 | |
 Interactive map of The Brick Community Stadium | |
| Full name | The Brick Community Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names |
|
| Location | Loire Drive, Robin Park,Wigan WN5 0UH |
| Coordinates | 53°32′52″N2°39′14″W / 53.54778°N 2.65389°W /53.54778; -2.65389 |
| Owner | Wigan Sporting Events Limited |
| Operator | Wigan Sporting Events Limited |
| Capacity | 25,138[1] |
| Record attendance | Football: 25,133 vs.Manchester United in 2008 Rugby League: 25,011Great Britain vs.Australia in 2001 |
| Field size | 105 by 68 metres (115 yd × 74 yd)[3] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1999[2] |
| Opened | 6 August 1999 |
| Construction cost | £30m |
| Builder | Alfred McAlpine[2] |
| Tenants | |
| Wigan Athletic (1999–present) Wigan Warriors (1999–present) Orrell (1999–2000)[4] | |
TheBrick Community Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Robin Park inWigan,Greater Manchester, England. It is used byWigan Warriorsrugby league club andWigan Athleticfootball club. The stadium is owned by local businessman, Mike Danson, who owns both Wigan Athletic and the Wigan Warriors.
Built and opened in 1999,[2] it was initially theJJB Stadium after its main sponsor.[5] InUEFA matches, it was calledWigan Athletic Stadium due to UEFA regulations on sponsorship.[6] From 2009 to 2024, it was renamed theDW Stadium, and from 13 May 2024, it was again renamed, this time as theBrick Community Stadium, reflecting a partnership with a local charity.[7]
The stadium was built byAlfred McAlpine.[8] Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors moved into it from their long-term homes ofSpringfield Park andCentral Park respectively. International rugby league matches have also taken place at the venue.
Its current capacity is 25,138—seated in four single-tier stands—and its record attendance was on 11 May 2008 when 25,133 people watched Wigan Athletic playManchester United in the final match of the2007–08 Premier League season.[9]
The stadium was built byAlfred McAlpine and completed in August 1999.[10]
Wigan Athletic had spent the previous 67 years playing atSpringfield Park, and their first match at what was initially called theJJB Stadium was a friendly againstMorecambe, just before the stadium's official opening.[11]
The stadium's inauguration was marked with a friendly between Wigan Athletic and neighboursManchester United – who were then reigningEuropean champions,Premier League champions andFA Cup holders – with United's managerSir Alex Ferguson officially opening the stadium.[12]
The first competitive football match there took place on 7 August 1999, with Wigan Athletic facingScunthorpe United in aSecond Division match.Simon Haworth scored twice, including the first competitive goal at the new stadium, as Athletic won 3–0.[13]
Wigan Warriors moved to the stadium a month after it opened, once they had played their final home game of the 1999 regular season atCentral Park, which had been the club's home since 1902. After their former ground was sold, the possibility of ground sharing withBolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium (nowUniversity of Bolton Stadium) was presented, but the new stadium in Wigan was chosen instead.[14] Their first game there was a play-off match againstCastleford Tigers, which they lost, on 19 September.[15] The Warriors did not lose a competitive match at the stadium in 2001 and 2020.[2][16]
The first away team to win a competitive football match at the stadium was Wigan Athletic. A first roundFA Cup tie against non-leagueCambridge City was played there due to City's ground being deemed unsuitable to host the tie. Wigan played in their changed strip and used the away dressing room since it was technically a 'home' game for Cambridge City. AStuart Barlow brace secured the win for Wigan.[13]
On 7 March 2005,Greater Manchester police announced that they would stop policing Wigan Athletic matches at the stadium from 2 April. This move would almost certainly have resulted in the stadium's safety certificate being revoked, effectively forcing the team to play behind closed doors. The move was part of an ongoing dispute between the police force and Dave Whelan surrounding £300,000 in unpaid policing costs. The police's decision would not have affected Wigan Warriors, whose games are stewarded instead of policed. The situation was temporarily resolved on 8 March with both sides reaching an agreement that would allow Athletic to play at the ground until the end of the season. Four months later, Wigan Athletic, facing the prospect of playing their home games in the Premier League in an empty stadium, grudgingly paid the money they owed to the police. The club successfully appealed against the payments in court and won damages from the police.[17]
