In a landmark moment for women’s sport, Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club has unveiled plans to build Europe’s first purpose-built stadium for a professional women’s football team.
Announced this week, the proposed 10,000-seat venue will sit alongside the American Express Stadium in Brighton. It will be connected by a bridge and designed entirely around the needs of female athletes and their fans.
If completed as planned by the 2030–31 season, it will be one of only three dedicated women’s football stadiums in the world.
The build, still subject to plannning approval, reaffirms the club’s commitment to the women’s game. It will include breastfeeding rooms, baby changing areas and special parking for prams. It will also include social spaces for fans, as well as pitch standards and changing rooms specifically designed for women.
“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,” Women’s managing director Zoe Johnson said.
“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 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.”
The club released some images of the planned stadium, saying it will provide a permanent home and identity for the women’s team and hopefully drive repeat attendance and a better broadcast experience.
“We are determined to maintain the momentum built in recent years, not just nationally but here in the city,” Chair of Albion Women, Michelle Walder said.
“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.”
Chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber said the new women’s stadium will be integral to driving momentum for the growth of women’s and girls’ football.
“With a capacity aligned to Women’s Super League regulations, the stadium reflects our clear belief in ‘right sizing’ the stadium to grow the fan base sustainably,” he said.
“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 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.”