Shock new tenants expected at the John Smith’s Stadium

Huddersfield Giants are set to become tenants of the John Smith’s Stadium.

Chairman of Huddersfield Town Phil Hodgkinson has revealed that the football club – alongside the Giants – could bring the venue into their control by the end of 2021.

A new structure is set to be devised with a community trust taking over control of the stadium, with a rolling 25-year lease awarded to Huddersfield Town.

That would mean that Town could make money from all stadium activities such as bar sales and food to pop concerts, conferences and events, whilst a hotel is being touted as a potential build across from the stadium, with the Giants becoming tenants of the football club.

That being said, the rugby league side would have to loan over £10 million to the football club for repair and maintenance work.

“All parties anticipate the deal will be concluded before the end of this year,” said Hodgkinson in an interview on BBC Radio Leeds.

“What that looks like is the football club will take over the running of the stadium. The stadium will be put into trust and the football club will be given a 25-year rolling lease. The Giants will become a tenant of the football club and pay rent.

“The Trust will provide an initial sum to the football club on favourable terms, I think we’re talking in the region of about £10 million to £12 million, which will be invested in the stadium.”

Hodgkinson added: “Rather than us paying rent, we’re being paid rent, and the rent that we’re paying is being invested back into the stadium to create something better for the football club and the rugby club, who will get the benefit of all this as well.”

Huddersfield finished ninth in the 2021 Super League season with just nine wins from 24 games, but Ian Watson’s side are hoping to capitalise on the momentum gained towards the end of the year.