In 1938 the capacity of Belle Vue was increased to 40,000 and it was in 1948 that the stadium recorded its highest attendance of 37,099 against Hull City, although apocryphal accounts refute this and claim that many more gained entry to the ground by climbing over walls.

In the later years of the 20th century, as the club's fortunes began to decline and finances became tighter, the capacity of Belle Vue was cut dramatically, falling as low as 4,859 in May 1987 when mining subsidence was found underground beneath the Popular Stand terrace.

A fire in the Main Stand one night in June 1995 caused extensive damage and nine months later chairman Ken Richardson was arrested following an evening match against Fulham.

Doncaster Rovers finished their time at the stadium with a win, with a goal from Theo Streete ensuring a 1–0 victory.

[2] In the early hours of 7 February 2007, local residents near the stadium described a sound "like a bomb going off", later determined to be a gas explosion.

Floodlights, executive boxes, turnstiles, snack bars and offices were all removed or destroyed, along with the ground's club house, the Rovers' Return.