Hon Sir [[Oliver Popplewell]], who had conducted the inquiry into the fire, opened the new stadium before an exhibition match against an England international XI.<ref name="f59-60"/><ref name="inglis121">{{cite book |last=Inglis |title=The football grounds of Great Britain |page=121}}</ref> The new stand was first used for a league game on 26 December when City lost 1–0 to [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Frost|title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=314}}</ref>

[[File:Valley Parade, Bradford.jpg|thumb|right|A view of the main stand from the Bradford end of the ground]]

The two stands that were not altered after the fire were improved during the 1990s. In 1991, the Bradford end of the ground was made a double-decker, all-seater stand, with a new scoreboard. FollowingCity's promotion to [[Football League Division One|Division One]] in 1996, the club's chairman [[Geoffrey Richmond]] announced the construction of a 4,500-seat stand on the Midland Road side.<ref name="official history"/> The new stand was first used for a Yorkshire [[local derby|derby]] against [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] on 26 December 1996 and was officially opened by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] on 27 March 1997.<ref name="official history"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/sense_of_place/queen_maundy_thursday_bradford.shtml |title=The Royal Maundy Service |date=24 March 2005 |access-date=16 March 2008 |publisher=BBC Bradford and West Yorkshire |archive-date=11 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111153501/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/sense_of_place/queen_maundy_thursday_bradford.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Richmond continued his plans to redevelop the ground asthe club continued to rise through the league. The roof of the Kop, which was the largest safe-standing terrace in England at the time,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8078381.City_get_apology_over__sick__chants/ |title=City get apology over 'sick' chants |date=2 April 1998 |access-date=4 December 2016 |work=Telegraph & Argus |archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221002447/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8078381.City_get_apology_over__sick__chants/ |url-status=live}}</ref> was removed and the capacity reduced during City's [[1998–99 in English football|1998–99]] promotion season to prepare for a summer £6.5&nbsp;million rebuilding programme. The Kop was converted into a two-tier, 7,500-seat stand.<ref name="official history"/> An additional 2,300-seat capacity corner section was built, filling the corner between the main stand and the Kop. The new section was opened in December 2000, taking the capacity of Valley Parade to more than 20,000 for the first time since 1970.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2000/12/16/146052.html |title=City to break crowd record |date=16 December 2000 |access-date=16 March 2008 |work=Telegraph & Argus |url-status=dead |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090111225505/http://archive.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/2000/12/16/146052.html |archive-date=11 January 2009}}</ref> A suite of offices and a shop were added at the same time.<ref name="official history"/> Once the work was completed, a second tier was added to the main stand at the cost of £6.5&nbsp;million. It was opened in 2001, increasing the main stand's capacity to 11,000, and the ground's capacity to 25,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8060392.Common_sense_urged_in_row_over_Kop_stand/ |title=Common sense urged in row over Kop stand |date=18 December 1999 |access-date=4 December 2016 |work=Telegraph & Argus |archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221003117/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8060392.Common_sense_urged_in_row_over_Kop_stand/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="valley 27000">{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8058187.Valley_set_for_27_000/ |title=Valley set for 27,000 |date=22 February 2000 |access-date=4 December 2016 |work=Telegraph & Argus|archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221003801/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8058187.Valley_set_for_27_000/ |url-status=live
}}</ref>

Richmond also planned to increase the main stand's capacity by a further 1,800&nbsp;seats by building new changing rooms and office blocks, and adding a second tier to the Midland Road stand to increase the ground's capacity to more than 35,000.<ref name="valley 27000"/> In May 2002, the club went into [[administration (insolvency)|administration]] and Richmond was replaced by new co-owners [[Julian Rhodes]] and [[Gordon Gibb]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1991829.stm |title=The price of ambition |date=17 May 2002 |access-date=16 March 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport |first=John |last=May |archive-date=5 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905185903/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/1991829.stm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/2176235.stm |title=Bradford to play on |date=6 August 2002 |access-date=16 March 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport |archive-date=9 May 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040509074937/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/2176235.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, Valley Parade was sold to Gibb's pension fund for £5&nbsp;million, and the club's offices, shop and car park were sold to the London-based company [[Development Securities]] for £2.5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/3135993.stm |title=Valley Parade sold for £5m |date=8 August 2003 |access-date=16 March 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport |archive-date=13 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113004554/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/3135993.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, Bradford City's annual rent bill to Gibb's pension fund was £370,000. The total budget for the year, including other rent payments, [[rates (tax)|rates]], maintenance and utility bills was £1.25&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/bradford-city/exclusive_bradford_city_could_quit_valley_parade_over_rent_costs_1_3285007 |title=Exclusive: Bradford City could quit Valley Parade over rent costs |date=14 April 2011 |access-date=24 April 2011 |newspaper=Yorkshire Post |first=Richard |last=Sutcliffe}}</ref>

