First tray for retractable pitch delivered to new stadium

The first tray that will form part of our ground-breaking retractable pitch has been delivered to the new stadium site.

This world-first design at our fantastic new home will see the playing surface split into three sections.

Each section - weighing more than 3,000 tonnes each - will be made up of 33 trays, making 99 in total.

The first of the three pitch-long sections to be completed will be the west section, followed by the east and finally the central section.

The trays for the west section are now being delivered in batches over the next fortnight.

Below:The tray is unloaded at the new stadium site

OUR RETRACTABLE PITCH EXPLAINED...

Our new stadium will house a grass pitch sitting directly above an artificial surface - the first stadium of its kind in the UK to have two pitches inside the same bowl in order to create a truly world-class multi-use venue.

The fully retractable grass surface will be used for football matches whilst the artificial pitch underneath will be used for NFL matches, music concerts and a range of other events, in order to protect the integrity of both playing surfaces.

Sheffield engineering specialist SCX have designed, engineered, built and will install the innovative real turf football pitch, which will sit in three pitch-long steel sections, weighing more than 3,000 tonnes each. The surface will retract under the South Stand to reveal the artificial playing surface underneath.

Once the grass pitch is returned, the joins are invisible and undetectable allowing for a Premier League quality playing surface every matchday.

The retractable grass playing surface will take approximately 25 minutes to slide in or out of position before the remaining infrastructure can be incorporated for the relevant event.