The Rugby Football League Board is to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Bradford City Council and the Bradford Bulls, the Bradford partnership group. This allows the partnership to explore redevelopment opportunities for schemes at the Odsal Stadium site and immediate surrounding area with the permission of the RFL Board. The MOU is non-binding.
The partnership group can now look at options with commercial developers to transform the stadium and surrounding site, into a flagship sports/leisure/commercial gateway to the city centre for residents and visitors, including ancillary retail, food and beverage and hotel accommodation.
Tony Sutton, RFL Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are committed to the protection of our sport at the site. This is our primary duty as the national governing body and the reason why the RFL originally stepped in. The market value of the site has been monitored and reviewed during the period of RFL ownership, and notwithstanding the inherent challenges with the valuation of such a unique property, the RFL Board have ensured the value of the site is sincerely reflected in the RFL’s accounts.
“The proposed redevelopment of Odsal Stadium will be contingent on the protection of professional rugby league in Bradford – this means sustaining and developing professional rugby league in the city, and ensuring that a redevelopment delivers a stadium that meets Super League Minimum Standards.
“A sale of the stadium has not taken place; and the RFL has answered all enquiries about the site with the same information. The Board’s position has been consistent as publicly stated at the time of the Bradford Northern administration in 2016 – a focus on sustaining and growing the sport in Bradford.”
As the freeholders of the stadium and surrounding land, the Council has re-confirmed its support for the owners of Bradford Bulls RLC and its plans for the future of the stadium in the context of the council’s own plans for the adjoining sports centre. This represents a multi-agency approach which has the support of the council, and brings together Bradford Bulls RLC and several parties committed to both rugby league and the growth of other sports on the wider site including football and cricket; and further and higher education stakeholders in the city.
Tony Sutton added: “The Rugby Football League acts in the interests of the whole sport, and since 2011 the RFL has held this asset for the wider benefit of the game. The RFL Board will assess whether there are any viable options following the partnership group’s discussions with developers in the market. We will keep stakeholders updated.”
Timeline and Lease information:
2011 - the RFL purchased (from Bradford Bulls Holdings Limited) the leasehold land and buildings comprising the Odsal Stadium. This purchase was of a long leasehold of 150 years commencing October 2002, originally made between Bradford Bulls Holdings Limited and Bradford City Council.
2016 – (at the time of administration of Bradford Bulls Northern Limited) the RFL reiterated its position that the RFL Board will give due consideration to any proposal put to it in relation to the acquisition of the RFL’s Leasehold Interest in Odsal and/or the development of Odsal, which properly reflects the inherent value of the site. And that the rationale for holding the lease is the protection of rugby league in Bradford and to ensure that the asset is protected even if the company running the Club fails.
Lease and the protections for the sport:
The head lease which runs for 150 years from 2002 and is between the RFL and Bradford City Council and states that the tenant (the RFL) is obliged to use the premises for the playing of first team rugby football until 31st May 2019. The use of the premises will remain protected both through the terms of any under lease to be issued being under the control of the RFL as head lease holder, plus the approval requirement of use of the premises being under the control of the landlord, Bradford City Council.
The premises are now used by Bradford Bulls, their terms of use include the obligation on Bradford Bulls not to use the Premises other than as a stadium for the playing of professional rugby league with ancillary businesses including the holding of one off events and other uses commensurate with the non-game day use of such a facility. Under this lease between the RFL and Bradford, the use of Odsal for any other use is prohibited until that agreement comes to an end and the head lease protects against any development on site without Bradford City Council’s permission.
