View source for King Power Stadium

{{Short description|Football stadium in Leicester, England}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = King Power Stadium
| former names = Walkers Stadium (2002–2011)
| logo_image = King power stadium.JPG
| image = Leicester city king power stadium.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| image_caption = '''[[UEFA Elite stadium|UEFA]]''' {{rating|4|4}}
| fullname = King Power Stadium
| address = Filbert Way
| location = [[Leicester]]<br>England<br>LE2 7FL
| built = 2001{{ndash}}2002
| opened = {{start date and age|2002|7|23|df=y}}
| architect = The Miller Partnership
| demolished = 
| publictransit = {{rint|gb|Rail}} [[Leicester railway station|Leicester]]
| owner = [[King Power]]
| tenants = [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] (2002–present)<br />[[Leicester City W.F.C.|Leicester City Women]] (2021–present)
| broke_ground = 2000
| seating_capacity = 32,259<ref name="cap2023">{{cite web |url=https://resources.premierleague.com/premierleague/document/2024/07/26/e6332e5a-4ca6-4411-bf01-9f8ab76c6fb4/TM1534-PL_Handbook-and-Collateral-2024-25_25.07_V2.pdf |title=Premier League Handbook 2024/25 |page=24 |date=30 July 2024 |access-date=26 August 2024}}</ref>
| construction_cost = £35-£37 million
| surface = [[Desso GrassMaster]]
| record_attendance = '''Football''': 32,241 (Leicester City vs [[Sunderland A.F.C|Sunderland]], 8 August 2015)<br /> '''Rugby''': 32,500 (Leicester Tigers vs [[Bath Rugby|Bath]], 1 April 2006) <br /> '''Concerts''': 54,000 ([[Kasabian]], 28, 29 May 2016)
| dimensions = {{convert|105|x|68|m|yd|1}}<ref name="cap2023"/>
}}
{{OSM Location map
| lat =52.626
| lon =-1.134
| float=right
| zoom =13
| width = 300       <!-- width and height of the frame. numeric input - do not add px -->
| height = 320
| minimap = file
| mini-file=Leicestershire UK district map (blank).svg
| mini-width=100
| mini-height=75
| minipog-x=52
| minipog-y=39
| scalemark =106

| mark-lat = 52.62048        <!-- lat and lon location for the marker -->
| mark-lon =-1.142197
| label = King Power Stadium
|label-pos=bottom
| mark-title = King Power Stadium
| mark-image = Walkers Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 1296732.jpg  <!-- | used within the full screen linked page -->
| mark-description = Home ground of Leicester City FC, completed in 2002 when it was known as the Walkers Stadium.

| mark-lat1 = 52.62361        <!-- lat and lon location for the marker -->
| mark-lon1 =-1.14056
| label1 = Filbert Street
|label-pos1=left
|mark-size1=8
| mark-title1 = Filbert Street
| mark-image1 = Double Decker Stand at Filbert Street.jpg  <!-- | used within the full screen linked page -->
| mark-description1 = Home ground of Leicester City FC from 1891 until the move to a new stadium in 2002.
}}

[[Image:King Power Stadium wide view.jpg|thumb|The internal view of the stadium in 2016.]]

'''King Power Stadium''' is a [[association football|football]] stadium located in the city of [[Leicester]], [[East Midlands]], England, and the home of [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]. The stadium opened in 2002 as the Walkers Stadium and has a capacity of 32,259.<ref>https://resources.premierleague.pulselive.com/premierleague/document/2025/04/11/12d05df7-ce74-43ac-9766-1f3c3594da74/TM1603-PL_Handbook-and-Collateral-2024-25_11.04.25_DIGITAL.pdf</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-07-05 |title=Leicester rename Walkers Stadium the King Power Stadium |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14027229 |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> The club attracted worldwide attention when they lifted the [[2015–16 Premier League|Premier League]] title on the site in 2016.

==History==

===Background and construction===
Leicester City's previous stadium was at nearby [[Filbert Street]] from 1891 to 2002, located less than 300 yards away from the current site.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title='A Massive Step Forward' – When The Foxes Moved To Filbert Way |url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/693539 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.lcfc.com |language=en}}</ref> 

Filbert Street was gradually upgraded during the 20th century and with the advent of the [[Taylor Report]] in January 1990 requiring all clubs in the top two divisions to have all-seater stadiums by August 1994, Leicester's directors began to investigate building a new stadium soon after the Taylor Report recommendations were announced, but decided to take the redevelopment option by building a new stand on one side of Filbert Street and fitting seats into the remaining standing areas, giving the stadium a 21,500 all-seated capacity by the [[1994–95 in English football|1994–95 season]].

