Blackburn Rovers FC – Ewood Park design and build
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Services
Project summary
- Sports facility design
- Sports surface design
- Technical consultancy
- Irrigation and drainage design
- Construction monitoring
- Sports construction
Project summary
As part of Blackburn Rovers Football Club’s continued investment in Ewood Park and its long-term stadium infrastructure, the club commissioned a comprehensive reconstruction of the stadium pitch ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Following a full assessment from STRI’s technical consulting team, STRI and Carrick Construction were appointed by Blackburn Rovers Football Club to deliver the design and build reconstruction of the stadium pitch at Ewood Park.
The project involved the complete redevelopment of the existing playing surface, including a new construction profile, revised pitch grading and layout, enhanced drainage, soil profile and irrigation systems, together with improvements to the surrounding run-off areas.
With construction commencing on 4th May 2026, the team had just 84 days to complete the works and prepare the pitch for the start of the 2026-27 season.
STRI provided the design, technical consultancy and construction monitoring, while Carrick Construction delivered the specialist construction works.
Working closely with Blackburn Rovers throughout the programme, the collaborative approach meant that the club had one point of contact throughout project delivery, providing clear and straightforward communication, full accountability and access to specialist expertise from initial design through to completion.
“This was a significant investment by Blackburn Rovers Football Club at Ewood Park and an important project for the club. Following a detailed tender and evaluation process, we appointed STRI and Carrick Construction to work alongside our team to deliver the full reconstruction of the stadium pitch. The project required extensive planning and close coordination to ensure that such a substantial programme of work could be completed within a demanding 84-day close-season window.
Throughout the process, STRI and Carrick worked closely with the club, providing the specialist technical expertise and support required to deliver the project to the agreed specification and programme. Since the start of the season, we have now played five competitive fixtures at Ewood Park. A significant early test came in the final week of August, when the pitch hosted three competitive fixtures – two league games and one cup tie – within the space of just one week. We were particularly pleased with how the playing surface performed and responded to such an intensive schedule so soon after completion.
The quality and resilience demonstrated during this period gives us confidence in the investment we have made and in the long-term benefits of the new pitch infrastructure. It represents an important investment in Ewood Park and reinforces the club’s commitment to providing the best possible playing environment for our team. “On behalf of the club, I would like to thank STRI and Carrick Construction for their expertise, professionalism and commitment throughout the project, as well as our own team at Blackburn Rovers for the considerable work that went into delivering such a significant project within a very demanding timeframe. We are delighted with the outcome and look forward to seeing the benefits of this investment for many seasons to come.” –Suhail Shaikh, Chief Operating Officer, Blackburn Rovers Football Club
the
challenge
The challenge
Blackburn Rovers identified the close season as the opportunity to undertake a major investment in the Ewood Park playing surface and its underlying infrastructure, with the objective of delivering a high-quality, resilient pitch capable of supporting the demands of professional football for years to come.
Working collaboratively with Blackburn Rovers, and with consideration given to the relevant EFL requirements, the project team developed a comprehensive programme covering the pitch construction, drainage, irrigation and overall playing surface.
The redevelopment had to be completed between seasons, creating a fixed deadline for construction and commissioning ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
This meant the design had to be practical to construct, materials and resources carefully planned, and close collaboration maintained between the club, STRI and Carrick Construction to ensure the technical standards of the new pitch were achieved throughout the programme.
the
solution
The solution
STRI carried out detailed investigations of the existing pitch before developing the design for the new playing surface and supporting infrastructure.
The design incorporated:
- Revised pitch grading and layout
- New primary drainage infrastructure
- Enhanced soil profile
- New irrigation infrastructure
- Improved pitch run-off arrangements
- A new pitch construction profile
- Detailed construction specifications
Together, these improvements were designed to provide Blackburn Rovers with a modern, high-performance playing surface and significantly enhanced underlying infrastructure.
From design to construction
The project was delivered as a design and build, bringing STRI and Carrick Construction together from the outset.
This allowed the design to be developed with construction requirements in mind, while providing a direct link between the technical team responsible for the design and the team delivering the works on site.
STRI provided construction monitoring throughout the redevelopment, overseeing the works against the design requirements and providing technical input as the project progressed.
This included monitoring the construction of the pitch profile and associated infrastructure, reviewing the installation of drainage and irrigation systems, monitoring the establishment and grow-in of the new playing surface, and supporting the team in resolving technical considerations encountered during the works.
Additional specialist grounds support was also provided during the intensive grow-in and establishment period, supplementing the club’s existing resources and helping to ensure the new surface received the dedicated attention required ahead of the start of the season.
Carrick Construction then delivered the specialist sports construction, working through the programme to ensure the completed surface met the required specification and was ready for the new season.
We were particularly pleased with how the playing surface performed and responded to such an intensive schedule so soon after completion.
the
results
The result
The redevelopment was completed within the 84-day programme, delivering a completely reconstructed stadium pitch ready for Blackburn Rovers’ 2026-27 season.
Throughout the project, the club benefited from a single point of contact, while also having access to a wide range of specialist expertise across the project team. Additional specialist grounds support was provided during the intensive grow-in period, helping to ensure the playing surface was fully prepared for the start of the new season.
The project represented a substantial investment by Blackburn Rovers in Ewood Park and forms part of the club’s wider commitment to improving its facilities and providing the best possible playing environment for the first team.
The project demonstrates how design and construction can work together as one process, rather than being treated as separate stages.
This integrated approach delivered a number of benefits for the club, including clear communication, accountability and continuity of technical expertise throughout the project.
For Ewood Park, this meant moving from investigation and design to a completed stadium pitch within a demanding 84-day window, with technical expertise remaining closely involved throughout the construction process.
From the initial technical investigations and detailed design through to construction, grow-in and final delivery, the project was completed within the demanding close-season programme, while maintaining the required technical and performance standards.
The completed redevelopment provides Ewood Park with a high-quality playing surface supported by substantially improved drainage, irrigation and pitch infrastructure, creating a strong platform for consistent performance over the seasons ahead.
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