Sheffield's underfunded City Athletics Stadium track shuts to weekly clubs over safety concerns
Athletics stadium closes over safety concerns
An underinvested Sheffield athletics track where Olympian Jess Ennis started out was shut this week over safety concerns with youth clubs forced to cancel training.
City Athletics Stadium on Woodbourn Road lost its licence from UK Athletics to host competitive events in February this year.
Owners Sheffield Hallam University says it cannot afford the £1.5m investment needed to meet the standards required to host events, leading parents and athletes to accuse them of allowing the track to fall into degradation.
After losing its licence, the stadium could still be used by training and recreational groups.
However, SHU shut the track on Thursday, April 9, after it failed a safety assessment, forcing athletics and youth training clubs to cancel weekly meet ups.
A statement by the university reads: “Unfortunately, the track is unavailable for use until Monday (April 13) inclusive... We will aim to provide a further update on or before Tuesday.
“The track surface underwent a recent assessment which found that it meets the required standards in all areas except for shock absorption.
“As the safety of all users is our key priority, we have decided the track should not be used for a short period as a precaution. This will allow us the time to review the results of the recent assessment and any required action we may need to take.”
SHU was contacted for a comment on whether an update will be issued today (April 14).
After losing its accreditation in February, SHU said it is “not in a financial position to commit” to the £1.5m needed to get the track back to a competitive level.
It comes after a turbulent few years for the university.
SHU leaders told all staff members on an online call in May 2025 they intended to find £28m in cuts for 2025-26 through voluntary redundancies, which itself came after 450 people left in 2024.