Brighton & Hove Albion FC Confirms Plans for Purpose-Built Women’s Stadium.

Roger Hampel

Image: Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton & Hove Albion has confirmed plans to build a purpose-built stadium for its women’s team, a project that would make it the first of its kind in the UK and Europe. The proposed 10,000-capacity venue is expected to be located next to the club’s American Express Stadium, subject to planning approval, with a targeted opening for the 2030/31 season.

The project represents a significant capital investment and a clear strategic statement around the long-term commercial and sporting development of women’s football.

Infrastructure Designed Specifically for the Women’s Game Brighton & Hove Albion

The stadium is planned as a fully dedicated venue, designed around the needs of female athletes, staff and supporters. This includes performance facilities, recovery areas and operational infrastructure tailored specifically to the women’s game, rather than adapted from existing men’s venues.

The site at Bennett’s Field, acquired in 2025, allows the club to physically connect the new stadium to the Amex via a bridge link. This creates operational efficiencies while maintaining a distinct identity for the women’s team.

From a design perspective, the project also incorporates underground parking and a layout intended to support accessibility and fan flow, reflecting a broader focus on matchday experience.

Long-Term Investment in Women’s Football

The development forms part of Brighton’s wider 2030 vision and builds on existing investment in training and administrative facilities at the club’s Elite Football Performance Centre.

Ownership backing, led by Tony Bloom, has been central to the project, with the club positioning the stadium as a long-term asset rather than a short-term response to market growth.

Capacity has been set at 10,000, aligning with Women’s Super League demand and reflecting a strategy focused on sustainable attendance growth rather than overexpansion.

Executive Comments

Zoe Johnson, Managing Director of Brighton Women, described the project as a structural step for the club, speaking via Brighton’s official website:

“It will help us push forward our ambitions to compete consistently… while helping us to attract key staff and grow a passionate fan base.”

Chair Tony Bloom highlighted the broader momentum around the women’s game, also speaking via the club’s official website:

“It is a significant further investment in our long term vision for women’s football… we strongly believe it will strengthen our ability to attract elite talent and support the growth of our fan base.”

Chief Executive Paul Barber framed the project within a wider industry context:

“A stadium ‘built for her’ is not only a significant capital investment for the club but one which we know will also benefit the city… and drive further momentum for the growth of women’s and girls’ football.”