Kassam Stadium

The Kassam Stadium stands in Oxford’s Blackbird Leys district beside the Minchery Farm site. Built to replace the cramped Manor Ground, it opened in 2001 after years of financial and legal delays. The ground is named for Firoz Kassam, the club’s former chairman who took control in 1999 and settled the club’s debts. Its first match was a friendly against Crystal Palace, won on penalties after a 1–1 draw. The stadium later hosted Championship games for the first time in 2024–25 after Oxford’s promotion from League One. Oxford United’s fortunes rose and fell during the stadium’s early years. Relegated to the Conference National in 2006, the club battled financial problems and even sold players to survive. The ground has also welcomed rugby union, hosting London Welsh’s Premiership fixtures between 2012 and 2015. A crowd of 12,243 watched Oxford’s final League Two match in 2006, setting the stadium’s attendance record. Elton John played a concert there in 2006 to a near-capacity crowd of around 16,500. Visitors find a three-sided stadium with a distinctive glass entrance and three stands. The North Stand holds 5,026 seats and divides home and away fans. The East Stand includes 28 private hospitality boxes, each seating up to 20 people. The South Stand completes the ground, offering views across the pitch. Conference rooms inside the stadium host corporate and community events year-round. Despite occasional vandalism to the glass panels, the venue remains a landmark in Oxford’s sporting landscape.