Gateshead International Stadium
Encyclopedia
Gateshead International Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium
, in Gateshead
, Tyne and Wear
, England
. The stadium is primarily set up for athletics, with a running track, but it is home to Gateshead Thunder
rugby league
club, Gateshead Senators American Football
and Gateshead FC
. It has also held a number of international rugby league matches. The stadium is also known by the name Thunderdome when used by Gateshead Thunder.
The stadium has a capacity
of 11,800, all seated. Most of the seating is not undercover, though the Tyne and Wear County Stand is covered, and holds 3,300 people. This is the only stand used for most rugby league and football matches.
The stadium lends its name to a nearby station
on the Tyne and Wear Metro
.
The stadium was originally opened in August 1955 and was then known as the Gateshead Youth Stadium.
On 11 June 2006, the spectators for the British Grand Prix
witnessed the equalling of the men's 100 m world record of 9.77 s by Asafa Powell
.
The stadium is the site of Gateshead College
's Academy for Sport.
The stadium is currently under refurbishment, with a roof being installed above the away stand.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
, in Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
, Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The stadium is primarily set up for athletics, with a running track, but it is home to Gateshead Thunder
Gateshead Thunder
Gateshead Thunder is a professional rugby league club based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear in England. They currently play in the Championship 1 competition, the third tier of rugby league in the United Kingdom...
rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
club, Gateshead Senators American Football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and Gateshead FC
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
. It has also held a number of international rugby league matches. The stadium is also known by the name Thunderdome when used by Gateshead Thunder.
The stadium has a capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 11,800, all seated. Most of the seating is not undercover, though the Tyne and Wear County Stand is covered, and holds 3,300 people. This is the only stand used for most rugby league and football matches.
The stadium lends its name to a nearby station
Gateshead Stadium Metro station
Gateshead Stadium Metro station is a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro, serving the town of Gateshead, England.It is named after the nearby Gateshead International Stadium...
on the Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
.
The stadium was originally opened in August 1955 and was then known as the Gateshead Youth Stadium.
On 11 June 2006, the spectators for the British Grand Prix
British Grand Prix (athletics)
The British Grand Prix is an annual athletics meeting. It is part of the IAAF Diamond League series of track and field meets and it is sponsored by Aviva...
witnessed the equalling of the men's 100 m world record of 9.77 s by Asafa Powell
Asafa Powell
Asafa Powell C.D is a Jamaican sprinter who specialises in the 100 metres. He held the 100 m world record between June 2005 and May 2008, with times of 9.77 and 9.74 seconds respectively. Powell has consistently broken the 10-second barrier in competition, with his personal best of...
.
The stadium is the site of Gateshead College
Gateshead College
Gateshead College is a further education college in the town of Gateshead, England. Established on November 15, 1955 at Durham Road in Low Fell, Gateshead, the original campus was closed as part of a planned move in January 2008. The college moved into a £39 million new main site located at the...
's Academy for Sport.
The stadium is currently under refurbishment, with a roof being installed above the away stand.