Valley Parade has been renamed several times for sponsorship reasons. Sponsors have included the radio station [[The Pulse of West Yorkshire]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8062132.Bantams__big_leap/ |title=Bantams' big leap |date=29 October 1999 |access-date=4 December 2016 |work=Telegraph & Argus |archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221003627/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8062132.Bantams__big_leap/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the bank [[Bradford & Bingley]], the electronics firm [[Intersonic]]<ref name="another name">{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1576730.0.another_name_for_valley_parade.php |title=Another name for Valley Parade! |date=26 July 2007 |access-date=24 March 2008 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker}}</ref> and the double-glazing firm Coral Windows.<ref name=":0" /> The ground was renamed Northern Commercials Stadium in July 2016 but was still commonly known as Valley Parade.<ref name="official website"/><ref name="another name"/><ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1580765.the_coral_windows_stadium/ |title=The Coral Windows Stadium |date=29 July 2007 |access-date=24 March 2008 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker |archive-date=15 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115111500/https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/1580765.the_coral_windows_stadium/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/7963855.stm |title=Wigan's JJB Stadium to be renamed |date=25 March 2009 |access-date=25 March 2009 |publisher=BBC Sport |archive-date=21 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221053155/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/7963855.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2019 it was re-sponsored and renamed the Utilita Energy Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/17764481.bradford-city-39-s-valley-parade-becomes-utilita-energy-stadium/|title=Valley Parade becomes Utilita Energy Stadium with new power partnership|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|date=11 July 2019 }}</ref> This deal concluded in July 2022 and the stadium was subsequently renamed University of Bradford Stadium.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 27, 2022 |title=Partnership signing unveils University of Bradford Stadium - 2022 - News |url=https://www.bradford.ac.uk/news/archive/2022/partnership-signing-unveils-university-of-bradford-stadium-1.php |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=[[University of Bradford]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Structure and facilities==
[[File:Valley Parade Carlsberg Stand.JPG|thumb|left|The Kop, formerly known as the Carlsberg stand]]

The Valley Parade stadium is divided into five all-seater stands, the [[JCT600]] Stand, the Kop, the Midland Road Stand, the North West Corner and the TL Dallas Stand.<ref name="official website"/><ref name="ground guide">{{cite web |url=http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/park/yfh45/bradford.htm |title=Bradford City |access-date=24 March 2008 |publisher=Internet Football Ground Guide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407054315/http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/park/yfh45/bradford.htm |archive-date=7 April 2008}}</ref> All five stands, except for a small part of the main stand, are covered<ref name="tickets">{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/tickets/match-home-tickets/ |title=Match Home Tickets |access-date=4 February 2013 |publisher=Bradford City official website |archive-date=9 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509180727/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/tickets/match-home-tickets/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> and all but the Midland Road Stand are two-tiered. Most of the stands are cantilever structures, and because of the ground's location on the hillside, the Midland Road Stand overhangs the road.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8065099.Bantams_Special__The_man_with_a_vision/ |title=Bantams Special: The man with a vision |date=13 May 1999 |access-date=4 December 2016 |work=Telegraph & Argus |archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221001528/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8065099.Bantams_Special__The_man_with_a_vision/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8064158.City_aim_to_raise_the_roof/ |title=City aim to raise the roof |date=26 August 1999 |access-date=4 December 2016 |work=Telegraph & Argus |archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221003545/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8064158.City_aim_to_raise_the_roof/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Many of the stands have more-traditional names but have since been renamed because of sponsorship deals. The JCT600 Stand is the ground's main stand, and fans often call thus, but is also known as the Sunwin Stand after its former sponsor. The [[Spion Kop (stadia)|Kop]],<ref name="ground guide"/> was the standing area whose name was derived, like at many stadia across England, from the [[Battle of Spion Kop]]. The East Stand, which is sponsored by Northern Commercials, is also named the Midland Road Stand because of the road on that side of the ground. The TL Dallas Stand is also known as the Bradford end because it is nearest to the city centre.<ref name="official history"/>