On 7 September 2008, Wigan Warriors revealed plans to take theirSuper League Play-Off againstBradford Bulls to a neutral venue.[18] The controversial relocation was forced due to a fixture clash, with a match between football clubs Wigan Athletic and Sunderland to take place less than 24 hours after the Super League match.[19][20] Whelan, who controlled Wigan Athletic, refused permission for the Warriors to stage their elimination at the stadium, citing concerns over the playing surface.[21] The game was relocated toWidnes Vikings home ground, theStobart Stadium.[20] In the same season, JJB Sports announced they would not continue to sponsor Wigan Warriors, leaving them without a main shirt sponsor.[22][23]
The stadium's average attendance has increased significantly since its opening in 1999. The Wigan Warriors' average attendance has increased by 32.5% from its first full season at the stadium in 2000, and Wigan Athletic's average attendance has increased by 181.2% from the 2000–01 season. The highest recorded attendance for a rugby league match is shared between three fixtures; the Wigan Warriors' fixture againstSt Helens R.F.C. on 25 March 2005; Game 4 of the 2005 Tri-Nations series betweenGreat Britain andAustralia on 6 November; and Game 5 of the 2004 Tri-Nations series between Great Britain and Australia on 13 November at 25,004 each.[24][25][26] The highest recorded football attendance at the stadium was Wigan Athletic's home fixture against Manchester United on 11 May 2008—the final day of the2007–08 Premier League season—with 25,133 fans attending.[27] This is the stadium's highest recorded overall attendance to date, and was the match where Manchester United were crowned Premier League champions for that season.[28]
In March 2009, Dave Whelan acquired a chain of fitness clubs fromJJB Sports. In the process, Whelan used the business to set up a new venture, DWSportsfitness and announced that the stadium name would change to theDW Stadium in August.[29] Whelan also announced that at the same time the stadium was renamed, its ownership would pass from himself to Wigan Athletic.[30] Concerns about the future of Wigan Warriors were arrested in the same announcement, as Whelan extended the lease on the stadium by 50 years for the rugby league team.[30] Before their match againstLeeds Rhinos in July 2009, both clubs were given the opportunity to rename one stand, with the intention of renaming them in honour to a recognised player from each club's history. The rugby league club were granted the East Stand, which they renamed 'The Boston Stand' in tribute to the WelshwingBilly Boston,[31] As Wigan Athletic had spent many years in the lower leagues it was recognised that most of their players were not known, so the West Stand was renamed 'The Springfield Stand' after the club's former ground.[31]
In August 2020 it announced that DW Sports was to enter administration.[32] Later that month it was announced thatFrasers Group would buy "certain" assets from DW Sports Fitness for £37m, but would not be using the firm's brand name.[33]
The match of 8 October 2022 against Cardiff City was controversial when it turned out one goal was bigger than the other. The match went ahead when officials ruled that there was no advantage to either team as they changed ends at half-time.[34] Cardiff won 3–1.
From 13 May 2024, the stadium was renamedThe Brick Community Stadium, following a partnership with a local Wigan charity, The Brick, which works to address poverty and homelessness. The name will remain in place until the end of 2025; Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors committed to securing a long-term commercial stadium partner for 2026 and beyond.[35]
The stadium design is based on cantilevered, prefabricated steel roof and terrace structuring.[2] It is an all-seater arena with aseating capacity of 25,138.[2] The stands are rectangular and both the northern and southern stands have supporting steel girders suspended from beneath the roof. The four stands are of approximately the same height, however the stadium is not totally enclosed, leaving four exposed corners.[36]
The seats are a mixture of both resident teams' main colours of red and blue. The stadium is fully compliant with safety guidelines for a sports ground.[37]
The stadium also has facilities and access for up to 90 fans with disabilities, with facilities for partially sighted fans.[37]
The pitch is large enough to conform with bothFIFA and the standard rugby league requirements, at 6,110 by 5,460 metres (6,680 yd × 5,970 yd). This leaves an in-goal area just 5 metres (5.5 yd) deep for rugby matches. It is mostly made of natural grass, with 2% of the pitch composed of synthetics to provide stability.[2] The ground has irrigation, and an under-heating system to resist icy weather.[2]
Capacity – 8,238
The Boston Stand, named after Wigan Warriors legendBilly Boston, runs parallel to the western 'Springfield Stand' along the side of the pitch. The Boston Stand is the largest stand in the stadium, holding an electronic scoreboard and has WIGAN spelt out in the seats and has been occupied by the home fans since 2005.[2]
Capacity – 6,100