Filbert Street's conversion to an all-seater stadium coincided with their promotion to the [[Premier League]] after a seven-year exile from the top flight, and with their relegation after just one season it appeared the 21,500 capacity would be adequate. However, success in the late 1990s saw crowds rise, which meant virtually every game at Filbert Street was a sell-out by the end of the decade. Relocation was soon back on the cards; several clubs had relocated to new stadiums around this time, including fellow Midlands clubs [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] and [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]].

Some parts of the ground – the East and North Stands in particular – were also somewhat outdated, which led the manager, [[Martin O'Neill]] to joke that when he showed Filbert Street to new signings he led them backwards out of the players tunnel to prevent them from seeing the East Stand.

In early 1998, plans were announced for a 40,000 all-seater stadium to be built at Bede Island South in time for the [[2000-01 in English football|2000–01 season]], but they were abandoned on 5 January 2000. Chairman [[John Elsom]] vowed other options, including relocation to another site or even further redevelopment of Filbert Street, would be considered, hoping either option would have materialised by August 2002.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jan/06/newsstory.sport | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=Leicester bin stadium blueprint | date=6 January 2000}}</ref>

The relocation option was soon settled upon, as plans were unveiled on 2 November 2000 for a 32,000-seat stadium in the Freeman's Wharf area, situated alongside the [[River Soar]]. The stadium was expected to be completed in time for the [[2003–04 in English football|2003–04]] season, although it was suggested at the time relocation could happen at the start of the [[2002–03 in English football|2002–03 season]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/leicester-make-plans-to-move-624633.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first=David | last=Prior | date=3 November 2000 | title=Leicester make plans to move}}</ref> Work on the stadium began in the summer of 2001, and by 10 October that year it was confirmed the new stadium would be ready for the 2002–03 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/115592/leicester-city-moves-into-debt |title=Leicester City moves into debt |access-date=2011-04-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807115441/http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/115592/leicester-city-moves-into-debt |archive-date= 7 August 2011 }}</ref> The stadium was completed on time in the summer of 2002, ready for Leicester to take up residence for the start of the [[2002–03 in English football|2002–03]] season.

The stadium cost £35-37 million to build. Designed by architects The Miller Partnership, it was constructed by Birse Stadia (the specialist stadium division of Birse Construction). After becoming official contractors, Martin Peat, managing director of Birse Building said: "We are delighted to have been selected by Leicester City Football Club as construction partners for their new stadium which, when completed, will be one of the finest in Europe." The club's chief executive Steve Kind described the stadium as a "flagship development, not just for the club but for the community and city of Leicester as a whole."

As well as being a venue for football, the stadium was originally branded as ''The Midlands Conference Centre,'' offering a "state of the art conference, banqueting and catering facility unparalleled in the East Midlands."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-12-17 |title=Stadium Overview |url=http://www.lcfc.com/page/Stadium/0,,10274~432446,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217101306/http://www.lcfc.com/page/Stadium/0,,10274~432446,00.html |archive-date=2008-12-17 |access-date=2025-03-04 }}</ref> At the time of building, two large dual-purpose concourses, which could be used as exhibition centres on non-matchdays, were a first in British stadium design.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/StadiumOverview/0,,10274,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070124223550/http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/StadiumOverview/0,,10274,00.html | archive-date=24 January 2007 | title=Leicester City &#124; Stadium &#124; Walkers Stadium Overview }}</ref>

===Opening===
The stadium was officially opened by former Leicester striker [[Gary Lineker]] on 23 July 2002. He used a giant pair of scissors to cut a ribbon on the pitch after arriving at the stadium in a Walkers lorry. The first game at the new stadium was a friendly against Basque team [[Athletic Bilbao]], on 4 August 2002. Manager [[Micky Adams]] described the stadium in the club's pre-match programme: “I am sure everyone will agree our new home is pretty special. Spectacular, I’d call it. Fantastic seems to be the word used by most people to describe the surroundings and the facilities. It’s certainly a stadium befitting the 21st century."<ref name=":0" />

The game finished 1–1, with [[Tiko (footballer)|Tiko]] scoring the first goal at the stadium, and [[Jordan Stewart (footballer born 1982)|Jordan Stewart]] scoring Leicester's first goal. The attendance was approximately 24,000 (no official figure was recorded due to a computer problem). The first competitive match took place six days later and Leicester beat [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] 2–0 in front of a near-capacity crowd of 31,022. [[Brian Deane]] scored both goals, including the stadium's first in competitive games. Leicester ended the [[2002–03 in English football|2002–03 season]] promoted back to the [[Premier League]], losing just two home games in the season, despite spending the early part of the season in [[receivership]] due to their huge debts, until a takeover deal was completed.

