Barnet Copthall

Barnet Copthall is a sports venue on the Hendon-Mill Hill borders in London, which houses several complexes' local authority-owned swimming pool and gymnasium facilities, a golf-driving range with 9 hole pitch and putt run by Metro Golf. The main stadium is a multi-use venue which is home of rugby union Championship side Saracens.[1] The stadium is currently known as StoneX Stadium for sponsorship reasons[2] and has also previously been the home field of the London Broncos as well as hosting American football events such as the BritBowl.

Barnet Copthall
StoneX Stadium, then known as Allianz Park
Former namesAllianz Park (stadium)
AddressChampions Way, North Hendon
London, NW4
England
LocationHendon
Coordinates51°36′12.62″N 0°13′25.11″W
Public transit Mill Hill East
Edgware
Mill Hill Broadway
OwnerBarnet Council
OperatorBarnet Council (Swimming pools and gym)
Metro Golf (Driving Range & Golf Course)
Saracens F.C. (Stadium)
TypeSports and Recreation
Capacity10,500
Website
Leisure Centre
Copthall Stadium in 2006 before renovation

History

Stadium

Prior to the involvement of Saracens, the stadium, then primarily an underdeveloped track and field athletics arena, achieved its greatest fame when London Crusaders (now the London Broncos) made it their home for three seasons of second division professional rugby league between 1993 and 1995.

The much improved stadium today is also home to two athletics clubs, Barnet & District AC and Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers. Before Saracens took over the stadium, it was also home to non-league football club Kentish Town.

In November 2010, Saracens, searching for a new home after their landlord Watford F.C. activated a break clause in their groundshare agreement, revealed they were in discussions with Barnet Borough Council about a move to the stadium. Under the plan, Saracens would redevelop the stadium into a modern facility with 3,000 permanent seats. De-mountable stands would allow a capacity of 10,000 for rugby matches whilst retaining the stadium's ability to host athletics events. Finally, the plans called for the use of an artificial pitch, the first in English rugby union.[3]

Since final approval from Barnet Council was still required in May 2011, Saracens and Watford agreed to a one-season extension of the groundshare agreement.[4] The project was approved in February 2012.[5] The stadium opened in January 2013, after Saracens began the 2012–13 season as a nomadic club, using six different venues for home matches across all competitions (Twickenham, Wembley, Vicarage Road, Stadium MK, Goldington Road and King Baudouin Stadium).

On 25 January 2013, the newly renovated ground had its "soft opening", hosting its first Saracens match against the Cardiff Blues with Saracens winning 19–11 in the LV=Cup before a crowd limited to 3,500.[6] The new artificial pitch was reported to be very good after the game.[7] The full opening came on 16 February, with Saracens defeating Exeter Chiefs 31–11 in a Premiership match before a capacity crowd of 10,000.[8]

On 15 March 2015, it hosted the start and finish of the first edition of the North London Half Marathon, which ran to Wembley Stadium and back.[9]

On 25 June 2016, it hosted the gold medal matches for the Men's, Women's and Mixed divisions, and the bronze match for the Men's division, of the World Ultimate and Guts Championship. The preceding week of competition, and finals for Men's and Women's Masters, and Guts, was held at Watford FC's training ground.

On 2 April 2017 the stadium's capacity was expanded to 15,000 to meet capacity requirements for Saracens' European Champions' Cup quarter final match against Glasgow Warriors.

Due to major refurbishments designed to increase permanent base capacity to 10,500, the west stand is mostly closed for the 2019/20 season, reducing the base capacity of the stadium to 8500.[10]

Stadium naming rights

A sponsorship deal with German financial services company Allianz that included stadium naming rights, worth £8 million over six years, was announced on 24 July 2012.[1] The deal which saw the stadium renamed Allianz Park was subsequently extended and scheduled to end in 2021.[11] However, due to a serious breach of financial fair play rules by Saracens, in February 2020 Allianz announced its withdrawal from the arrangement and hence naming rights for the stadium and shirt sponsorship with Saracens would be terminated early, to finish at the end of the current season.[12]

The stadium officially reverted to its original name of Copthall Stadium on 26 October 2020.[13]

In January 2021, Saracens announced a new four-year partnership with StoneX Group which would see Copthall Stadium renamed StoneX Stadium.[2]

Transport

To arrive by public transport at Barnet Copthall the nearest Underground station is Mill Hill East which is on the Northern line. On match days, a Saracens' Shuttle Bus runs from Edgware, Mill Hill East and Mill Hill Broadway stations to within walking distance of the stadium. An east-west bus service, the 221, stops at the same stop near the stadium (Pursley Road).

References
  1. "Saracens agree £8m naming deal for new stadium". BBC Sport. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  2. "StoneX and City Index announce four-year sponsorship deal with Saracens Rugby". Saracens. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  3. "Saracens set out Copthall Stadium plans". BBC Sport. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
  4. "Saracens return to Watford's Vicarage Road next season". BBC Sport. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  5. "Saracens plan for Copthall stadium revamp approved". BBC News London. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  6. "LV= Cup: Saracens 19-11 Blues". BBC Sport. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  7. "Allianz Park praised after staging first match between Saracens and Cardiff Blues". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  8. "Saracens 31-11 Chiefs". BBC Sport. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  9. "North London Half". Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  10. Chris Jones (6 June 2019). "Saracens critics motivated by 'jealousy'". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  11. Gangcuangco, Terry. "Allianz extends sponsorship deal with Saracens". insurancebusinessmag.com. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  12. "Allianz and Saracens". Allianz Insurance PLC. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  13. "Club statement: Copthall Stadium (interim)". Saracens. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
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