Crystal Palace could stage big-time international athletics again as soon as 2028, the project director responsible for redeveloping the National Sports Centre has forecast.
The facility has largely fallen into decay since the days when Sebastian Coe and Usain Bolt would light up the track. However, an initial investment of several million pounds into the site from the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, is raising hopes that the famous stadium could be also brought back to life with the right investment.
Ben Woods, who worked previously on the Olympic Park for London 2012, says there is now a “growing desire to look at the stadium again” – and that “for international-style events we’re talking five years in the future”.
The project director said: “We’ve got a magnificent stage. Where else do you get that bowl in a listed park? The name Crystal Palace is also world famous. And London, as a population of 9 million people, should have an athletics stadium that is there for 365 days a year.
“That’s the offer. We want to bring it back to life. We’ve got some capital funding but it’s the ‘what if’ question. It’s really dependent on others coming on that journey and so far the mood music has been very positive.”
Woods said the redevelopment of the stadium would start in phase two of his plans, in 2025. However, if they are realised, they could provide UK Athletics with an alternative home to the London Stadium, which costs millions to transform from a football ground into an athletics venue each summer. “We have a 15,000‑16,000 bowl as we speak but that could be so much more,” he said. “Whether that’s VIP, hospitality, increased capacity or modern standards of HD lighting. That’s the supercharged point. We’re open for business.”
Other plans include repairing the 50m swimming pool at the facility and providing a new outdoor 200m track that would be free for the public and could be used as a warm-up track for major events. “It’s 85% there,” Woods said.
“Can someone come in and help us with that final 15%? We want a stadium not just fit for the 21st but [the] 22nd century.”
