Brighton unveil plans for Europe’s first purpose-built women’s football stadium | OneFootball

Brighton and Hove Albion have released their plans for Europe’s first purpose-built women’s football stadium. It will be part of just three of these stadiums across the world.

As news of Chelsea moving to Stamford bridge dominated the headlines, the west London outfit are not the only club making moves. Brighton announced their plans for the future on Tuesday and say the stadium will cost £75-80 million.

The news comes at a good time for Brighton fans, who have witnessed their side defeat Arsenal and Manchester City either side of the international break.

The club will launch their ‘built for her’ stadium as part of its wider investment in women’s football. Alongside a new stadium with an initial capacity of 10,000, bespoke training facilities will also be provided to everyone involved with Brighton women.

A walkway will connect the proposed stadium to the Amex, home of Brighton’s men’s side. Brighton have played several times at the Amex, but their permanent ground lies at Crawley Town’s Broadfield Stadium. Their current home holds just over 5,500 spectators, so board members hope the move will drive fan growth.

“The prospect of a bespoke stadium, built exclusively for women’s players, staff and supporters, is incredibly exciting,” said Zoe Johnson, women’s managing director.

“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.”

To celebrate the club’s backing, Brighton players took in training in special kit which represents the ‘built for her’ mantra.

When will Brighton’s new stadium open?

The club hopes to open the stadium ahead of the 2030/31 season, where there will be a real focus on sustained fan engagement.

Brighton sit sixth in the Women’s Super League, but Johnson believes the stadium will establish the side as a dominant force.

She said: “It will help us push forward our ambitions to compete consistently both domestically in the Women’s Super League, and also in European club competition, while helping us to attract key staff and grow a passionate fan base.

“We also hope the stadium can support academy and development fixtures, giving more of our younger players valuable experience of playing in a purpose-built stadium environment.”

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Designed around the needs of female athletes, the stadium will no longer be an adaption of a venue historically designed for male counterparts. Each element of the new stadium, from the pitch to the changing rooms, will support female athletes to perform at their peak.

The matchday experience will also be designed for ‘welcoming families and first-time attendees’ through a lively atmosphere with music.

Albion chairman, Tony Bloom, has given his full backing to the project.

“It is a significant further investment in our long term vision for women’s football at Brighton & Hove Albion,” he said. “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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