A deal has finally been signed to hand over control of the Accu Stadium to Huddersfield Town.
The 30-year-old stadium – owned by Town (40%), Kirklees Council (40%) and Huddersfield Giants (20%) – has now been transferred to the football club.
A deal to hand over the stadium to Town was first mooted as far back as 2022 but no final agreement could be reached.
However, earlier this week a 300-year lease deal was formally signed while Town’s American owner Kevin Nagle was in the country.
While the deal remained unsigned, Town had effectively gained control of the stadium anyway and, Huddersfield Hub understands, had been paying 100% of the running costs.
Mr Nagle has invested substantial sums in repairs and upgrades in recent months and the club sold stadium naming rights to Huddersfield-based components firm Accu in its biggest ever sponsorship deal.
Crucially, the club also takes on the whole 53-acre site surrounding the stadium which Mr Nagle will look to develop.
Mr Nagle said: “From day one, we identified the Accu Stadium as a potential jewel in the crown of the club, and begun talks almost immediately to explore the possibility of taking control and ownership for the first time in our history.
“We knew that this wouldn’t be easy, but having the ability to shape the future of our club’s home is hugely important to us.
“I would like to place on record my thanks to Kirklees Council, Ken Davy and the Huddersfield Giants for working alongside us to make this a reality.
“An important deal for us all, the people of Huddersfield and Town supporters included, this wouldn’t have been possible without the input and hard work of all three parties.
“Through time, care and intelligent investment, we will be seeking to bring our home back up to its full potential.
“A unique stadium with the opportunity to become a true destination venue, plans are already in place and work is ongoing on evolving and future-proofing the stadium and the surrounding site, whilst never losing sight of its primary status as the proud and long-term home of Huddersfield Town Football Club.”
Huddersfield Hub understands that under the deal Kirklees Council will take ownership of the gasworks site, a vacant plot of land off St Andrew’s Road, which it has long earmarked for economic development.
Though the land was technically owned by Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd (KSDL), the company which owned the stadium, it is understood Kirklees Council was making the loan repayments as KSDL hadn’t been able to do so for some time.
Under the deal it’s also believed the council will write off millions of pounds in loans, while Huddersfield Giants will receive a sum thought to be between £5 million and £10 million, which could go towards building a new stadium of their own.
Giants owner Ken Davy wants to build a new 8,000-capacity stadium on the gasworks site but Kirklees Council won’t release it.
The council has invested a great deal of time creating its Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor, with the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus at its heart.
The council has secured investment from the Government and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority as one of three areas within the West Yorkshire Health Innovation and Digital Tech Investment Zone.
Kirklees hopes to attract the lion’s share of £180 million and the gasworks site is almost “priceless” to the council for what the land could mean for economic development and new jobs.
Mr Davy, meanwhile, is still hoping to complete the purchase of The Shay Stadium in Halifax as a temporary home for the Giants but has announced the Giants will remain at the Accu Stadium for the 2026 season.
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