John Smith's Stadium

The John Smith's Stadium opened in 1994 as the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, replacing Huddersfield Town's historic Leeds Road ground where the club had played since 1908. Built as part of the Kirklees Stadium Development, it was one of the first new-build stadiums of the 1990s wave of ground modernisation in English football. The venue is shared with the Huddersfield Giants rugby league club, a dual-use arrangement that has been central to its identity since inception.

The stadium has undergone several name changes reflecting its commercial partnerships. After opening as the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, it became the Galpharm Stadium in 2004, was renamed the John Smith's Stadium in 2012 after the famous local brewery brand, and has also been known as the Kirklees Stadium. Despite these rebranding exercises, the ground itself has remained largely unchanged, its distinctive arched roof design making it one of the more architecturally interesting stadiums in English football.

With a capacity of 24,500, the stadium proved its worth spectacularly during Huddersfield Town's Premier League seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The club's remarkable promotion under David Wagner, achieved through the Championship play-offs, brought top-flight football to the ground and created unforgettable matchday experiences. The atmosphere generated during those seasons, particularly in key survival matches, demonstrated that the stadium could hold its own among the Premier League's more established venues.

Today, the John Smith's Stadium serves as a versatile sporting venue at the heart of the Huddersfield community. Its shared use between football and rugby league gives it a busy calendar throughout the year, and the facilities continue to meet the demands of professional sport. The ground stands as a testament to the vision of those who planned the Kirklees Stadium Development in the early 1990s, providing a modern home that has served Huddersfield Town through some of the most dramatic chapters in the club's history.