The Hashtag Arena

**The Hashtag Arena** is an unofficial term commonly used to describe the home stadium of Hashtag United. The club do not currently have a stadium of their own, having groundshared with many clubs since their original formation in 2016, though a potential home ground has been talked about.

## Potential future Hashtag United stadium

Club owner Spencer Carmichael-Brown revealed, on 1 March 2021, that he was open to discussions regarding a permanent home for HTU, stating a wish to either partner with a struggling local team or buy a site outright. On 24 September 2021, HTU announced that eSports player Tom Leese had been sold by the club to Excel for an undisclosed fee; reported to be within £50,000 and £100,000. In the announcement video, Spencer indicated that the transfer fee would help HTU finance their own stadium in the near future. Following the club's announcement of their participation in TST ($1m cash prize), Spencer and Seb Carmichael-Brown noted that that money would only cover a portion of what they wished to spend on a new stadium.

In April 2023, women's team captain Grace Gillard noted that Spencer was continuously on the lookout for a permanent home, stating "There have been a few options, I think, but nothing has come to fruition. That's one of his big things going forwards".

### Possible name

It was revealed in September 2022, during the club's fictional stadium search for sponsor UFL, that the name "Hashtag Arena" would conflict with the "Hashtag Gaming Arena" in Herndon, Virginia, United States.

### Possible locations

#### Ship Lane

On 7 May 2022, in response to a tweet by Grays Athletic regarding the poor state of Thurrock's Ship Lane, commercial director Seb Carmichael-Brown revealed that HTU were "a club right here ready to buy it [Ship Lane] at full market rate". Seb, however, stated that the ground's owners were aiming for "commercial development". Spencer confirmed the latter soon after, adding that HTU "made a very fair offer" and "remain prepared to pay a significant sum for this [Ship Lane] ground". He also stated HTU would be happy to accommodate Grays Athletic. In July 2023, it was announced that Grays had been provisionally given the green light to move into Ship Lane - subject to final confirmation.

#### Rookery Hill

On 1 September 2023, as East Thurrock United folded 1st-team operations due to financial issues, Spencer Carmichael-Brown publicised that HTU would be interested "in having a conversation" about taking over Rookery Hill as well as allowing East Thurrock to use it to return to senior football, but revealed that his understanding was that the owner was "looking to develop it into something non-football related".

## Groundshares

### Hashtag United (men)

* 2016–2018: White Hart Lane Community Sports Centre (London, England)
* 2018–2019: Coles Park (London, England)
* 2019–2020: Chadfields (Tilbury, England)
* 2020–present: Len Salmon Stadium (Pitsea, England)

### Hashtag United (women)

* 2020–2022: Park Lane (Canvey Island, England)
* 2021–present: Woodlands School (Basildon, England) [served as a back-up option]
* 2022–present: Parkside (Aveley, England)

## References

1. ↑ "I am on the search for a permanent home for @hashtagutd. I'm looking for a club/ground to partner with. I can help ensure our partner club's long term future & invest significantly into the facility." , 1 March 2021.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "WHY WE SOLD HASHTAG TOM - FIFA ESPORTS" , 24 September 2021.
3. ↑ "Tom Leese: Hashtag’s e-Lion set for ‘first of its kind’ transfer" , 17 August 2021.
4. ↑ "HASHTAG TO WIN $1 MILLION!!" , 11 October 2022.
5. ↑ "Hashtag United: Women's team complete club's promotion double" , 24 April 2023.
6. ↑ "It already exists so the name must be different." , 23 September 2022.
7. ↑ "Not through the want of trying! A real shame as we are a club right here ready to buy it at full market rate and retain its football heritage" , 7 May 2022.
8. ↑ "Yeah commercial development" , 7 May 2022.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "We made a very fair offer but the owners can make more if they sell it commercially so they’re exploring that. Will likely lead to the demolition of the ground unfortunately. We remain prepared to pay a significant sum for this ground & would happily accommodate Grays there too." , 7 May 2022.
10. ↑ "Green light for Grays Athletic to move into Ship Lane alongside car preparation plant - but it's not over the line yet as decision goes into extra time" , 14 July 2023.
11. ↑ "Obviously we’d be interested in having a conversation about the ground to see if we can keep it as a home for football in the community and simultaneously help East Thurrock continue, but my understanding is the owner is looking to develop it into something non-football related." , 1 September 2023.