Barnsley’s Oakwell stadium set for redevelopment

Barnsley Football Club’s historic Oakwell Stadium is set for long-awaited investment and improvements after the club secured a 30-year lease for the venue and surrounding area.

Last year (2023), the council became the sole owner of Oakwell Community Assets Limited (OCAL), which owns the stadium and land around it. This followed negotiations with the Cryne family, who had been joint owners of OCAL with the council since 2003.

The new lease provides the club and the council with longer-term security and stability.

Crucially, it paves way for Barnsley FC to invest in the stadium, developing Oakwell into a venue capable of hosting “unique fan experiences and events, music concerts, corporate conferences and community activities”. The move also secures the future for the newly formed Barnsley FC women’s team who will continue to play games at Oakwell.

In a statement, Barnsley Council said it will now work to further integrate the club into the existing town centre offer and explore ways in which the two can work closer together.