The Springfield Stand, named after Wigan Athletic's former ground Springfield Park contains the stadium's vital facilities; four dressing rooms, benches, a doping control room and a treatment room for the players, as well as four executive boxes, ten radio commentary points and a designated TV studio.[2][37]
Capacity – 5,400
The South Stand was named the "Leam Richardson stand" in November 2021, after Wigan Athletic strikerCharlie Wyke collapsed during training after suffering a cardiac arrest. Following his discharge from hospital Wyke praised Richardson's swift initiation ofCPR saying: "...my life has been saved by the actions of the gaffer [Leam Richardson] and the club doctor Jonathan Tobin...".[38] It is used to seat the home fans behind the goal, opposite to the away fans in the North Stand.In January 2024, the stand was renamed as the "Heatable South Stand", for the remainder of the 2023/24, and 2024/25 seasons, as part of a multi year deal.[39]
Capacity- 5,400
At both Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors matches, away supporters are situated in the North Stand behind the goal.[40] Occasionally, during rugby games which attract low away support, the 5,400 capacity North Stand is closed altogether, and the away fans who attend are put into an alternative stand.[2][41]
Wigan Athletic's success has improved considerably since their move to the stadium fromSpringfield Park in 1999. The club subsequently climbed up two divisions to play in thePremier League from 2005 until 2013.[42]
| Year | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|
| Average | Highest | |
| 2000–01[D3] | 6,861[43] | 10,048(vs.Bristol City)[43] |
| 2001–02[D3] | 5,771[43] | 7,783(vs.Tranmere Rovers)[43] |
| 2002–03[D2] | 7,288[43] | 12,783(vs.Oldham Athletic)[43] |
| 2003–04[D1] | 9,526[43] | 20,669(vs.West Ham United)[43] |
| 2004–05[C] | 11,155[43] | 20,745(vs.Sunderland)[43] |
| 2005–06[PL] | 20,610[43] | 25,023(vs.Liverpool)[43] |
| 2006–07[PL] | 18,159[43] | 24,726(vs.West Ham United)[43] |
| 2007–08[PL] | 19,046[43] | 25,133(vs.Manchester United)[43] |
| 2008–09[PL] | 18,413[43] | 22,954(vs.Arsenal)[44] |
| 2009–10[PL] | 18,006[43] | 22,113(vs.Arsenal)[43] |
| 2010–11[PL] | 16,812[43] | 22,043(vs.West Ham United)[43] |
| 2011–12[PL] | 18,633[43] | 22,187(vs.Newcastle United)[43] |
| 2012–13[PL] | 19,359[43] | 24,001(vs.Aston Villa)[43] |
| 2013–14[C] | 15,177[43] | 19,226(vs.Bolton Wanderers)[43] |
| 2014–15[C] | 12,882[43] | 16,347(vs.Middlesbrough)[43] |
| 2015–16[L1] | 9,467[43] | 18,730(vs.Barnsley)[43] |
| 2016–17[C] | 11,722[43] | 15,280(vs.Leeds United)[43] |
| 2017–18[L1] | 9,152[43] | 19,242(vs.Manchester City)[43] |
| 2018–19[C] | 11,661[43] | 15,665(vs.Norwich City)[43] |
| 2019–20[C] | 10,592[43] | 14,819(vs.Leeds United)[43] |
| 2020–21[L1] | 0[43] | 0[43] |
| 2021–22[L1] | 10,397[43] | 20,136(vs.Sunderland)[43] |
| 2022–23[C] | 11,939[43] | 17,788(vs.Rotherham United)[43] |
| 2023–24[L1] | 10,955[43] | 22,870(vs.Manchester United;FA Cup)[43] |
| 2024-25[L1] | 9,946[43] | 15,445(vs.Bolton Wanderers)[43] |
| PL =Premier League, C =EFL Championship, L1 =EFL League One D1 =Football League First Division, D2 =Football League Second Division, D3 =Football League Third Division | ||
Rising success on the pitch has been met with increased attendances. Promotion into the Premier League meant that in their first season of English top-flightfootball, Wigan Athletic's average home attendance almost doubled from the season before. Over three times more fans attended matches at the stadium during Wigan's 2007–08 season in the Premier League than had attended in the 2001–02 season when Wigan Athletic were in the Football League Second Division. Wigan Athletic's average home attendance for 2007–08 was the lowest out of all 20 teams in the Premier League, failing to make the top 30 English clubs in terms of attendance.[45] The same season saw the highest ever attendance at the stadium, when 25,133 people witnessed Wigan playManchester United on the final day of the season.[27]
Wigan Athletic's average attendance was again the lowest in the league for the2008–09 Premier League season.[46] Premier League attendances fell on average by around 426 per club during the 2008–09 season. Wigan Athletic's home attendance fell by more than this, with their average attendance for the 2008–09 season falling by 633 from the season before.[43] The highest attendance at the stadium for this season was a match between Wigan Athletic and Arsenal F.C., in which 22,954 people were counted. This attendance was 2,357 fans lower than the highest attendance in the season before.[43][44]
Wigan Warriors moved fromCentral Park to the stadium in 1999 after the end ofSuper League IV's regular season. Since moving to the new stadium, Wigan Warriors' success inrugby league has seen them win the Super League Grand Final on 6 occasions, the World Club Challenge on 2 occasions at this stadium and the Challenge Cup on 4 occasions.
