Salford City Stadium (referred to as the AJ Bell Stadium for sponsorship purposes) is a rugby stadium in Barton-upon-Irwell, England, built to replace Salford rugby league club's ground the Willows for the 2012 season. Sale Sharks rugby union club have also played at the stadium since the 2012–13 season. Development and financing In 2005, Salford City Council approved plans for the Reds to move from the Willows to the brownfield site at Barton. The stadium was originally to be developed by Red City Developments, with construction to be complete for the start of the 2009 season. However, RCD went into administration in July 2008. Salford City Council formed a joint venture company with Peel Group to develop and deliver the £16 million stadium, which is part of the a £26 million development close to the Manchester Ship Canal and the M60 motorway. Planning permission was granted in March 2010 for a 15,000-capacity stadium. Sale Sharks confirmed their move to the stadium in April 2012, signing a 25-year lease. In 2013, Peel Group and Salford City Council each lent £600,000 in emergency funding to the stadium. The council is still owed £20 million for building the stadium, and is already owed £1.5m by the Salford City Reds who play at the stadium. In 2014, SCC and Peel lent a further £410,724 to the stadium. AJ Bell Stadium On 13 September 2013, it was announced that investment platform AJ Bell had secured a nine-year stadium naming rights partnership with Sale Sharks Rugby Club. The deal saw Salford City Stadium re-branded and renamed AJ Bell Stadium. Facilities The stadium capacity (since inception} has accommodated a crowd of 12,000. However, with further construction, the space exists to expand the capacity to 20,000 spectators.. The stadium has areas designated for standing supporters. This partial-standing design is similar to the Halliwell Jones Stadium, home of Warrington RLFC. There are four stands: West Stand (main stand) including changing rooms, media centre, hospitality boxes, banqueting suite; capacity 4,500 Places2Be Stand (North) – all-standing, usually the away end; capacity 2,500 Printerland.co.uk Stand (East) - all seating, capacity 2,500 AO Stand (South/THE SHED)– all-standing, home to hardcore Reds fans; identical to the North Stand, capacity 2,500 The seats in the West and East Stands are red (for Salford) and blue (for Sale). The development also includes offices, player facilities, concessions, community resources and two community outdoor sport pitches, a gym