===Ownership===
The cost of the new stadium, combined with relegation from the Premiership, the collapse of the English transfer market due to the introduction of the transfer window and the collapse of [[ITV Digital]] meant Leicester went into [[receivership]] shortly after moving to the new stadium. [[Birse Group|Birse Construction]] who had built the stadium therefore lost a large part of their fee, and they withdrew from football ground construction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.building.co.uk/news/birse-writes-off-55m-as-leicester-city-goes-broke/1022697.article|title=Birse writes off £5.5m as Leicester City goes broke|date=25 October 2002|publisher=Building|access-date=20 September 2020}}</ref>

As part of the deal which brought the club out of receivership, the stadium's ownership reverted to American academic retirement fund [[TIAA–CREF]], who had supplied £28&nbsp;million via a bond scheme towards the stadium's construction, with the club taking a long-term lease while the bond repayments were made.

On 1 March 2013, owners [[King Power]] purchased the stadium through their company K Power Holdings Co, Ltd.<ref name=Owners>{{cite web| title= Leicester City Owners buy King Power Stadium| url= http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/010313-lcfc-owners-purchase-king-power-stadium-686232.aspx| publisher= Leicester City F.C.| work= www.LCFC.com| date= 1 March 2013| access-date=1 March 2013}}</ref>

===Development===
Since 2014, the stadium has operated at full capacity for league games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stadium expansion |url=https://www.lcfc.com/stadiumconsultation/stadium-expansion?lang=en |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=www.lcfc.com}}</ref> In 2015, vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha stated plans were in place to increase the ground's capacity to around 42,000.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tanner |first=Rob |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-City-increase-capacity-King-Power/story-26656839-detail/story.html |title=Leicester City could increase capacity at the King Power Stadium to 42,000 |publisher=Leicester Mercury |date=8 June 2015 |access-date=5 May 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102235844/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-City-increase-capacity-King-Power/story-26656839-detail/story.html |archive-date=2 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Tanner |first=Rob |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/leicester-city-look-ground-expansion-build-new/story-29238169-detail/story.html |title=Leicester City look at King Power stadium expansion - or may even build new ground |publisher=Leicester Mercury |date=6 May 2016 |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref> In April 2018, it was announced that initial planning for the expansion and development of King Power Stadium was underway.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/657242/vice-chairman-confirms-king-power-stadium-expansion-ambitions/press-release|title=Vice Chairman Confirms King Power Stadium Expansion Ambitions}}</ref> On 28 July 2021, Leicester City confirmed that they would reveal plans to the public which included increasing the capacity to 40,000, as well as several development projects in the area surrounding the stadium.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/breaking-leicester-city-stadium-expansion-5708229|publisher=Leicester Mercury| date=28 July 2021| access-date=28 July 2021| title=Leicester City announce major King Power Stadium expansion update as capacity revealed| author=Jordan Blackwell}}</ref> The club announced on 25 October 2021, that they had submitted a hybrid planning application to Leicester City Council for the redevelopment of King Power Stadium and the surrounding area. They had also applied for permits in September 2021 to begin early enabling works in preparation for the redevelopment.<ref name="redevelopment application">{{cite web|url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/2308441|title=King Power Stadium Development: Hybrid Planning Application Submitted|website=LCFC.com|date=25 October 2021}}</ref> In August 2022, the stadium became the first in Europe to operate a frictionless kiosk for food and drink purchases.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/2713971/king-power-stadium-first-in-europe-to-introduce-frictionless-kiosk | title=King Power Stadium First in Europe to Introduce Frictionless Kiosk }}</ref> In September 2022, plans were provisionally approved for the expansion of King Power Stadium's capacity to 40,000. The other development projects were also given provisional approval.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-62908016 | title=Leicester City stadium expansion plans approved | work=BBC News | date=14 September 2022 }}</ref> On 14 December 2023, the club announced that they had received formal approval from Leicester City Council to begin development works, following initial approval in September 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=King Power Stadium Development Latest |url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/3823008 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.lcfc.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Helicopter crash ===
{{Main|2018 Leicester helicopter crash}}