The capacity of Valley Parade is 24,840. The largest stand is the Morrisons Family Stand, which holds 9,004 supporters, followed by the Kop, which has a capacity of 7,392. The Bradford Lifts Stand holds 4,500 and the North West Corner 2,300. The TL Dallas Stand is the smallest of the five stands with a capacity of 1,644.<ref name="official website"/> The stadium includes 1,34&nbsp;seats for media representatives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/commercial/Press_media/ |title=PRESS/MEDIA |access-date=4 February 2013 |publisher=Bradford City official website |archive-date=4 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204001616/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/commercial/Press_media/
|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Sunwin Stand has further room for expansion,<ref name="valley 27000"/> and is unusual because it covers only three-quarters of the length of the pitch. The rest of this side is taken up by a brick building in the south-west corner of the stadium that houses the club's changing rooms and security offices.<ref name="official history"/> The Sunwin Stand also includes the ground's 17&nbsp;executive boxes and conference facilities, which have capacity of 700&nbsp;people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/conference-banqueting-273471.aspx |title=Conference & Banqueting |access-date= 4 February 2013 |publisher=Bradford City official website |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130302112945/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/conference-banqueting-273471.aspx |archive-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> A second function room, called the Bantams Bar, in the Kop can accommodate 300 people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/new-component-273394.aspx |title=Bantams Bar |access-date= 4 February 2013 |publisher=Bradford City official website |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130302112954/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/new-component-273394.aspx |archive-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> There is more office space, a club store, ticket office and a museum in the car park behind the Kop.<ref name="official history"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.1608557.0.bantams_museum_reopens.php |title=Bantams museum reopens |date=10 August 2007 |access-date=24 March 2008 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Mark |last=Casci}}</ref> From early 2010, the area near the store includes a [[dental surgery]], which will be run by NHS Bradford and Airedale in partnership with the football club.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4638176.Dental_surgery_to_open_at_Valley_Parade/ |title=Dental surgery to open at Valley Parade |date=18 September 2009 |access-date=18 September 2009 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Hannah |last=Baker |archive-date=23 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923165505/https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4638176.Dental_surgery_to_open_at_Valley_Parade/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Visiting team fans sat in the TL Dallas Stand from 1995 to 2008,<ref name="behind">{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/display.var.2095316.0.fans_get_behind_city.php |title=Fans get behind City! |date=6 March 2008 |access-date=6 March 2008 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker |archive-date=9 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309200917/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/display.var.2095316.0.fans_get_behind_city.php |url-status=live}}</ref> but have also been given other parts of the ground for large matches.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8045968.Police_fear_fan__disaster_/ |title=Police fear fan 'disaster' |date=7 February 2001 |access-date=4 December 2016 |work=Telegraph & Argus |archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221004029/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8045968.Police_fear_fan__disaster_/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/7995227.City_take_stand_to_maximise_revenue/ |title=City take stand to maximise revenue |date=26 January 2005 |access-date=4 December 2016 |work=Telegraph & Argus |archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221000658/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/7995227.City_take_stand_to_maximise_revenue/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2008, the club announced the TL Dallas Stand would be made available for home fans during the [[2008–09 in English football|2008–2009]] season. The decision came after an overwhelmingly positive text-message poll from the club's supporters to use the Bradford End of the ground. Fans of visiting teams have been accommodated in the end blocks of the East Stand since the start of the 2008–2009 season.<ref name="behind"/>

==Fire disaster==
{{Main|Bradford City stadium fire}}
[[File:Valley Parade Memorial.PNG|upright=0.7|thumb|A memorial, erected on the club's main stand, to the victims of the [[Bradford City stadium fire|fire]] in 1985]]

On 11 May 1985, 11,076 people attended Bradford City's final [[Football League Third Division|Division Three]] game of the [[1984–85 in English football|1984–1985]] season against [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=310}}</ref> The Bradford side had won the Division Three title the week before when they defeated [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] 2–0. The league trophy was presented to City's skipper [[Peter Jackson (footballer born 1961)|Peter Jackson]] before the Lincoln game.<ref name="f37">{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=37}}</ref> The score was still 0–0 after 40&nbsp;minutes of the game<ref name="f37"/> when a small fire was noticed three rows from the back near one end of the main stand. The flames became more visible within minutes, and police started to evacuate people in the stand less than six minutes later.<ref name="bbc fire"/><ref name="inglis361">{{cite book |last=Inglis |title=The football grounds of Great Britain |page=361}}</ref>

