History
Don Valley was originally built in 1990, at a cost of £29 million, to host the 1991 World Student Games. Although there was a signature-petition, one that gathered over 5000 signatures against the stadium's closure, Don Valley is now derelict and demolition work has already begun. The large stadium closed in September 2013 due to the unsustainable losses it was generating (£700,000 last year alone). Although the stadium has been largely funded by the public taxpayer since its opening, it is being removed and a smaller replacement is due to open on Woodburn Road. In the beginning there were plans to redevelop Don Valley as a 'sports and wellbeing park', in light of the so-called Olympic Legacy, yet no such development occurred. Instead, Jessica Ennis removed a small section of the track, as a momentum for her training days at Don Valley, and the bulldozers moved in!
Our Version of Events
I passed Don Valley stadium late one evening on the tram which passes the site, on my way to see the Lego Movie
and was shocked to see how much 'progress' there had been with regard to the demolition of the stadium. We decided to return the next day and had no difficulty getting inside. We managed to have a good look at the destruction and even got inside some of the old sections of the building that hadn't yet been destroyed. There was still plenty to see, but everything is not so awesome. I for one much preferred it the way it was! Unfortunately, our trip was cut short as security turned up. Fortunately we were stood behind a one-way tinted window, though, with us standing on the favourable side as the security guard walked past. Having decided that there was much machinery and demolition equipment around us, with the supposition that we probably didn't look like the most innocent party, we decided to make a hasty exit.
Don Valley was originally built in 1990, at a cost of £29 million, to host the 1991 World Student Games. Although there was a signature-petition, one that gathered over 5000 signatures against the stadium's closure, Don Valley is now derelict and demolition work has already begun. The large stadium closed in September 2013 due to the unsustainable losses it was generating (£700,000 last year alone). Although the stadium has been largely funded by the public taxpayer since its opening, it is being removed and a smaller replacement is due to open on Woodburn Road. In the beginning there were plans to redevelop Don Valley as a 'sports and wellbeing park', in light of the so-called Olympic Legacy, yet no such development occurred. Instead, Jessica Ennis removed a small section of the track, as a momentum for her training days at Don Valley, and the bulldozers moved in!
Our Version of Events
I passed Don Valley stadium late one evening on the tram which passes the site, on my way to see the Lego Movie
and was shocked to see how much 'progress' there had been with regard to the demolition of the stadium. We decided to return the next day and had no difficulty getting inside. We managed to have a good look at the destruction and even got inside some of the old sections of the building that hadn't yet been destroyed. There was still plenty to see, but everything is not so awesome. I for one much preferred it the way it was! Unfortunately, our trip was cut short as security turned up. Fortunately we were stood behind a one-way tinted window, though, with us standing on the favourable side as the security guard walked past. Having decided that there was much machinery and demolition equipment around us, with the supposition that we probably didn't look like the most innocent party, we decided to make a hasty exit.1: Stadium Entrance Gates
2: Shot from Hillside
3: Track Shot from Hillside
4: Bar and Toilets
5: Wasted Seating
6: Fallen Canopy
7: Inside the Bar
8: Leftover Stuff
9: Centre of Stadium from Stands
10: Emergency Telephone
2: Shot from Hillside
3: Track Shot from Hillside
4: Bar and Toilets
5: Wasted Seating
6: Fallen Canopy
7: Inside the Bar
8: Leftover Stuff
9: Centre of Stadium from Stands
10: Emergency Telephone
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