Leeds United legend Gary McAllister is ‘really excited’ to see a tired-looking Elland Road get the makeover it deserves. Work is already well underway to develop and expand Elland Road this summer with overall plans to increase its capacity from around 37,000 up to 53,000. Improvements will also bring the iconic ground into UEFA Category 4 status, aligning it with elite stadiums across European football. Alongside the extra seats, Elland Road will receive a major facelift with the improvement of facilities and greater focus on fan experience. There are also plans to develop the area around the stadium, including a mass transit system and building of up to 2,500 affordable homes. “There were talks about moving away from Elland Road - I'm so glad they haven't,” McAllister told the YEP via BetSelect. “I'm really pleased that they're staying at Elland Road. For the latest Whites news, sign up for the YEP’s free Leeds newsletter. “I've seen the pictures. Amazing. In all honesty, Elland Road is a bit tired at the moment. It needs help. So, I'm really excited to see the new stadium, but it definitely needs it.” Leeds’ Elland Road expansion is also in the mind of first-team players, with Ilia Gruev referencing it during a recent interview with former club Werder Bremen. He also outlined the ambitions of club owners 49ers Enterprises to keep improving on and off the pitch. 49ers are expected to invest in Daniel Farke’s playing squad again this summer, having spent around £100million following Championship promotion. Chairman Paraag Marathe has recently spoken about the bar being raised for new arrivals with ambitions to improve the starting-XI, rather than just build depth. Expansion and development of Elland Road will increase Leeds’ revenue streams significantly, an important consideration given the new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) Premier League teams are now adhering to. And as part of a First Division title-winning White squad, McAllister can see the potential. “The owners see it as a big city club,” the former Whites midfielder added. “They're going to build a stadium that befits the whole city, and it's really exciting. Leeds is one of the clubs that would attract players simply because the atmosphere at the stadium is pretty special.”
