worldstadia.com:: Stobart Stadium Halton, Widnes> View Stadium

The Stobart Stadium Halton is home to Widnes Vikings Rugby League Club. Taken from WidnesVikings.co.uk The Stobart Stadium Halton stands proudly on the site of the old Widnes ground, Naughton Park. Widnes Rugby League Football Club had a number of grounds before settling at Lowerhouse Lane in 1884/5. The tragic death of their club secretary, Tom Naughton in 1932, led to the ground being renamed Naughton Park as a gesture of the team's appreciation. Naughton Park became the best known Rugby League ground in the country due to the success of the 'Chemics'. It was agreed that the Council in partnership with the Widnes Vikings would build a new stadium on the existing site. This stadium would provide a multi-purpose complex including a social club, conference facilities, recreational facilities and catering/function facilities. This would be the new home venue for Widnes Vikings. The stadium was officially opened on 2 November 1997 following the completion of phase 1 of a multi-million pound redevelopment of the old Naughton Park site. On 29 January 1999 Halton Borough Council took over responsibility for the entire Stadium, both financially and managerially. This was necessary as the joint venture companies arrangements were not performing as expected. This additional stand not only increased the capacity of the Stadium, it also provided a table tennis centre of excellence to Regional standard, a health and fitness facility, a cr�che and a state of the art injury clinic. The final piece of the stadium was completed in 2005 with the building of the east stand. Knocking the capacity upto around 13,000. The ground was renamed the Stobart Stadium Halton when the local council agreed a sponsorship deal with the Stobart Group after the takeover of the Widnes Vikings rugby league club by Steve O'Connor, who bought the club out of administration.

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