On 27 October 2018, a [[Leonardo AW169]] helicopter carrying club chairman [[Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha]] and four others crashed in a car park outside the stadium. The crash happened shortly after the helicopter took off from the pitch, and there were no survivors on board.<ref>{{cite news| title=Leicester City owner's helicopter crashes| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-46006470| newspaper=BBC News |date=27 October 2018}}</ref> The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Garden opened a year later on 27 October 2019, before The Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Statue was unveiled on 4 April 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Garden {{!}} Leicester City |url=https://www.lcfc.com/king-power-stadium/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lcfc.com%2Fking-power-stadium%2Fvs-memorial-garden |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.lcfc.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Khun Vichai Statue {{!}} Leicester City |url=https://www.lcfc.com/king-power-stadium/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lcfc.com%2Fking-power-stadium%2Fkhun-vichai-statue |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.lcfc.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Naming==
[[Image:Walkers stadium.jpg|thumb|The stadium from the [[River Soar]], looking towards the West Stand.]]
In 2002, former Leicester City shirt sponsors [[Walkers (snack foods)|Walkers]] signed a ten-year deal for naming rights. The stadium was originally to have been called the "Walkers Bowl", but the name was dropped after fans objected on the grounds the name was too "American" (referring to the [[college football|American college football]] [[bowl game]] concept). As a result of a fans' petition, the name was quickly changed to the "Walkers Stadium". However, some fans at the time were still unhappy that the name only referenced the sponsor, with no reference to Leicester City. The agreement for naming rights was superseded halfway through the ten-year period, in May 2007, when Walkers again paid a seven-figure sum to extend their sponsorship of the stadium until 2017.<ref name="LCFC300507">[http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~1029628,00.html "Allen Named New Foxes Manager"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626192345/http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~1029628%2C00.html |date=26 June 2007 }} ''LCFC.co.uk'', 30 May 2007 (Retrieved: 11 August 2009)</ref> On 5 July 2011, naming rights were sold to [[King Power]], who took ownership of the club in August 2010.

Since opening in 2002, the stands inside the stadium have had various names but are currently titled the North, East, South ([[Spion Kop (stadiums)|Spion Kop]]) and West respectively. The North Stand was originally called the Lineker Stand, after former player [[Gary Lineker]], and the South Stand was originally named the Fosse Stand, after the club's founding name Leicester Fosse.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-07-23 |title=Lineker opens Leicester stadium |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2146756.stm |access-date=2025-03-04 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=BBC |title=BBC - Leicester - In Pictures |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/in_pictures/360_panoramas/walkers_stadium/index.shtml |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stadium Map |url=https://www.lcfc.com/pages/en/king-power-stadium-stadium-map |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=www.lcfc.com}}</ref> The stadium is often referred to as Filbert Way after the site's address, which retains a link with the club's former home ground [[Filbert Street]]. It is also referred to as Freeman's Wharf, after the area in which the stadium is situated. During the [[2015 Rugby World Cup]], the stadium was known as the Leicester City Stadium and this is the same for [[UEFA]] competitions.<ref name=lcs>{{cite news|url=http://www.englandrugbytravel.com/rwc2015/stadium-guide/leicester/|title=Leicester City Stadium|access-date=25 May 2015|work=England Rugby|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924000000/http://www.englandrugbytravel.com/rwc2015/stadium-guide/leicester/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Prior |first=David |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/leicester-make-plans-to-move-624633.html |title=Leicester make plans to move |work=The Independent |date=3 November 2000 |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref>

==Notable matches and events==

===Men's football===

{{Prose|section|date=June 2025}}
The first game at the stadium was a friendly against Spanish team [[Athletic Bilbao]], on 4 August 2002. The game finished 1–1, with [[Tiko (footballer)|Tiko]] scoring the first goal at the stadium, and [[Jordan Stewart (footballer, born 1982)|Jordan Stewart]] scoring Leicester's first goal.

During their absence from [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]], the [[England national football team]] played a home friendly game against [[Serbia and Montenegro national football team|Serbia and Montenegro]] at the stadium on 3 June 2003. Goals from [[Steven Gerrard]] and [[Joe Cole]] gave England a 2–1 victory. On 12 October of the same year, the ground hosted an international friendly match between [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] and [[Jamaica national football team|Jamaica]], with [[Roberto Carlos]] scoring the winner.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/sel/brazil200203.htm |title=RSSSF Brasil – Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 2002–2003 |publisher=RSSSF Brasil |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/sport/brazil-bring-samba-to-leicester-1.529304 |title=Brazil bring samba to Leicester |publisher=IOL |date=13 October 2003 |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref>

On 20 May 2006, the stadium hosted the [[Conference National Playoff Final 2006|Football Conference play-off final]] between [[Hereford United FC|Hereford United]] and [[Halifax Town AFC|Halifax Town]]. A goal in extra time gave Hereford a 3–2 win and promotion to the Football League. Nine days later, the ground was also the venue for another international friendly, with [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]] beating Jamaica 4–1.

