Hull City Council leader Mike Ross has outlined his position on the SMC and Hull FC’s future at the MKM Stadium.
Hull FC have played at the MKM Stadium since the 2003 season.
Hull City Council leader Mike Ross has expressed concerns after Hull City owners Acun Ilicali’s recent comments regarding Hull FC’s future at the MKM Stadium and has ‘encouraged’ all parties to finalise a new user agreement as soon as possible.
Ilicali caused a storm at a recent Hull City fans forum, putting a vote to Tigers fans at the event on whether they wanted Hull FC to remain at the stadium or not. After the majority of the crowd opting for no, he stated that Hull FC’s future at the stadium ‘is in trouble’ and called for a new ‘fair’ deal to be made if the club want to remain at the facility.
Hull FC’s current user agreement runs out at the end of the 2027 season with the club currently in talks with the SuperStadium Management Company (SMC) surrounding their long term future at the facility – a community stadium owned by the council and built for the people of Hull.
Both Hull FC and Hull City have user agreements with the SMC to play at the MKM Stadium, who lease the facility from the council. The SMC is run by figures from Hull City and has 25 years remaining on its lease. However, Hull FC’s is under review for the 2028 season and beyond.
Hull FC Chief Operating Officer Tony Sutton, in a recent interview with Hull Live, stated that meetings with the SMC are ongoing, with the club finding out the costs attributable to their use of the stadium to weigh up what is a ‘fair’ and equitable deal.
And now Ross, leader of the Council, has outlined his support to Hull FC, and the need for all parties to finalise a new arrangement as soon as possible to ensure that the rugby league club continue to play at the stadium.
In a letter sent to Ilicali last month and seen by Hull Live, Ross wrote: “I want to express some concern about recent comments made at the Hull City Fans Forum in relation to the SMC’s user agreement with Hull Super League Ltd (Hull FC).
“Whilst I fully recognise and appreciate that there remains 25 years on the stadium lease to the SMC, the stadium was built by Hull City Council as a community stadium in order to provide a permanent home to both Hull City and Hull FC.
“Whilst I am, in principle, supportive of plans discussed between the council and the SMC over recent years to amend and extend the lease to allow for additional investment and improvement in and around the stadium, and of any improvements that may be required to accommodate Premier League football, we have been clear that any lease changes must include a future for Hull FC at the stadium too.
“I would, therefore, encourage the SMC and Hull Super League to enter into open and transparent conversations over the future user agreement and come to a mutually acceptable position as soon as possible in order to prevent any further public concerns, allay any fears about the future of rugby league at the stadium, and give both clubs a positive platform on which to build future success.”
Hull Live has contacted Hull City Council for comment.