Riverside Stadium

The Riverside Stadium stands beside the River Tees in Middlesbrough, replacing the former Ayresome Park in 1995. Built to meet the Taylor Report’s all-seater requirement, it sits on the Middlehaven site offered by the Teesside Development Corporation. The stadium’s four main stands encircle the pitch, with the North Stand facing the river and the West Stand running its full length. Executive boxes, restaurants and the players’ tunnel occupy the West Stand, while the East Stand features a press box and family zone. White seats in the upper tiers spell out the club’s nickname and initials. The ground has witnessed notable moments since opening, including a 2–0 win over Chelsea in its first match. Craig Hignett scored the first goal, followed by Jan Åge Fjørtoft, in front of 28,286 fans. Middlesbrough’s women’s team now plays selected matches here after affiliating in 2023. A 125-metre wind turbine beside the stadium generates power, feeding excess electricity into the National Grid. The venue also hosted a pre-Olympic warm-up match featuring stars like Ryan Giggs and Neymar before the London 2012 Games. Visitors find a fully enclosed stadium where every seat offers an unobstructed view of the pitch. Concourses circle the ground, lined with kiosks serving food and drink. The South Stand hosts the Red Faction ultras group, known for their tifos. Outside, the old Ayresome Park gates stand as a memorial, flanked by statues of former players. A section of the approach road, Borobrick Road, carries inscribed bricks paying tribute to club figures and war dead. The stadium’s design ensures modern comfort while preserving links to Middlesbrough’s football past.