The Premier League team Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. has confirmed plans for the United Kingdom and Europe’s first purpose-built women’s football stadium. It will be one of only three such stadiums in the world putting the club at the forefront of the women’s game globally.
‘BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION’ stated that the stadium specifically ‘Built for Her’ will provide bespoke facilities for Brighton’s women’s team, its staff and the club’s supporters. It represents a major milestone in the club’s 2030 vision and underlines the Board’s intent and belief in the women’s and the girls’ game supported once again by the unstinting backing of Owner Tony Bloom.
The Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, commonly referred to as Brighton, is a professional football club based in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England (UK). The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.
The Falmer Stadium, currently known as the American Express Stadium for sponsorship reasons and more commonly referred to as the Amex, is a football stadium in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England (UK). With a capacity of 31,876 it is the second-largest stadium in South East England and the 30th-largest stadium in the United Kingdom. It serves as the home digs of the Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
The Brighton & Hove Albion Women Football Club is an English women’s football club affiliated with Brighton & Hove Albion. The club currently compete in the Women’s Super League, the highest level of women’s football in England.
The 5,567-seat Broadfield Stadium is a multipurpose stadium in Crawley, West Sussex, England (UK). It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of the Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C.
‘BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION’ further stated that work has begun on a planning application for the new women’s stadium located at Bennett’s Field, a site strategically acquired during 2025. The location is immediately adjacent to the American Express Stadium enabling strong operational and fan experience links between the two venues with the opportunity for the club to use a range of its facilities across both Men’s and Women’s match days.
The new women’s stadium has been designed with a minimum capacity of 10,000 and will be physically connected to the Amex via a new bridge link. The sloping nature of Bennett’s Field will allow the stadium to accommodate underground parking facilities while still providing level access for the spectators.
The club’s ambition is for the stadium to open no later than the 2030-2031 seasons subject to planning approvals which will be sought through the neighboring authorities of Brighton and Hove City Council and the Lewes District Council.
The new stadium reaffirms the club’s longstanding commitment to the women’s and girls’ game adding to the significant investment in dedicated training and administration facilities at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing, just 20 minutes to the West of the stadium site.
The new stadium will give the women’s team a new purpose-built home that reflects that level of support and ambition further reinforcing Brighton’s position as a global leader in women’s football.
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 United Kingdom and Europe and one of only three in the world and will capture the imagination of the stakeholders across the women’s game not just here but globally. It is something we are asked about constantly and we have worked hard to reach this moment. So, it is exciting now to share this news with the wider world. It will help us push forward our ambitions to compete consistently both domestically in the Women’s Super League and also in the European club competition while helping us to attract the key staff and grow a passionate fan base.”
Added Johnson, “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.”
Significant progress has already been made on the design work for the women’s stadium. In addition to the images released the club will share more detailed imagery publicly as the project moves through the planning process.
Having adopted a guiding philosophy of ‘Built for Her’ the new stadium will be designed around the needs of the female athletes and the distinct needs and culture of the women’s game rather than be an adaptation of a venue that was designed for the male athletes historically and typically supported by a male-dominated audience.
From pitch standards and performance environments such as the changing rooms and the recovery spaces every element of the new stadium will support the elite female players.
Reflecting a different demographic of supporters the matchday experience will be designed to be especially welcoming for the families and the first-time attendees with easy access for the families, the wider concourses, the social spaces, and an event-day atmosphere focused on music, entertainment and community.
Above all, with the team’s onfield performance the focal point from a sporting perspective, the new stadium will provide a permanent home and identity for the women’s team driving repeat attendance, a better broadcast experience and long-term fan growth.
Maintained Michelle Walder, Chair of Albion Women, “We are determined to maintain the momentum built in recent years, not just nationally but here in the city. A stadium ‘Built for Her’ is an ambitious statement of intent – it’s an exciting commitment and will establish Brighton and Hove on the global map as a genuine home for the women’s game. Delivering these plans is central to accelerating the long-term growth of our women’s team and the future of the wider game.”
Remarked Tony Bloom, Albion Chairman, “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 the 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.”
Pointed out Paul Barber, Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman, Brighton & Hove Albion, “Our new women’s stadium, the first of its kind in the UK and Europe, and one of only three in the world, is a powerful statement of our ambitions and will be integral to driving further momentum for the growth of women’s and girls’ football, not just in the United Kingdom but across the world. With a capacity aligned to the Women’s Super League regulations the stadium reflects our clear belief in ‘right sizing’ the stadium to grow the fan base sustainably. 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 the other areas around the stadium through the creation of local construction jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities for the 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.”
Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on venues business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports and entertainment venue executives and professionals creating better and more profitable venues.
Become a member of the only Global Sports Venue Alliance and connect with stadiums, arenas and experts from around the world. Apply for membership at coliseum-online.com/alliance and make use of the 365Coliseum Business.