The Riverside Stadium

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Postcode - TS3 6RS
Capacity - 35,100
Able To Increase To - 42,000
Opened On - Aug 26th 1995
First Game - Boro (2) v Chelsea (0)
First Goal Scorer - Craig Hignett
Record Attendance - England v Slovakia (Int)
Record Attendance - Boro v Norwich City (Prem)


Built on land ajacent to the River Tees, the Riverside Stadium opened on August the 26th 1995 for the game against Chelsea where Boro came out 2-0 winners. The stadium opened with 30000 seats, costing £16 million and was the biggest football ground to be built since the second world war and the first stadium to be built in line with the Taylor report. In 1998, 5000 more seat were added with the extension of the West Stand costing £5 million. The Riverside Stadium has planning permission to add an extra 7000 seats to bring the capacity to 42000.

The stadium name was chosen by the fans, who were given a voting slip at the final game at Ayresome Park. The 4 name choices were; Middlehaven Stadium, Erimus Stadium, Riverside Stadium and Teesside Stadium. When the stadium first opened, it was named The Cellnet Riverside Stadium as part of a £3 million sponsorship with Cellnet, who later merged with BT. The £3 million stadium sponsorship was the biggest in UK history at the time.

Attendances have decreased slowly since the stadium opened with more games available on TV and ticket prices increasing. The record attendance for the 06/07 season was 32000 against Charlton when a special promotion to bring children to games was introduced. The scheme proved to be popular and was used in other games that season. In the 07/08 Boro introduced a scheme to allow under 11 year olds to home games for only £9 when accompanied by an adult.



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