Barnsley FC chief executive officer Jon Flatman on improving Oakwell infrastructure and floodlights admission

In January 2024, the club agreed to a new 30-year lease to secure the future of professional football at the venue - as part of a partnership between the Reds and Barnsley Council.

It saw Barnsley MBC become the sole owner of Oakwell Community Assets Limited (OCAL), which owns the stadium and surrounding land.

The lease agreement enabled the council to buy the freehold of Oakwell. Previously, it had been jointly owned by the Cryne family – who retain a 20 per cent shareholding in the club—and Barnsley MBC in a 50:50 split.

The deal provided the club with a lump sum of money to make Oakwell an improved venue in terms of health and safety, cost efficiency and fan experience.

Flatman said: "I think in the last couple of years, maybe 20 months, you've seen the hospitality floors be completely redeveloped.

"You've seen the concourses changed and improved dramatically.

"We're looking at a floodlight project at the moment, specifically changing over from tower floodlights to a better value and more environmentally friendly solution.

"We're looking at solar as well. We've changed the box office completely. So we've done lots.

"And then there's the offices, the coaches' offices, the changing rooms, the academy, the gym. We've done all those in the last two years.

"So we'll continue to do that to improve the infrastructure.

"We are looking at an Oakwell master plan with the council and others to see what we can develop out on the site and beyond.

"And we'll keep working up those plans and doing all the desktop stuff, which is the difficult stuff early on, to see what's feasible and what isn't.

"But again, that's about our sustainable future. I don't mean environmental. If we can make this site work more than 23 league game home matches, we're going to have more of a chance.

"And ultimately, the bigger turnover we have, the bigger amount we're able to spend on players."

Oakwell has successfully branched out into boxing with a memorable occasion last summer seeing Reds fan Callum Simpson win the European super-middleweight title in his hometown.

On the potential for more fight-nights, Flatman added: "The boxing was fantastic.

"And again, we had a similar option to do that this summer, but it didn't work with the pitch renovations we needed to complete.

"But look, there's lots of challenges, right? We want to get more fans in the ground, but to do that, we've got to play a different style of football and we've got to win some games.

"And if we do, I think the snowball effect will kick in.

"Crowds will return because of the football we're playing, and the football we're playing will create bigger crowds. So it'll grow."