The club's chairman [[Stafford Heginbotham]], who was in the main stand, described the effect and his reaction to the disaster: "The fire just spread along the length of the stand in seconds. The smoke was choking. We couldn't breathe. It was to be our day."<ref>{{cite news |title=Hideous images linger after carnage of 'celebration' day |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1985/may/13/fromthearchive |work=The Guardian |date=13 May 1985 |access-date=5 April 2008 |first=Malcolm |last=Pithers |location=London |archive-date=5 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205022757/http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1985/may/13/fromthearchive |url-status=live}}</ref> The game was stopped and the wooden roof caught fire. The fire spread the length of the stand, and timber and the roof began to fall onto the crowds. Black smoke enveloped the rear passageways, where fans were trying to escape.<ref name="inglis361"/> The fire killed 56&nbsp;spectators, ranging in age from 11-year-old children to the 86-year-old former chairman of the club Sam Firth.<ref name="f53"/><ref name="bbc fire"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/in-memoriam-252356.aspx |title=In memoriam |access-date=4 February 2013 |publisher=Bradford City official website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302060515/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/in-memoriam-252356.aspx |archive-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> At least 265 supporters were injured.<ref name="official fire">{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/valley-parade-fire-disaster-252394.aspx?pageView=full |title=Valley Parade fire disaster |access-date=4 February 2013 |publisher=Bradford City official website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603033916/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/valley-parade-fire-disaster-252394.aspx?pageView=full |archive-date=3 June 2015}}</ref> In some cases, the few narrow escape routes led to locked doors and the only escape for most spectators was directly onto the pitch.<ref name="inglis361"/> The match was abandoned and never replayed; [[The Football League]] ordered the score at the time of abandonment to stand.<ref name="f37"/> According to Steve Smith, a former club official: {{Blockquote|All of a sudden, a sheet of flame went up to the roof and along the entire length of the stand. Within five minutes of it starting, the whole stand was burnt down. In fact, I think it was timed at 4min 35sec. The strong wind was fanning it from the end where the blaze had started.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/05/11/sfnhay11.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014065713/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fsport%2F2005%2F05%2F11%2Fsfnhay11.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 October 2007 |title=Bradford fire: forgotten tragedy of the Eighties |work=Daily Telegraph |date=10 May 2005 |access-date=5 April 2008 |first=Paul |last=Hayward |location=London }}</ref>}}

[[File:Memorial to Valley Parade Fire, Bradford (Taken by Flickr user 25th February 2012).jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|A memorial in Bradford city centre]]

In 1986, Sir [[Oliver Popplewell]] published his inquiry into the fire, which led to the introduction of new safety legislation for sports grounds across England.<ref name="bbc fire"/> The forensic scientist [[David Woolley]] believed the cause of the fire was a discarded cigarette or a match that had dropped through gaps between the seating to a void below the stand where rubbish had built up.<ref name="inglis361"/><ref name="official fire"/> A number of police officers and 22&nbsp;spectators were given bravery awards for their actions during the incident.<ref name="bbc fire"/>

The stand's wooden roof was due to be replaced the day after the Lincoln match because it did not meet the safety regulations required for [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]], in which the team would be playing in the following season.<ref>{{cite book |last=Inglis |title=The football grounds of Great Britain |page=120}}</ref> Work did not begin until July 1986.<ref name="inglis121"/> The ground was used for reserve-team fixtures from September 1985 but only journalists and club officials were able to watch.<ref name="official history"/> Bradford City's senior team played home games at other grounds in West Yorkshire for 19&nbsp;months while Valley Parade was rebuilt.<ref name="f60-61"/> The new ground, which cost £2.6&nbsp;million (£{{Inflation|UK|2.6|1986|r=1|fmt=c}} million today) to rebuild, was reopened in December 1986.<ref name="inglis121"/>

