The move to a new stadium was necessitated by the terms of the loan York City secured from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund to purchase their Bootham Crescent ground.

[4] The club secured a £2 million loan from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) to buy the ground in February 2004.

[5] The terms of this loan required the club to identify a site for a new stadium by 2007, and have detailed planning permission by 2009, to avoid financial penalties.

[6] As part of the loan agreement, Persimmon had first refusal on purchasing Bootham Crescent once York City left, for 10% lower than its market value.

[9] York City had identified a preferred site for a new stadium by April 2007, but were unable to disclose the location due to confidentiality clauses.

[10][11] Despite the club failing to formally identify a site by the end of 2007, financial penalties were not incurred, as the FSIF were satisfied with the progress made.

[15] City councillors approved the outline business case for the stadium in June 2009, meaning officials could start searching for sites.

[21] A delay to the construction of the shopping park in June 2013, caused by the discovery of protected great crested newts at the site, meant the stadium completion date was moved to January 2016.

[29] A judicial review of the development was launched in October 2016 by Vue Cinemas, who objected to an extra screen being approved at the site.

[31] Later that year, principal contractor ISG withdrew, citing rising costs and the judicial review,[32] which was settled in the City of York's favour in January 2017.

[39] The three-floored East Stand accommodates hospitality guests, players, officials and the media, and is connected to the adjacent retail and community facilities.

[39] The stands stretch the length of the playing field, and each corner hosts stadium facilities, including matchday emergency services, stewarding, groundsman accommodation, plant space and a fan zone.

[41] York Community Stadium was selected as the venue for the Group B matches and the semi-finals of the 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup.