Brighton Plans Europe's First Women's Football Stadium

Brighton and Hove Albion have unveiled plans for Europe's first purpose-built women's football stadium, a 10,000-capacity venue set to open no later than the 2030/31 season at Bennetts Field adjacent to the men's American Express Stadium in Falmer.

The Women's Super League club, currently sixth in the table after a 3-2 victory over Manchester City at their shared home ground, Broadfield Stadium with League Two side Crawley Town, announced that work has begun on a planning application. The site, acquired in 2025, will feature underground parking due to the sloping terrain and a bridge connecting it to the Amex, allowing shared use of facilities like hospitality and the club shop on matchdays. The stadium, described by the club as "built for her," will prioritize the needs of female athletes with tailored pitch standards, changing rooms, recovery spaces and family-friendly social areas.

Club officials emphasized the project's role in advancing women's football. "Every element of the new stadium will support elite female players," the club stated on its website. Women's managing director Zoe Johnson said, "The prospect of a bespoke stadium, built exclusively for women's players,...