Huddersfield Town take ownership of Accu Stadium

The Terriers are now the sole owners and operators of the stadium and its surrounding area after completing a takeover from it co-owners

Huddersfield Town now have sole ownership and operational control of Accu Stadium and its surroundings after completing a takeover of their home ground.

The stadium had previously been owned and operated as a joint venture between the football club (40%), Kirklees Council (40%) and Huddersfield Giants (20%) since opening in 1994, with the three parties holding stakes in Kirklees Stadium Development Limited (KSDL).

Town have now finalised terms on an agreement that brings KSDL and the stadium under the club’s complete control, with the club signing a 300-year leasehold on the site. Existing KSDL staff will now work for Town.

The Giants will continue to play at Accu Stadium in 2026 after agreeing to become Town’s tenants next year.

Town chairman Kevin Nagle said in a club statement: “From day one, we identified the Accu Stadium as a potential jewel in the crown of the club, and begun talks almost immediately to explore the possibility of taking control and ownership for the first time in our history. We knew that this wouldn’t be easy, but having the ability to shape the future of our club’s home is hugely important to us.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to Kirklees Council, Ken Davy and the Huddersfield Giants for working alongside us to make this a reality. An important deal for us all, the people of Huddersfield and Town supporters included, this wouldn’t have been possible without the input and hard work of all three parties.

“Through time, care and intelligent investment, we will be seeking to bring our home back up to its full potential.

“A unique stadium with the opportunity to become a true destination venue, plans are already in place and work is ongoing on evolving and future-proofing the stadium and the surrounding site, whilst never losing sight of its primary status as the proud and long-term home of Huddersfield Town Football Club.”

Club chief exec Jake Edwards added: “A proud day for everyone connected to the club, we are ecstatic to have Huddersfield Town finally be in total control of our own home stadium.

“A long time in the making, this is the latest in a long line of significant investments made by chairman Kevin Nagle, with the huge infrastructural improvements to the Accu Stadium made overs the summers of 2024 and 2025 an indication of our ambitions and intentions.

“First and foremost, we want this to be a home to be proud of for our club, and have that pride resonate with our staff, players and supporters each and every time they’re with us on site. Opening the door to increased revenue opportunities, wider developments and so much more, taking operational control is only the start of our many plans for the Accu Stadium.

“I would like to welcome aboard our new colleagues from the stadium, and thank our tenants at the Huddersfield Giants for their cooperation throughout this process. We have a hugely exciting, bright future ahead of us both on and off the pitch, and today is an important milestone on that journey. We can’t wait to share more with our supporters when the time is right.”

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We Are Terriers reaction

The news has been a long time coming. We even began to wonder whether this might drag on for years to come.

It had been recognised that this was the best outcome for everyone. After all, the council declared they were no longer interested in maintaining a stake, while the Giants have been quite public in their belief that finding a more suitably sized new home would be better for them than playing in a mostly-empty stadium.

That issue has not gone away for the Giants. They will still be on the hunt for somewhere to call their own over the longer term. Ken Davy has spoken about their ongoing intention of purchasing The Shay in Halifax as a short-term measure until they’re able to confirm a new development site in Huddersfield.

In the meantime, the rugby club will continue to play their home games at the Accu Stadium, at least for one more year, albeit only as weekend tenants of Town’s rather than as part-owners.

Town will be more than comfortable with that arrangement. For them, getting the stadium under their ownership was the most important goal.