On 12 October 2007, it hosted the [[2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 3]] match between [[England national under-21 football team|England's under-21s]] and [[Montenegro national under-21 football team|Montenegro's under-21s]]. The hosts edged out the visitors 1–0 with [[Matt Derbyshire]]'s goal.

On 26 April 2008, Leicester City played [[Sheffield Wednesday]] in their last home game of the [[2007–08 Football League Championship|2007–08 Championship]] season. The match was played in front of a crowd of 31,892 supporters, which was the largest home attendance in the league on the day, and Leicester's highest home attendance of the season. The match finished 1–3 to Sheffield Wednesday, and following a 0–0 draw away at [[Stoke City]] on 4 May 2008, the club were relegated to [[EFL League One|League One]], the third tier of [[English football]], for the first time in their history.<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/stoke-city-0-leicester-city-0-potters-wheel-turns-back-to-the-top-flight-821189.html</ref> Prior to this season, Leicester were one of nine clubs to have never competed outside of England's top two divisions.<ref>{{cite web | title=Leicester 1-3 Sheff Wed | website=[[Daily Mirror]] | date=26 April 2008 | url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/leicester-1-3-sheff-wed-726742 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=McMillan | first1=Stephen | title=Foxes one game from becoming a casualty statistic | work=The Guardian | date=27 April 2008 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/apr/28/leicestercity.sheffieldwednesday }}</ref>

On 30 July 2011, [[Leicester City FC|Leicester City]] played a strong [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] side in the Npower Cup in front of 32,188 fans, with star players such as [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] and [[Kaká]] playing for Madrid. After falling behind to a first-half goal from [[José Callejón]], and a second on the hour from [[Karim Benzema]], [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]]'s men pulled a goal back a minute from the end through substitute [[Lloyd Dyer]].

On 4 April 2014, Leicester won 2–1 against [[Sheffield Wednesday]]. The win put them on the brink of promotion back to the [[Premier League]] after 10 years, and on the following day, the club's [[Premier League]] status was confirmed as results went in their favour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26780766 |title=Leicester City 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26906091 |title=Leicester City promoted to Premier League after 10-year absence |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 April 2014 |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref>

On 3 May 2014, Leicester lifted the [[2013–14 Football League Championship|2013–14 Championship]] title at home to [[Doncaster Rovers]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27167657 | title=Leicester City 1-0 Doncaster Rovers | work=BBC Sport }}</ref> This was the club's 7th second tier title.

On 21 September 2014, Leicester went on to produce one of the greatest comebacks in [[Premier League]] history, as they won 5–3 against Manchester United at King Power Stadium. They came back from 3–1 down with 30 minutes left to score four goals.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lewis |first=Aimee |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29196081 |title=Leicester City 5-3 Manchester United |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 September 2014 |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref>

On 8 August 2015, the stadium recorded its current highest ever league attendance of 32,242. Leicester won 4–2 against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] in their first match of the [[2015–16 Premier League]] season.<ref name="premierleague.com">{{cite web | url=https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/26/Leicester-City/stadium | title=King Power Stadium Leicester City FC, Info & Map &#124; Premier League }}</ref>

On 7 May 2016, Leicester City lifted the 2015–16 Premier League trophy following a 3–1 win over [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], less than a week after officially becoming champions as [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] failed to beat [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref name="ChelseaTottenhamResult">{{cite news|title=Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36126924|access-date=7 May 2016|work=www.bbc.co.uk|date=2 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="LeicesterEvertonResult">{{cite news|title=Leicester City 3-1 Everton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36176623|access-date=7 May 2016|work=www.bbc.co.uk|date=7 May 2016}}</ref> [[Andrea Bocelli]] performed live before the match.

On 27 September 2016, the stadium hosted its first ever competitive European football match since opening in 2002. Leicester won 1–0 against [[FC Porto|Porto]] in the [[UEFA Champions League]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Bate |first=Adam |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/10596521/leicester-1-0-porto-champions-league-adventure-set-to-go-on |title=Leicester 1-0 Porto: Champions League adventure set to go on |publisher=Sky Sports |date=28 September 2016 |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref>

On 14 March 2017, at the stadium the club played its [[UEFA Champions League]] last-16 second leg fixture against [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]]. The match finished 2–0 on the night, and 3–2 on aggregate which resulted in Leicester reaching the quarter-finals of the competition.

