English Club Rotherham United to Name New Stadium New York

December 20, 2011

English League Two team Rotherham United FC have named its new £20 million ($31 million) venue the New York Stadium in homage to the history of the part of the northern England town where it is based.

The stadium is built on the site of a foundry that made New York’s distinctive fire hydrants and New York is the historic name for the area.

Club chairman Tony Stewart said: ”The new stadium name is strongly rooted in more than 150 years of Rotherham’s proud history of industry and enterprise. I have had many letters, e-mails and calls from fans with their suggestions. But, over the past few weeks, the support for New York really started to gather momentum.

”After careful consultation and detailed research into the local history of the site, we felt that New York was the perfect name for our new stadium.”

Rotherham left Millmoor in 2008 after 101 years following a dispute with the stadium owner. It is playing in nearby Sheffield until New York Stadium is ready.

The steel framework on three sides of the new stadium is in place and the ground should be ready for its new tenant by the time the 2012-13 season kicks off in August.

The site previously was home to the Guest and Chrimes Foundry, which was in business from 1857 until 1999 and was one of many local works to export iron and steel infrastructure to North American cities.

But the choice isn’t just about nostalgia and local history.

”We also feel that the name can open doors for the commercial team at Rotherham United,” Stewart said. ”We looking into the possibility of setting up links between Rotherham and New York, USA.”