The Recreation Ground was built in 1894, has a capacity of 14,509 and is the current home of Bath Rugby and different Croquet, Tennis and Drama clubs.
Table of Contents
Stadium Guide by Rugby Tripper
History
The stadium was built on the Forester Family’s Bathwick Estate who leased the land out to Bath County Recreation company in order to build a stadium suitable for cricket matches, tennis, archery, football matches and other types of outdoor sports.
On the north side of the stadium, a cricket pavilion was built and Bath rugby games were also played here. The first cricket game on the ground was Somerset County Cricket Club versus the Gentlemen of Philadelphia during the Bath Cricket Festival. Following different leases and renovations on the ground costing over £25,000, Irish band Westlife held the first concert at the ground in order to promote their new album.
In 2006, the RFU declared that all Premiership clubs must play in a stadium with a minimum capacity of 15,000 despite Bath’s Recreation Ground holding only 10,300 at the time. Bath Rugby began looking for different venues in which to hold their home matches and even considered venues outside of the city.
Instead of leaving the Rec, Bath decided to apply for plans to expand the stadium with different stands being increased in order to increase the maximum capacity to 14,509.
A court case began in 2014 in order to expand the stadium further with the judge giving a list of rules which means nothing can be built on the Recreation Ground that could potentially cause a nuisance to the neighbours.
However, Bath fans are unsure about the future of rugby at the Recreation Ground due to the uncertainty around capacity rules and ownership. Local residents formed a group called the “Friends of Bath Recreation Ground” who believe no professional sport should take place at the ground and have threatened legal action on the club.