On 11 September 2018, the stadium hosted a friendly between the [[England national football team|England national team]] and [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]. England won 1–0 with a goal from [[Marcus Rashford]]. Leicester [[Full-back (association football)|left-back]] [[Ben Chilwell]] made his England debut as a 79th-minute substitute at his home stadium.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNulty |first1=Phil |title=England 1-0 Switzerland: Marcus Rashford secures victory in friendly - BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45404026 |access-date=12 September 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 September 2018}}</ref>

On 30 July 2022, the stadium hosted the [[FA Community Shield]] due to [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]] hosting the final of [[UEFA Women's Euro 2022]] on the following day.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Community Shield 2022: Everything You Need To Know|url=https://www.givemesport.com/88030697-community-shield-2022-date-time-teams-how-to-watch-tickets-venue|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref> As the holders, Leicester City were invited to host. This made Leicester the only club to host this fixture at two different stadia, following [[Filbert Street]] in 1971.

On 25 March 2023, the stadium hosted its fourth England international match to date. England U21s played against France U21s in a friendly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch England U21s In Leicester |url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/3037208 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.lcfc.com |language=en}}</ref>

On 4 May 2024, the club lifted the [[2023-24 EFL Championship|2023–24 Championship]] title at home to [[Blackburn Rovers]]. This was Leicester's 8th second tier title.

====International matches====

{{Footballbox collapsible
|round      = [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|date       = 3 June 2003
|time       = 20:00 [[British Summer Time|BST]]
|team1      = {{fb-rt|ENG}}
|score      = 2–1
|report     =
|team2      = {{fb|SCG}}
|goals1     = [[Steven Gerrard|Gerrard]] {{goal|35}} <br />[[Joe Cole|J. Cole]] {{goal|82}}
|goals2     = [[Nenad Jestrović|Jestrović]] {{goal|45}}
|location   = [[Leicester]]
|stadium    = Walkers Stadium
|attendance = 30,900
|referee    = [[Paul Allaerts]]
|result     =
|note       =
}}
{{Footballbox collapsible
|round      = [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|date       = 12 October 2003
|time       = 15:00 [[British Summer Time|BST]]
|team1      = {{fb-rt|JAM}}
|score      = 0–1
|report     =
|team2      = {{fb|BRA}}
|goals1     =
|goals2     = [[Roberto Carlos (footballer)|Roberto Carlos]] {{goal|15}}
|location   = [[Leicester]]
|stadium    = Walkers Stadium
|attendance = 32,000
|referee    = [[Rob Styles]]
|result     =
|note       =
}}
{{Footballbox collapsible
|round      = [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|date       = 29 May 2006
|time       =
|team1      = {{fb-rt|JAM}}
|score      = 1–4
|report     =
|team2      = {{fb|GHA}}
|goals1     = [[Jason Euell|Euell]] {{goal|58}}
|goals2     = [[Sulley Muntari|Muntari]] {{goal|5}} <br />[[Damion Stewart|Stewart]] {{goal|19|o.g.}} <br />[[Stephen Appiah|Appiah]] {{goal|66}}<br />[[Matthew Amoah|Amoah]] {{goal|68}}
|location   = [[Leicester]]
|stadium    = Walkers Stadium
|attendance = 32,000
|referee    =
|result     =
|note       =
}}
{{Footballbox collapsible
|round      = [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|date       = 11 September 2018
|time       = 20:00 [[British Summer Time|BST]]
|team1      = {{fb-rt|ENG}}
|score      = 1–0
|report     =
|team2      = {{fb|SWI}}
|goals1     = [[Marcus Rashford|Rashford]] {{goal|54}}
|goals2     = 
|location   = [[Leicester]]
|stadium    = King Power Stadium
|attendance = 30,256
|referee    = [[Clément Turpin]]
|result     =
|note       =
}}

===Rugby matches===
In 2004 [[Leicester Tigers]] considered sharing the stadium with Leicester City as their own 16,815-capacity ground at [[Welford Road Stadium|Welford Road]] was considered too small to handle the growing popularity of rugby union. The plan would have seen the two clubs form a jointly owned company to buy the stadium from, then owners, Teachers. The deal was abandoned in 2005 as the clubs failed to fully agree terms.

Due to the continued parlous state of the football club's finances, rumours that groundsharing was still being discussed continued to circulate, with some suggestions Tigers were considering buying the stadium outright from Teachers. In 2007, a permanent groundshare was ruled out as Leicester Tigers received planning consent for a major expansion of their own Welford Road venue, with a new 10,500-seat stand taking Welford Road to a capacity of 24,500.

Leicester Tigers played six matches at the stadium in total. The first three were either to capitalise on the larger capacity with the greater interest in high-profile games, or when competition rules demanded the match be played away from their normal home ground. The other three matches were played due to the demolition of the old Caterpillar Stand at Welford Road.

