Leeds United employee makes ‘big’ Elland Road development claim after ‘staggering’ news
Noel Whelan has insisted Leeds United are well placed to expand Elland Road after breaking the record attendance for a Premier League 2 game against Manchester City.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds striker and club ambassador admitted it was “staggering” to see how many made the trip to Elland Road for Friday night’s game.
Leeds revealed (22 April) that 21,321 fans were in attendance for the 3-1 defeat to City – a record for Premier League 2.
As detailed by Sky Sports last June, Leeds have plans in place to expand the stadium from 39,000 to 55,000.
Whelan insisted Friday’s game proves the “big” demand for tickets will always be there to fill the ground.
Reacting to the attendance reveal, Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “It’s staggering, but it doesn’t surprise me. We’ve had attendances of 8,000-10,000 this year. That’s with opening up just one and a bit stands.
“They opened up pretty much the full stadium for this one. A family occasion to celebrate the game with the under-23s, another fantastic season.
“It just goes to show that if we do, at some point, enhance the stadium, make it bigger, that big demand for tickets is out there. There’s no danger that we will not take up every allocated seat once that ground expansion happens.
“This is an under-23 match, which is attracting 20,000 people on a Friday evening. Now, where across the country does that happen? It doesn’t is exactly what I’m saying.
“It’s why I’m talking about the fans in such high regard. This is something we’ve not seen before in the Premier League 2 and an under-23 match.”
Leeds’ average attendance in the Premier League this season is 33,857 [Transfermarkt].
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