Brighton & Hove Albion is planning a new 10,000-seater stadium, in what would be Europe’s first purpose-built women’s football stadium.
The club hopes to have the stadium open in time for the 2030-31 season
The stadium would be located in Bennett’s Field in Falmer, adjacent to the club’s 32,000-seater Amex Stadium and connected via a bridge link. It would cost between £75m and £80m.
Work on a planning application and design work have begun, with the club hoping to have the stadium open no later than the 2030-31 season.
As well as providing a permanent home for Brighton’s women’s team, the stadium would be built to provide bespoke facilities for the players, staff and supporters, with the designs focused on the specific needs of female athletes, instead of adapting a venue designed for male athletes. This includes changing rooms, pitch standards and recovery spaces.
The club said the matchday experience at the ground would also be designed to be especially welcoming for families and first-time attendees, with easy access for families, wider concourses, social spaces and an event-day atmosphere focused on music, entertainment and community.
Women’s managing director Zoe Johnson said: “The prospect of a bespoke stadium, built exclusively for women’s players, staff and supporters, is incredibly exciting. It is a project that is the first of its kind in the UK and Europe, and one of only three in the world, and will capture the imagination of stakeholders across the women’s game, not just here but globally.
“A stadium ‘built for her’ is not only a significant capital investment for the club but one that we know will also benefit the city and other areas around the stadium through the creation of local construction jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities for local people, further boosting the club’s already significant contribution to the local economy and at a time when there is a great deal of economic uncertainty.”
The club said the sloping nature of Bennett’s Field will allow the stadium, which will seat a minimum of 10,000, to accommodate underground parking facilities, while still providing level access for spectators.Albion chairman Tony Bloom said: “Since we announced our intention to build a stadium for the women’s team in Brighton and Hove, we have seen unprecedented interest locally, nationally and internationally. It is a topic I am regularly asked about by many of our fans, clearly indicating the growing level of interest and potential for women’s football.
“It is a significant further investment in our long-term vision for women’s football at Brighton & Hove Albion. A women’s stadium in the city is essential to the continued growth of the team. We strongly believe it will strengthen our ability to attract elite talent, help develop our younger players for the future, support the growth of our fan base and create a genuine sense of belonging around the women’s game.”
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