What & when at Monks Cross?

It isn’t just the Community Stadium (see story below) that is lying unused at Monks Cross.

The £12 million gym, swimming pool and outdoor all-weather sports pitches are also still under wraps.

Coming to Monks Cross – but when?

Around £14 million of taxpayers money has been used to subsidise the complex on top of which were “developer” contributions of over £15 million  (click).

The expectation was that the site would provide several hundred additional jobs for York – opportunities which look to be even more important as the post COVID-19 recession hits employment levels in the City.

Other sports and swimming facilities in the City reopened on 10th August (click).

IMAX cinema has reopended

The IMAX cinema recently reopened and two adjacent units have been taken up by a bowling alley/café (Hollywood Bowl) and an indoor putting green (Putstars). Opening dates haven’t been confirmed.

Both had been scheduled to open in April. Together they will create about 60 jobs.

Bowling alley and indoor putting ready to open?

Elsewhere the Council hasn’t issued any update on the progress made in letting the floor-space in the building that they have underwritten.

Frankie and Benny’s closed

Three of the 4 nearby café units are now vacant following the demise of Frankie and Benny’s.  

Costa Coffee remains open.

Costa Coffee is popular

The has similarly been no word on the plans for a library and the NHS outpatient unit.

Cycle racks at the Park and Ride site are not overused

When will LNER Community Stadium be completed?

Building work is still continuing at the site of the LNER Community Stadium at Monks Cross. It seems that it will be some time before all the buildings can be brought into use.

Community Stadium works till not completed

The main area of concern remains the stadium itself.  The authorities failed to stage the required test events before the lockdown led to a suspension of most work.

The test events – of varying capacities – are a prerequisite for the issue of a safety  certificate. Without a certificate the stadium can’t be commissioned.

It is something of a paradox that – because of social distancing regulations – initially only a proportion of the capacity would be used.  The (National League) football season is due to start at the beginning of October. That is only seven weeks away. Players will recommence training shortly and it is customary to stage friendly matches in the immediate run up to start of a season.

There is little clarify from the government at this stage about how social distancing might limit crowd numbers.

Some sports commentators have said that as few as 1 in 5 seats might be occupied.

LNER Community Stadium

Therein may be the rub for York City.

Social distancing is potentially much easier in an all seater stadium like the one at Monk Cross. If 20% of its 8512 seats were occupied then this would be enough to accommodate all season ticket holders plus a few more.

York City’s average attendance, during the last fully completed season (2018/19), was 2443.

 In the same year the York Knights Rugby Team attracted 2125.

If one in three seats could be occupied (essentially respecting a 1 metre social distancing guideline) the all regular supporters could be accommodated.

Some other teams in the National League North have announced plans to ground share at stadiums with a larger capacity to accommodate all who wish to attend.

Hopefully the Council and its partners have plans in place to quickly finish off the remaining building work and find a way to open the stadium albeit possibly with a reduced capacity.