Brighton & Hove Albion have announced plans to construct a new 10,000-seat stadium specifically for their women's team, a first of its kind in Europe. According to a club statement released on Tuesday, the new ground will be built adjacent to the men's first-team's Amex Stadium and is projected to be ready for the start of the 2030-31 season at the latest. A symbolic footbridge will connect the two venues, physically and philosophically linking the club's male and female operations.
The Seagulls proclaimed that this development will make them the originators of "the first purpose-built stadium for a women's team in the UK and Europe," and one of only three such dedicated stadiums in the world. Currently, the majority of top European women's sides, like Arsenal, play significant matches in the larger stadiums of their affiliated men's clubs, while the National Women's Soccer League's Kansas City Current opened its own purpose-built stadium in 2024. Brighton's women's team currently plays its home matches at the Broadfield Stadium in Crawley, approximately 30 kilometres from the city of Brighton and Hove.
The move represents a significant long-term investment in the infrastructure of the women's game at a time of rapid growth. Brighton's chairman, Tony Bloom, stated the project underscores the club's commitment to being at the forefront of women's football globally. The announcement comes amid increasing calls for better facilities and dedicated resources for women's clubs across the continent, a contrast to situations in some leagues where female sections are said to lack adequate support.
For Brighton, the decision aligns with the club's strategy to grow its women's team alongside its men's side, which has established itself in the Premier League. The women's team, competing in the Women's Super League, will gain a permanent home with a capacity more suited to its current and projected fanbase, fostering a distinct identity while benefiting from the shared facilities and location of the main club complex. The planned stadium is seen as a statement of intent to attract top talent and compete at the highest level of the women's game.
The development is expected to be a multi-year project, with detailed planning applications and consultations to follow. The club's announcement focuses on the long-term vision, suggesting the 2030-31 target is a conservative estimate. This infrastructure commitment is likely to be viewed as a benchmark for other clubs considering how to sustainably develop their women's football operations, moving beyond temporary ground-sharing arrangements.
