Sheffield Eagles Provide Stadium Update

29/04/2026

Sheffield Eagles would like to provide supporters with a further update regarding the club’s decision to move fixtures to the MEPS International Home of Football Stadium, and invite supporters to an open morning on Saturday 9th May!

This will provide supporters with the opportunity to visit the facility and put questions directly to some members of the board. Full details, including timings, will be confirmed shortly.

The club has received several questions regarding the move, and we would like to provide some further context to the decision to relocate.

While our relationship with the Steel City Stadium has strengthened significantly over the past 18 months, remaining there would have presented several ongoing challenges for the Eagles going forward.

One of the key challenges we have faced is the operational cost. Hosting fixtures comes at a cost of approximately £7,000 per game, while facing limited opportunities to generate matchday revenue, particularly through food and drink sales, is unsustainable for the club.

The limitations of the contract for our bookings, specifically around access and timings has limited our ability to stage pre-and post-match events for fan engagement.

In addition, the artificial playing surface will soon require periodic replacement of its shock absorber pad. At present, there is no clear plan, timeline, or funding structure in place to address this, and failure to replace this would ultimately result in the stadium becoming unsuitable for us, and for rugby league.

Player welfare has also been a key consideration in the move. Following a series of injuries over the past season and a half, alongside a clear preference from the squad, the move to a natural grass surface is seen as a positive step forward. This will also assist us in the player market as Super League clubs are more amenable to loaning players to clubs with a grass pitch.

The MEPS International Home of Football Stadium and our partnership with Sheffield FC provides a more sustainable and forward-looking solution for us, whilst we continue to work on plans to secure a facility for both clubs in Sheffield. There is plenty of behind-the-scenes discussion taking place with key partners and further details will be announced at the right time for the project.

Investment into the grass pitch at The MEPS Home of Football Stadium aligns with player preferences, while the financial model for matchdays allows the club to generate income through secondary sales including food, beverage, hospitality, and retail as well as having access to other commercial opportunities The facility also offers increased capacity, improved spectator amenities such as a hospitality lounge, as well as dedicated operational spaces including on-site storage. 

This, coupled with no restrictions on timings of other bookings at the stadium, will allow us to work with fans to provide an enhanced gameday experience.

The move also strengthens our alignment with Sheffield Football Club. There is growing momentum and political will behind a return to the city for Sheffield FC and we believe this partnership represents the best opportunity for Sheffield Eagles to secure a long-term home in Sheffield, on the right playing surface and within a sustainable environment.

We thank our loyal supporters for their continued understanding and backing as we take this important and required step forward for the long term future of Sheffield Eagles, and we look forward to seeing you at our open morning, as well as our first Betfred Championship fixture there against London Broncos on Sunday 24th May (3pm KO).