More than £3.5&nbsp;million (£{{Inflation|UK|3.5|1985|r=1|fmt=c}} million today) was raised for victims of the fire and their families through the Bradford Disaster Appeal Fund.<ref name="bbc fire"/> Memorials have been erected at the ground and at [[Bradford City Hall]], the latter of which was provided by Bradford's twin town of [[Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia|Hamm]], Germany.<ref name="official fire"/> The disaster is also marked by an annual remembrance ceremony on 11 May at Bradford City Hall,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/4506597.stm |title=Bradford remembers fire disaster |date=11 May 2005 |access-date=25 March 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport |first=Peter |last=Scrivener |archive-date=22 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422112433/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/4506597.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> and an annual Easter-weekend youth tournament, which is contested between Bradford, Lincoln and other European teams.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/display.var.2141134.0.tournament_tribute_to_fire_victims.php |title=Tournament tribute to fire victims |date=24 March 2008 |access-date=25 March 2008 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Mel |last=Fairhurst}}</ref>

==Other uses==
Valley Parade was the headquarters of [[West_Riding_Artillery|The 2nd West Riding Brigade Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Force)]]. The ground hosted its first international football game just two months after its first Football League match. The game's governing bodies wanted to promote football in the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]] and chose Valley Parade to host a game between an English League side and an [[Irish Football League|Irish League]] side, despite the ground being below standard. An estimated 20,000 spectators attended the match on 10 October 1903, which the English League won 2–1. Over the next 20 years, the ground hosted a number of other representative games, including an [[England national football team|England international]] trial, the 1904 [[FA Amateur Cup]] Final and an under-15s schoolboy international between England and Scotland. On 6 April 1987, the ground hosted another international when [[England national under-18 football team|England under-18s]] drew 1–1 with [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]].<ref name="f62">{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=62}}</ref>

Other under-18 fixtures have been played since 1987, the last of which was between England and [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] in November 2000.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/8056944.Tickets_go_on_sale_for_youth_international/ |title=Tickets go on sale for youth international |date=25 March 2000 |access-date=4 December 2016 |work=Telegraph & Argus |archive-date=5 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305005220/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/search/8056944.Tickets_go_on_sale_for_youth_international/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U18s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2000/11/1051.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20041210164106/http://www.thefa.com/England/U18s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2000/11/1051.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2004 |title=Rain fails to spoil England parade |date=6 November 2000 |access-date=16 March 2008 |publisher=The Football Association}}</ref> It hosted two [[England national under-21 football team|England under-21]] international friendlies; the first was against [[Denmark national under-21 football team|Denmark's under-21s side]] on 8 October 1999, which ended with a score of England 4–1 Denmark.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/archive/1999/09/30/Bradford+District+Archive/8063157.Bradford_will_get_a_big_boost_says_boss_Wilkinson/ |title=Bradford will get a big boost says boss Wilkinson |date=30 September 1999 |access-date=4 February 2013 |work=Telegraph & Argus |archive-date=24 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624025653/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/archive/1999/09/30/Bradford%20District%20Archive/8063157.Bradford_will_get_a_big_boost_says_boss_Wilkinson/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The other was against [[Italy national under-21 football team|Italy's under-21s]] on 26 March 2002, which ended in a 1–1 draw with 21,642 in attendance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1892978.stm |title=England U21s draw with Italy |date=26 March 2002 |access-date=16 March 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport |archive-date=10 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030410035406/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1892978.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> Valley Parade's next international came seven years later when Bradford City hosted an under-19s European Championship qualifying game, in which England defeated [[Slovakia national football team|Slovakia]] 4–1.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/4407668.England_hit_form_at_Valley_Parade/ |title=England hit form at Valley Parade |date=29 May 2009 |access-date=4 June 2009 |work=Telegraph & Argus |first=Simon |last=Parker |archive-date=2 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602093358/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/4407668.England_hit_form_at_Valley_Parade/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[England women's national football team|England women's team]] have also played at Valley Parade, including their 1994 first home match under the auspices of [[The Football Association]] (FA) against [[Spain women's national football team|Spain]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/womens-seniors/News/2002/33002 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104223153/http://www.thefa.com/England/womens-seniors/News/2002/33002 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 January 2013 |title=England Statistics |date=3 December 2002 |access-date=1 February 2011 |publisher=The Football Association}}</ref>