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Date
! Competition
! Opponents
! Result
|-
|24 April 2005
|[[2004–05 Heineken Cup]] Semi-final
|[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]
| 19 – 27
|-
|1 April 2006	||[[2005–06 Heineken Cup]] Quarter-final || [[Bath Rugby|Bath]] || 12 – 15
|-
|21 April 2007	||[[2006–07 Heineken Cup]] Semi-final	|| [[Scarlets|Llanelli Scarlets]]	|| 33 – 17
|-
|11 April 2009	||[[2008–09 Heineken Cup]] Quarter-final	|| Bath ||20 – 15
|-
|25 April 2009	||[[2008–09 Guinness Premiership]], Round 22	|| [[Bristol Rugby|Bristol]] || 73 – 3
|-
|9 May 2009	||[[2008–09 Guinness Premiership]] Semi-final	|| Bath || 24 – 10
|}

The stadium has hosted international rugby, including a match between a [[World XV]] and [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] on 3 December 2006 to mark the centenary of the Springboks' first game abroad.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marshall to play for World side |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6037067.stm |access-date=11 August 2009 |work=BBC Sport |date=24 October 2006}}</ref> South Africa won 32–7. The site also hosted matches during the [[2015 Rugby World Cup]], which included three pool matches: [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]]–[[Tonga national rugby union team|Tonga]], [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]]–[[Namibia national rugby union team|Namibia]] and [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]]–[[Romania national rugby union team|Romania]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date !! Stage of Tournament !! Team 1 !! Score !! Team 2 !! Attendance
|-
| 4 October 2015 || [[2015 Rugby World Cup Pool C|Pool C]] ||align=right| {{ru-rt|Argentina}} || 45 – 16 || {{ru|Tonga}} || 29,124<ref>{{cite news |title=Pool C, Leicester City Stadium, Leicester |url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match/14215#latest |access-date=7 October 2015 |work=Rugby World Cup |date=4 October 2015 |archive-date=6 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006100328/http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match/14215#latest |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| 6 October 2015 || [[2015 Rugby World Cup Pool D|Pool D]] ||align=right| {{ru-rt|Canada}} || 15 – 17 || {{ru|Romania}} || 27,153<ref>{{cite news |title=Pool D, Leicester City Stadium, Leicester |url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match/14229#latest |access-date=7 October 2015 |work=Rugby World Cup |date=6 October 2015 |archive-date=7 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007084709/http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match/14229#latest |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| 11 October 2015 || [[2015 Rugby World Cup Pool C|Pool C]] ||align=right| {{ru-rt|Argentina}} || 64 – 19 || {{ru|Namibia}} || 30,198<ref>{{cite news |title=Pool C, Leicester City Stadium, Leicester |url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match/14218#latest |access-date=3 February 2016 |work=Rugby World Cup |date=11 October 2015 |archive-date=12 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012004704/http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match/14218#latest |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|}

==Average league and record attendances==
The overall record attendance at the stadium is thought to be between 32,488 and 32,500, for a rugby union match between Leicester Tigers and Bath in 2006. This rugby match took place prior to seats being removed to provide segregation of rival football fans, reducing the capacity of the ground from exactly 32,500 to 32,261.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/european/4849752.stm "Leicester 12–15 Bath"] ''[[BBC News|BBC.co.uk]]'' (News), 1 April 2006 (Retrieved: 11 August 2009)</ref>

