the ground was originally planned in 1929, and work began on the site from 1932 based near the humber estuary. financial difficulties severely hampered this development, with the playing area and part of the terracing appearing over the following 12 months before work and progress ground to a halt. a proposal in 1939 for a sports stadium on the site was the catalyst for further development, as even though this threw up doubt for the original stadium plans, no suitable financial offer for the land was forthcoming, and instead the hull city board enquired after, and were granted, a football association loan to the sum of £6,600. this meant the new ground would be ready for the opening of the 1941 season.