| Year | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|
| Average | Highest | |
| 1999[SL][A] | 13,374[47] | 13,374(vs.Castleford Tigers)[47] |
| 2000[SL] | 11,329[48] | 19,186(vs.St Helens R.F.C.)[48] |
| 2001[SL] | 11,803[49] | 21,073(vs. St Helens R.F.C.)[49] |
| 2002[SL] | 10,480[50] | 18,789(vs. St Helens R.F.C.)[50] |
| 2003[SL] | 11,217[51] | 21,790(vs. St Helens R.F.C.)[51] |
| 2004[SL] | 13,333[52] | 20,052(vs. St Helens R.F.C.)[52] |
| 2005[SL] | 13,894[53] | 25,004(vs. St Helens R.F.C.)[53] |
| 2006[SL] | 14,464[54] | 18,358(vs. St Helens R.F.C.)[54] |
| 2007[SL] | 16,040[55] | 24,028(vs. St Helens R.F.C.)[55] |
| 2008[SL] | 13,955[56] | 19,958(vs. St Helens R.F.C.)[56] |
| 2009[SL] | 14,080[57] | 22,232(vs. St Helens R.F.C.)[57] |
| 2010[SL] | 15,181[58] | 22,701(vs. Warrington Wolves)[58] |
| 2011[SL] | 17,193 | 24,268(vs. St George-Illawarra;WCC) |
| 2012[SL] | 16,042 | 21,522(vs. St Helens R.F.C.)[47] |
| 2013[SL] | 14,544 | 23,861(vs. St Helens R.F.C.)[47] |
| 2014[SL] | 14,101 | 20,265(vs. Leeds Rhinos)[47] |
| 2015[SL] | 13,980 | 24,054(vs. St Helens R.F.C.)[47] |
| 2016[SL] | 13,281 | 20,049(vs. St Helens R.F.C.) |
| 2017[SL] | 13,669 | 23,390(vs. St Helens R.F.C.) |
| 2018[SL] | 11,648 | 16,047(vs. St Helens R.F.C.) |
| 2019[SL] | 11,432 | 22,050(vs. St Helens R.F.C.) |
| 2020[SL] | 12,222 | 15,040(vs. Warrington Wolves) |
| 2021[SL] | 8,536* | 16,390(vs. St Helens R.F.C.) |
| 2022[SL] | 12,278[59] | 19,210(vs. St Helens R.F.C.) |
| 2023[SL] | 13,497[60] | 24,275(vs. St Helens R.F.C.) |
| 2024[SL] | 14,910[61] | 24,091(vs. Penrith Panthers) |
| 2025[SL] | 17,088[62] | 24,294(vs. St Helens) |
| SL =Super League |*Covid restricted attendances | ||
Attendances have generally risen for the Wigan Warriors since the start of the 2002 season, averaging around 14,000 over the three seasons from 2006 to 2009. Aside from Grand Finals, the largest Super League attendance was recorded at the stadium in 2005 when Wigan Warriors played their local rivals,St Helens R.F.C.[53]
This match is also the highest home attendance in the Wigan Warriors' history at the stadium. The twenty thousand mark has been broken 17 times since moving to the new stadium, 12 times against St Helens RLFC, once against local rivalsWarrington Wolves in the opening round of the 2008Super League XIII season, and once in July 2009 against theLeeds Rhinos following a campaign advertising the game as the 'Big One'.[16][63] The 20,000 attendance mark has also been surpassed in World Club Challenge fixtures against NRL clubs St George-Illawarra in 2011, Cronulla Sharks in 2017, and Sydney Roosters in 2019. In 2010, the Warriors were officially the biggest supported team in the Super League.
As well as the fixtures for the two domestic teams, the stadium is a venue for international rugby league. Since the stadium's construction in 1999, it has been an ever-present venue whenever International series have been played in England.
