From tackles to tunes: how Hull Kingston Rovers’ protected the pitch for Coldplay

Coldplay recently completed a music tour, mostly hosted at Wembley Stadium. However, two of their shows took place at Sewell Group Craven Park, home of Hull Kingston Rovers.

In this Q&A, we spoke to head groundsman Anthony Brockwell and his deputy, Harry Gunning, about how they transformed the pitch into a concert venue.

How did you prepare to protect the pitch during the concert?

Anthony: “It all starts about six weeks before the concert. We carried out a nutrition programme with our agronomist. Liquids were applied fortnightly, then weekly as the concert approached, to ‘carb-load’ the plant and give it the best chance of surviving under the pitch covering.”

“We had a game on 9th August, leaving only a three-hour window before the concert team started to arrive. For any groundsman, that’s a nightmare - you’re just waiting for it to be handed back to you.”

Harry: “We sowed seed just before the 9th August game to prepare the turf for stress. Once Coldplay’s team took over, we assisted as needed, although the stadium was officially under their management.”

What work goes into transforming a sports venue into a concert venue?

“Our former CEO, Mike Smith, is still involved with the club, primarily in bringing concerts to the stadium. Securing Coldplay was partly luck - they wanted to perform further north.”

“They handle most of the set-up and dismantling. We’re on hand if needed, but the heavy lifting is theirs. We’re lucky to have ample space, allowing Coldplay to set up their village behind the stadium and convert the pitch into a concert venue smoothly.”

How did you get the pitch back to playing standard after the concert?

“As soon as we lifted the boarding, the compaction and reduced respiration under the towers were obvious. Those areas would take longer to recover.”

“We lifted the boards and saw yellowing - stressed, but revivable. The weather was on our side, which helped. Our focus was ensuring the pitch had the right moisture ahead of the next game.”

“We worked with agronomic experts to revive the pitch with seed and treatments, allowing it to breathe. Seven days isn’t much time to get it back to 100%.”

Do the club understand your worries when you first see the pitch after a concert?

“Lifting the boarding can be heart-breaking. Before the last game against Castleford, the pitch density was amazing, so seeing it afterwards can be soul-destroying. Still, the feel-good factor and financial benefits outweigh the temporary loss.”

“The coaching staff and club understand our limits; they know we’re not miracle workers. Positive feedback from physios and staff eases the pressure. The pitch wasn’t perfect for the first game, but the club supports us.”

Have you enjoyed hosting the concerts? Did this add a new dynamic to your job?

“The production team has been fantastic - any concerns were addressed quickly and calmly. I’ve overseen a few concerts here, and financially these events are very important for the club.”

“Hosting events like this means focusing on a good pitch rather than a perfect one. The financial benefits and community impact outweigh the damage to the turf.”

“The Coldplay team were very supportive, praising the stadium as a host venue. Many football grounds aren’t as accessible for stage setups, but we have plenty of space for large productions.”

“All staff were allowed to watch the performance and we even got insight into the production side - a fantastic experience. I’m sure the club will host more events like this.”

The team had to repair the pitch within 7 days!

Would you like to host more music events? Would you recommend these to other stadium managers?

“No - keep all events at our stadium! Joking aside, I’d recommend them. Rugby league isn’t as financially secure as football, so these events bring much-needed revenue. Plus, the local area has benefited immensely from the positivity they bring.

“Absolutely - I’d recommend it 100%. It was my first music event and, initially, I only worried about the pitch. Once handed over, the experience of the concert was brilliant.”