===Leicester City Men===
The current highest ever league attendance at the stadium is 32,242, for a [[Premier League]] match against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] on 8 August 2015.<ref name="premierleague.com"/> The highest ever attendance for a non-competitive football match is 32,188, for a pre-season friendly against [[Real Madrid]] on 30 July 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/leicester-city-1-2-real-madrid-3324937 | title=Leicester City 1-2 Real Madrid: Narrow defeat for new-look City | website=[[Daily Mirror]] | date=30 July 2011 }}</ref>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-4}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center width=60%"
|-
! style="width:20%;"| Season
! style="width:20%;"| League
! style="width:20%;"| Capacity
! style="width:20%;"| Attendance
! style="width:20%;"| % Full
|-
|align=center|[[2002–03 Leicester City F.C. season|2002–03]]
|align=center|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|29,230
|align=center|91%
|-
|align=center|[[2003–04 Leicester City F.C. season|2003–04]]
|align=center|[[Premier League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|30,983
|align=center|96%
|-
|align=center|[[2004–05 Leicester City F.C. season|2004–05]]
|align=center|[[Football League Championship|Championship]] 
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|24,137
|align=center|75%
|-
|align=center|[[2005–06 Leicester City F.C. season|2005–06]]
|align=center|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|22,234
|align=center|69%
|-
|align=center|[[2006–07 Leicester City F.C. season|2006–07]]
|align=center|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|23,206
|align=center|72%
|-
|align=center|[[2007–08 Leicester City F.C. season|2007–08]]
|align=center|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|23,509
|align=center|73%
|-
|align=center|[[2008–09 Leicester City F.C. season|2008–09]]
|align=center|[[Football League One|League One]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|20,254
|align=center|63%
|-
|align=center|[[2009–10 Leicester City F.C. season|2009–10]]
|align=center|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|24,542
|align=center|76%
|-
|align=center|[[2010–11 Leicester City F.C. season|2010–11]]
|align=center|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|23,666
|align=center|73%
|-
|align=center|[[2011–12 Leicester City F.C. season|2011–12]]
|align=center|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|23,037
|align=center|71%
|-
|align=center|[[2012–13 Leicester City F.C. season|2012–13]]
|align=center|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|22,283
|align=center|69%
|-
|align=center|[[2013–14 Leicester City F.C. season|2013–14]]
|align=center|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|24,990
|align=center|77%
|-
|align=center|[[2014–15 Leicester City F.C. season|2014–15]]
|align=center|[[Premier League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|31,693
|align=center|98%
|-
|align=center|[[2015–16 Leicester City F.C. season|2015–16]]
|align=center|[[Premier League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|32,014
|align=center|99%
|-
|align=center|[[2016–17 Leicester City F.C. season|2016–17]]
|align=center|[[Premier League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|31,886
|align=center|99%
|-
|align=center|[[2017–18 Leicester City F.C. season|2017–18]]
|align=center|[[Premier League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|31,559
|align=center|98%
|-
|align=center|[[2018–19 Leicester City F.C. season|2018–19]]
|align=center|[[Premier League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|31,895
|align=center|99%
|-
|align=center|[[2019–20 Leicester City F.C. season|2019–20]]
|align=center|[[Premier League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|32,039
|align=center|99%
|-
|align=center|[[2020-21 Leicester City F.C. season|2020–21]]
|align=center|[[Premier League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|8,000{{efn|Attendances restricted due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]]}}
|align=center|25%
|-
|align=center|[[2021-22 Leicester City F.C. season|2021–22]]
|align=center|[[Premier League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|31,983
|align=center|99%
|-
|align=center|[[2022-23 Leicester City F.C. season|2022–23]]
|align=center|[[Premier League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|31,772
|align=center|98%
|-
|align=center|[[2023-24 Leicester City F.C. season|2023–24]]
|align=center|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|31,238
|align=center|97%
|-
|align=center|[[2024-25 Leicester City F.C. season|2024–25]]
|align=center|[[Premier League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|
|align=center|
|}
{{Col-end}}

===Leicester City Women===
Since 2021, the stadium has been the primary home of [[Leicester City W.F.C.|Leicester City Women]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Conferences & Events {{!}} Leicester City |url=https://www.lcfc.com/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lcfc.com%2Fconferences-events |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=www.lcfc.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=LCFC Women To Play Historic First WSL Season At King Power Stadium
 |url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/2231768/lcfc-women-to-play-historic-first-wsl-season-at-king-power-stadium |work=LCFC |date=25 August 2011 |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-4}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center width=60%"
|-
! style="width:20%;"| Season
! style="width:20%;"| League
! style="width:20%;"| Capacity
! style="width:20%;"| Attendance
! style="width:20%;"| % Full
|-
|align=center|[[2021–22 Leicester City W.F.C. season|2021–22]]
|align=center|[[FA Women's Super League|Women's Super League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|2,446
|align=center|8%
|-
|align=center|[[2022–23 Leicester City W.F.C. season|2022–23]]
|align=center|[[Women's Super League]]
|align=center|32,261
|align=center|3,027
|align=center|9%
|}
{{Col-end}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==See also==
*[[List of stadiums in the United Kingdom by capacity]]
*[[Lists of stadiums]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{WikidataCoord}}
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.lcfc.com/king-power-stadium Official website]

{{Leicester City F.C.}}
{{EFL Championship venues}}
{{Premier League venues}}
{{Women's Super League venues}}
{{2015 Rugby World Cup venues}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Leicester City F.C.]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Leicester]]
[[Category:Football in Leicestershire]]
[[Category:Football venues in England]]
[[Category:Rugby union stadiums in England]]
[[Category:Premier League venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2002]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in England]]
[[Category:English Football League venues]]
[[Category:Women's Super League venues]]
[[Category:Leicester City W.F.C.]]