Its first involvement came during the2004 series, where the homeGreat Britain and Ireland national team defeated theAustralians 24–12, withTerry Newton andAndy Farrell both scoring in their home town of Wigan.[26] The venue was again selected for the2005 series, and again the match was between Great Britain and Australia—this time the home team lost 6–20—withGreater Manchester bornAdrian Morley scoring Great Britain's solitary try.[25] Both matches were complete sell-outs, each having attendances above 25,000. The match in 2004 was the third highest attendance of the series, coming behind a match at theCity of Manchester Stadium between Great Britain and Australia, and the series final between the same two teams atElland Road.[64]
In addition to the Tri-Nations, the stadium has also played host to visiting nations during their European tours. Australia played Great Britain in front of a sell-out crowd during the2001 Kangaroo tour, with the home side losing 8–28.[65] Australia narrowly defeated Great Britain again in 2003 at the stadium, winning by a margin of four points during their2003 European Tour.[66]New Zealand have also played at the stadium during their tours. In 2002, a try scored in his home town byMartin Gleeson helped Great Britain to defeat the 'Kiwis' 16–10.[67] The visitors lost again during their 2007 tour, this time 28–22 in a closely fought game in which Wigan-bornsecond-rowSean O'Loughlin featured.[68]
The stadium has hosted theWorld Club Challenge four times, in2000, betweenSt. Helens and theMelbourne Storm in2011 whenWigan took onSt. George Illawarra Dragons.[69] and in 2015 and 2016 when Wigan Warriors hosted theBrisbane Broncos.
In 2025, the stadium hosted theWomen's Super League Grand Final betweenWigan Warriors andSt Helens.[70]
Since its opening in 1999, the stadium has hosted a number of rugby league internationals.[71]
| Date | Team 1 | Result | Team 2 | Event | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 November 2001 |  Great Britain | 8–28 |  Australia | 2001 Kangaroo tour | 25,011 |
| 23 November 2002 | Great Britain | 16–10 |  New Zealand | 2002 Kiwi tour | 22,247 |
| 8 November 2003 | Great Britain | 18–22 | Australia | 2003 Kangaroo tour | 24,614 |
| 13 November 2004 | Great Britain | 24–12 | Australia | 2004 Tri-Nations | 25,004 |
| 6 November 2005 | Great Britain | 6–20 | Australia | 2005 Tri-Nations | 25,004 |
| 10 November 2007 | Great Britain | 28–22 | New Zealand | 2007 All Golds tour | 21,235 |
| 9 November 2009 |  England | 16–26 | Australia | 2009 Four Nations | 23,122 |
| 1 November 2013 | England | 34–6 |  France | 2013 World Cup quarter-final | 22,276 |
| 14 November 2015 | England | 20–14 | New Zealand | 2015 Kiwi tour | 24,741 |
| 5 November 2022 | England Women | 54–4 |  Canada Women | 2021 World Cup group stage | 23,179 (double header) |
| England | 46–6 |  Papua New Guinea | 2021 World Cup quarter-final | ||
| 27 October 2024 | England | 34–18 |  Samoa | 2024 Samoa tour | 15,137 |
The stadium's surroundings are mostly urban, as it is located in the north of Wigan's Robin Park retail complex in the western suburb of Newtown, on the south bank of theRiver Douglas, west of the Miry Lane industrial estate. The stadium's car parks are situated around the canal, and can hold up to 2,500 cars.[2]
The main road serving the complex is theA49, running east-bound from the M6 motorway, junction 26, 750 metres (820 yd) south of the stadium.[72][73] Both of the Wigan railway stations,Wigan Wallgate andWigan North Western lie 1.3–1.6 kilometres (0.8–1.0 mi) east of the stadium.[74]
 Interactive map of Robin Park Arena | |
| Location | Wigan, Greater Manchester |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°32′47″N2°39′05″W / 53.54639°N 2.65139°W /53.54639; -2.65139 |
| Capacity | 1,200 |
| Tenants | |
| Wigan Warriors (training base; 2019–present) Wigan Warriors Women (2019–present) Wigan Harriers Athletics Club (????–present) | |
Next to the stadium's South Stand lies theRobin Park Arena,[75] which is operated by Wigan Warriors and is capable of seating around 1,200 spectators.[76] The arena is mainly used as the indoor and outdoor training ground for Wigan Warriors and alsoathletics. It also houses Wigan Warriors club shop, selling merchandise. It was formerly used as functions for:North West Counties Football League sideWigan Robin Park,[77] and Wigan Athletic Reserves. Wigan Warriors' former training base was atEdge Hall Road. Robin Park Sports Centre is situated directly opposite the Stadium and Arena.[75]
A Wigan Warriors played one match in 1999 at the new stadium after moving from their formerCentral Park ground—an elimination play-off match against theCastleford Tigers.
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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