[[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.|Bradford (Park Avenue)]] have played 29 games at Valley Parade, including a 2–0 friendly victory over Swiss side [[AC Lugano]] in 1962, and all of their home fixtures in [[1973–74 in English football|1973–1974]], their last season before the club's extinction.<ref name="f62"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Inglis |title=The football grounds of Great Britain |page=356}}</ref> Bradford's [[rugby league]] side [[Bradford Northern]] played a number of fixtures at Valley Parade between 1920 and 1937, as well as three games in the 1980s and the 1990s.<ref name="f64">{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=64}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bantamspast.co.uk/TheGrounds/rugbyleagueatval.html |title=Rugby League at Valley Parade |access-date=16 March 2008 |publisher=A History of Bradford City Football Club| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225124634/http://www.bantamspast.co.uk/TheGrounds/rugbyleagueatval.html| archive-date = 25 February 2008}}</ref> Bradford Northern became [[Bradford Bulls]] with the advent of the [[Super League]], and played two seasons at Valley Parade in 2001 and 2002 while their home ground [[Odsal Stadium]] was redeveloped.<ref name="bulls">{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8049366.Bulls__big_price_rises/|title=Bulls' big price rises |date=11 November 2000 |access-date=4 December 2016 |work=Telegraph & Argus|archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220235805/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8049366.Bulls__big_price_rises/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Records==
[[File:Valley Parade attendances.PNG|left|thumb|[[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]'s average and highest league attendances at Valley Parade, for full seasons, since the ground reopened in 1986]]

The record attendance at Valley Parade is 39,146 for Bradford City's FA Cup fourth round tie against [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] on 11 March 1911.<ref name="facts"/> The highest league attendance of 37,059 was for a [[Bradford derby]] match between Bradford City and [[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.|Bradford (Park Avenue)]] on 17 September 1927 in [[Football League Third Division North|Division Three (North)]].<ref name="f374">{{cite book
|last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |page=374}}</ref> The record attendance since the Valley Parade grounds were rebuilt in 1986 with all-seated attendance is 24,343, which was set on 14 July 2019 during a pre-season friendly against Liverpool.<ref name="Club facts" /> The highest attendance for a competitive fixture is 24,321, which was set on 7 March 2015 in the [[2014–15 FA Cup#Sixth Round Proper|2015 FA Cup quarter-finals]] draw against [[Reading F.C.|Reading]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/31669807|title=Bradford City 0-0 Reading|date=7 March 2015|access-date=13 November 2018|work=BBC Sport|archive-date=13 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113213356/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/31669807|url-status=live}}</ref> exceeding the previous record of 23,971, which was set on 10 December 2012 in the club's [[2012–13 Football League Cup#Quarter-finals|2012–13 Football League Cup quarter-finals]] win against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20880586|title=Bradford 3-1 Aston Villa|date=13 November 2018|access-date=13 November 2018|work=BBC Sport|archive-date=3 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103024339/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20880586|url-status=live}}</ref> The lowest attendance for a league home match at Valley Parade is 1,249, which occurred on 15 May 1981, for a [[Football League Fourth Division|Division Four]] fixture with [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]].<ref name="f374"/> The record gate receipts for Bradford City is £181,990 for the Premier League game with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] on 13 January 2001.<ref name="facts"/>

[[The Football League]] did not record official attendance figures for league games until 1925. City's official highest-average attendance at Valley Parade since then is 18,551 for the [[1928–29 in English football|1928–29]] [[promotion and relegation|promotion]] season from Division Three (North),<ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |title=Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988 |pages=372–373}}</ref> although the club reported an average of 22,585 in [[1920–21 in English football|1920–21]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Dewhirst |title=City Memories – An Illustrated History of Bradford City A.F.C. |chapter=chapter&nbsp;2}}</ref> After Bradford City were promoted to the Premier League in 1999, the club again recorded average attendances in excess of 18,000. City recorded an average attendance of 18,030 in [[1999-2000 in English football|1999–2000]], and 18,511 the following season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics/0,,12306,00.html |title=Statistics |access-date=26 March 2008 |publisher=Premier League |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230130252/http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics/0,,12306,00.html |archive-date=30 December 2010 }}</ref>

