How a new 55,000 seater Sheffield Wednesday stadium would compare to the UK's biggest grounds | OneFootball

The Owls' potential new owners have claimed that the club should have a 55,000-capacity stadium.

Sheffield Wednesday's potential new owners have stated that they believe that the club should have a 55,000-capacity stadium.

That would be an increase of more than 15,000 compared to the Owls' current home ground, Hillsborough, and would bring Sheffield Wednesday in line with some top clubs in the country when it comes to maximum attendances.

Two US-based groups are in talks with current Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri regarding a potential takeover, with one having hired a club broker from the UK to negotiate with the Thai businessman while they remain under the radar, and the other being public with their interest, as per The Athletic.

Florida-based property investor, John Flanagan, and his partner, Sheffield-born businessman Adam Shaw, are part of the group that has made their interest known, and the latter, who is said to be a lifelong fan of the Owls, has spoken about the potential that Sheffield Wednesday has in an interview with The Athletic.

"Sheffield Wednesday are nowhere in America," Shaw said.

"We could easily become Florida's English football team.

"We should and can be way bigger than Wrexham. Ryan Reynolds would give his left leg to have what we already have at Wednesday in terms of our history and fanbase. Let's use that."

Shaw, who is part of a group of 16 potential investment partners that includes Major League baseball players, an ex-Premier League star and a well-known celebrity, also went on to claim that the club should have a 55,000-seater stadium.

How would a 55,000-seater stadium compare to the UK's biggest grounds?

If Sheffield Wednesday built a 55,000-seater under new ownership, it would be the 11th-biggest stadium in the United Kingdom, and the 7th-biggest home ground used by a British professional football club.

Wembley Stadium, Twickenham Stadium, Principality Stadium and Murrayfield Stadium all feature in the top five UK stadiums with capacities of more than 67,000.

When it comes to football grounds that are used in the Premier League, EFL and Scotland, Old Trafford's capacity of almost 75,000 makes it the biggest, and the only one to be in the top five in the UK.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London Stadium, Anfield, Emirates Stadium and Celtic Park are the other grounds that would boast a higher capacity than Sheffield Wednesday's suggested 55,000-seater, meaning that the Owls would have the highest capacity in the EFL if it did become a reality.

The Owls could accommodate more fans than Manchester City, Everton, Newcastle United, Scotland, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Chelsea if a 55,000-capacity stadium came to life, while their ground would be able to hold more than 22,000 extra supporters compared to Sheffield United's Bramall Lane.

Hillsborough is currently 19th on the list

Hillsborough's capacity is currently temporarily reduced on safety grounds, but it would usually feature 19th on the list when it comes to maximum attendances in the UK.

There is no doubt that the club's supporters would like to see a few things happen before they build the 11th-biggest stadium in Britain, but Shaw's claim suggests that things could improve for the Owls if he and Flanagan's group are able to take control from Chansiri.