Conoco Stadium

The Conoco Stadium is the project name for the proposed new football stadium for Grimsby Town Football Club, scheduled to be completed not earlier than the start of the 2009/2010 season.

Proposed plans
Located on the outskirts of Great Coates to the west of Grimsby, close to the A180 dual carriageway, the all-seater stadium will be fully enclosed (no open corners) and will hold a capacity of 21,100. In addition to the stadium the plans include a 150000 ft2 retail park to help finance the project. Surrounding the stadium will be a 1,300-space car park, 700-space park and ride facility and new training pitches for both GTFC and community use.

Sponsor
On April 12, 2002, Grimsby Town Football Club issued a joint statement revealing the then Conoco-owned Humber Refinery at South Killingholme as the sponsor of the new stadium with the main stand becoming the Jet Family Stand.

There has been no comment or re-enforcement of the previously agreed sponsorship deal by the company, which since a merger five years ago is now known as ConocoPhillips.

UEFA-sanctioned
Should the final planning permission be granted the new stadium will be eligible to host UEFA-sanctioned matches including the England Under 21s fixtures. Part of the design specification is that the stadium meets UEFA standards and hence qualifies the facility to be used as a venue for international matches. .

Outline planning permission granted
Following a lengthy consultation period, North East Lincolnshire Council voted, on 25 January, 2007, in favour of outline planning permission for the stadium.

All conditions approved
The final condition of GTFC's planning permission for a new stadium at Great Coates has now been approved by North East Lincolnshire Council. The results of extensive survey work means there must be an agreed management policy for nearly 100 acre of extra land if the stadium is to be realised.

On 19 September 2007, at Grimsby Town Hall, a vote of eight-to-two saw the planning committee agree with the council officers' suggestion for co-operation between Natural England, the local authority and GTFC. There is no insistence that Grimsby Town actually buys the land - a step which could make the scheme financially prohibitive. There is, however, the option for the authority to investigate making a compulsory purchase order should there be complications.

On October 31, 2007, the Grimsby Telegraph reported that the stadium project was not to be called in for scrutiny by the Government. The club and developers could now enter into serious commercial negotiations with potential retailers.