Fri 15 Aug - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 4mins
Work has been taking place on a number of improvements to Derby County’s facilities at both Pride Park Stadium and Moor Farm Training Ground since the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign back in May.
The three-month lead-up to the start of the upcoming campaign has provided the opportunity for the club to sign off on several projects across both sites.
Ahead of Saturday’s first home game of the 2025/26 Sky Bet Championship season against Coventry City (12:30pm kick-off), we take a look at the work which has been undertaken.
Considerable investment has been placed into the playing surface at Pride Park, which was previously communicated earlier this summer. Work began on 12th May for this rebuilding project, which has included the installation of new SISGRASS fibres, and been overseen by the club’s groundstaff alongside Talbot Turf.
A new sprinkler system, artificial carpet around the edge of the pitch and goal sockets have also been put in place.
Pride Park Stadium has seen its home changing room refurbished for the first time in many years.
This has included the installation of individual pods, improved lighting and overall facilities for the players and staff on a home matchday.
The front of Pride Park Stadium has seen new artwork erected on the Toyota West Stand, alongside painting of the central exterior.
The artwork incorporates key moments from Derby County’s history, utilising the club’s various identity colours, to provide a fresh and on-brand visual on arrival to the stadium.
The painting of the central exterior has seen the original silver colour replaced by black, while new Derby County Football Club wording has been installed in place of the previous lettering which had been in situ since the opening of the stadium in 1997.
A number of seats in selected areas of the East Stand have been replaced or had new frames installed during the summer as part of an ongoing project, while old and broken seating numbers have been replaced.
Pride Park Stadium’s turnstile readers have been upgraded and, as a result, this will mean a slight change in process for supporters on a home matchday when entering the stadium.
Supporters must now hold their Season Ticket Card up to the reader instead of previously inserting it into the mouth of the reader, while individual match tickets must be inserted into the mouth of the reader.
The club are continuing to pay tribute to individuals that have played a key part in its long and proud history at Pride Park Stadium.
The latest phase of the continuing work is the installation of a Walk of Fame on the exterior of Pride Park Stadium, recognising the efforts of former players, managers and other key individuals. This has started on the exterior of the East Stand next to the turnstiles and, in time by adding more individuals on a regular basis, be extended to the North Stand.
Find out more about the Walk of Fame by clicking here.
The washrooms in the corporate areas of the West Stand were also refreshed towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign to bring them all up to modern standard.
Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) systems have been installed in the concourses of selected areas home areas of Pride Park Stadium in a bid to further improve the process of serving food and drink to supporters on home matchdays, with a view to further rolling out more devices in the future.
The EPOS systems have been added in the West Stand lower and East Stand lower areas.
A number of improvements took place prior to the return of the Men’s and Women’s first team squads for pre-season training last month, as well as the Academy.
The training and match pitches all underwent post-season restoration work to be fully prepared for the new campaign.
The Men’s first team changing facilities were refreshed prior to pre-season training commencing at the end of June.
First team areas around Moor Farm have been rebranded in line with the club’s values and identity, such as the Men’s first-team entrance and reception and the corridors leading to the changing facilities and meeting area.
Solar panels were installed earlier this year on the roof of the Indoor Sports Hall at Moor Farm, in addition to the solar panels in place on the main building.
