Leicester City Stadium

King Power Stadium stands beside the River Soar in Leicester, East Midlands. It replaced Filbert Street, which had served the club since 1891 and lay less than 300 yards away. The new ground opened in 2002 and was first called Walkers Stadium before the naming rights changed. In 2016 it became the stage for Leicester City’s Premier League triumph, the biggest shock in English football history. The stadium was designed by The Miller Partnership and built by Birse Stadia for £35–37 million. It also housed a state-of-the-art conference centre in its early years. The stadium’s story includes financial struggle after completion. Leicester entered receivership soon after moving, and Birse Construction lost part of its fee when the club could not pay. Yet the team won promotion back to the top flight that same season. In 2013 King Power bought the stadium for £17 million, giving the club long-term control. Vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said owning the ground was vital for future plans. Recent upgrades have added new screens and seat restorations, while expansion to 40,000 seats is under consideration. Visitors find a modern bowl with four stands and two giant video screens. The pitch is surrounded by seating that slopes gently towards the action. Concourses double as exhibition spaces on non-match days. Gary Lineker opened the stadium in 2002 by cutting a ribbon with giant scissors. The first competitive game drew 31,022 fans, and the club’s record attendance remains close to capacity. Outside, the riverside setting offers quiet walks beside the Soar, linking the stadium to the city centre.