During their two years at Valley Parade, Bradford Bulls recorded their highest attendance of 16,572 on 4 March 2001 against [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/bb_experience_full.asp?experienceid=13 |title=Records Board |access-date=26 March 2008 |publisher=Bradford Bulls official website| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080213103339/http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/bb_experience_full.asp?experienceid=13| archive-date=13 February 2008}}</ref> Bulls averaged 11,488 in 2002 for [[Super League VII]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/bb_news_full.asp?newsid=335 |title=Super League Crowd Boost |date=25 September 2002 |access-date=26 March 2008 |publisher=Bradford Bulls official website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928094142/http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/bb_news_full.asp?newsid=335 |archive-date=28 September 2006}}</ref> The highest crowd for a Bradford Northern fixture at Valley Parade was 20,973 on 13 February 1926 for a [[Challenge Cup]] game against [[Keighley Cougars|Keighley]], which finished 2–2.<ref name="f64"/>

==Transport==
Bradford is served by two railway stations;<ref name="train">{{cite web |url=http://www.visitbradford.com/visitor-information/travel-information.aspx |title=How to get to Bradford – Road and Railway information |access-date=4 February 2013 |publisher=Visit Bradford |archive-date=18 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618085001/http://www.visitbradford.com/visitor-information/travel-information.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Bradford Interchange]], which is also the city's main bus terminus,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wymetro.com/BusTravel/BusStationsAndStops/BradfordInterchange/ |title=Metro: Bradford Interchange |access-date=24 February 2008 |publisher=West Yorkshire Metro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324051754/http://www.wymetro.com/BusTravel/BusStationsAndStop/BradfordInterchange  |archive-date = 24 March 2010}}</ref> and {{convert|1|mi|km|sigfig=1|spell=on}} from Valley Parade.<ref name="raileasy">{{cite web |url=http://www.raileasy.co.uk/go/attractions/bradford-city-fc |title=Bradford City FC |access-date=9 April 2008 |publisher=Raileasy |archive-date=3 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003173205/http://www.raileasy.co.uk/go/attractions/bradford-city-fc |url-status=dead}}</ref> The other is [[Bradford Forster Square railway station|Bradford Forster Square]],<ref name="train"/> which is {{convert|0.6|mi|km|sigfig=1}} away from the ground.<ref name="raileasy"/> Bradford Interchange connects to [[Leeds railway station]] for [[London North Eastern Railway]] and [[CrossCountry]] train services, [[Grand Central (train operating company)|Grand Central]] provide a direct service to London, and provides [[First Bradford]] and [[Keighley Bus Company]] buses to the ground. Forster Square, which provides train services operated by [[Northern (train operating company)|Northern]], also connects to Leeds. The stadium has no parking facilities available to supporters on match days.<ref name="official website"/> In 2000, as part of the expansion of Valley Parade, the club drew up a green transport plan to ease traffic congestion around the ground. Proposals included a new railway station on the line between Leeds and Bradford Forster Square, and a discounted bus service.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/archive/2000/02/19/Bradford+District+Archive/8058269.City_quiz_their_fans/ |title=City quiz their fans |date=19 February 2002 |access-date=4 February 2013 |work=Telegraph & Argus |archive-date=24 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624030401/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/archive/2000/02/19/Bradford%20District%20Archive/8058269.City_quiz_their_fans/ |url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2013}}, no railway station had been built and a discounted bus route was withdrawn because of low patronage.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/archive/2000/01/28/Bradford+District+Archi/8059169.Bantams_bus_route_kicked_into_touch/ |title=Bantams bus route kicked into touch |date=28 January 2000 |access-date=4 February 2013 |work=Telegraph & Argus |archive-date=24 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624030520/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/archive/2000/01/28/Bradford+District+Archive/8059169.Bantams_bus_route_kicked_into_touch/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of stadiums in the United Kingdom by capacity]]
*[[Lists of stadiums]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Valley Parade}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/360/version2_valley_parade.shtml |title=West Yorkshire in 360°! Valley Parade, Bradford |publisher=BBC Bradford & West Yorkshire |access-date=24 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311195601/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/360/version2_valley_parade.shtml |archive-date=11 March 2008 }}
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{{Bradford City A.F.C.}}
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{{featured article}}

[[Category:Bradford City A.F.C.]]
[[Category:Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C.]]
[[Category:Bradford Bulls]]
[[Category:Football venues in England]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Bradford]]
[[Category:Defunct rugby league venues in England]]
[[Category:Premier League venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1886]]
[[Category:English Football League venues]]
[[Category:Manningham, Bradford]]
[[Category:1886 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Burned buildings and structures in the United Kingdom]]