Hillsborough Stadium

Hillsborough Stadium stands in the Owlerton area of Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Built on a former meadow covered with dandelions, the ground opened in 1899 as the new home of Sheffield Wednesday. The site began with two stands moved from the club’s previous ground and grew into a modern stadium with four covered stands. Two are two-tiered and two are single-tiered, all holding similar numbers of spectators. The South Stand is the largest, while the West Stand usually hosts away fans. The stadium is remembered for the Hillsborough disaster on 15 April 1989, when 97 Liverpool supporters died during an FA Cup semi-final. The Taylor Report that followed led to sweeping changes across English football, including all-seater stadiums and the removal of high perimeter fences. Hillsborough has hosted major matches, including games at the 1966 and 1996 tournaments. Recent upgrades include a new hybrid grass pitch installed in 2025 and a modern big screen replacing the old scoreboard. Visitors find four covered stands arranged around the pitch, each with its own character. The South Stand, rebuilt for Euro 1996, dominates one side, while the West Stand faces it across the field. The pitch itself is laid with the latest hybrid grass system, designed to improve play and drainage. The stadium’s history is visible in its layout and the names of its stands, which recall earlier eras. Outside, the area remains part of Owlerton, a quiet corner of Sheffield with good views of the ground’s red-brick terraces.