This week, Brighton & Hove Albion Women unveiled plans for a new stadium, offering a glimpse into what the future of women’s football could look like.
A purpose-built home with a minimum capacity of 10,000 will be home to the women’s team from the 2030/31 season.
Connected to the existing American Express Stadium via a bridge, this new stadium will become a part of the Brighton ‘campus’ and shows the club’s commitment to their women’s team.
Brighton & Hove Albion's new women's ground is ‘a massive statement’
The new stadium, expected to cost between £75-80 million, will be just one of three purpose-built Women’s football stadiums worldwide, joining Kansas City Current (already playing at CPKC Stadium) and Denver Summit (build in progress).
With those other two clubs playing in the USA’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), this is the first purpose-built women’s stadium in Europe.
Majority owner Tony Bloom spoke passionately about why he wanted to invest into this project, aptly labelled ‘Built for her’ and how it was respectful to give the women’s team the facilities they deserve.
Long before this announcement, they had already invested in dedicated facilities at their Lancing training base, creating an environment built specifically for their women’s side rather than adapted as an afterthought.
The stadium will be designed with women and girls in mind, from the players’ facilities to fan experience.
For players, this kind of investment is important in deciding where they want to play their football.
“It’s huge,” said Fran Kirby, who joined Brighton in summer 2024. “You want to feel like you’re part of a club that cares, that’s not just standing still, that wants to keep pushing the game.
“When I first started playing, I never even dreamt that I would be in a conversation with a club that’s saying, we’re going to build a stadium purposely for the women.
“It’s a massive statement and hopefully it allows us to attract some of the best players.”
Captain Maisie Symonds added: “When I joined Brighton, we moved into our own facility. That was five years ago now and other clubs are starting to follow. I think this club sets the trend and sets the standard for women’s sport.”
Brighton’s performance and one-club mentality
Infrastructure and investment alone doesn’t win matches, but manager Dario Vidisic is doing a good job at the helm.
Vidisic joined Brighton when Kirby did in 2024 and led the club to record their best-ever fifth-placed finish in the Women’s Super League last year. They sit sixth this campaign and are in an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool, having beaten Arsenal.
One of the most important elements of the new stadium is its location. Currently the team play in Crawley, or “halfway up the M23” as CEO Paul Barber said, when referring to the importance of having a ground the local community can feel a part of.
Connected to the Amex via a bridge, the new stadium reinforces a “one club” identity, something players feel strongly about.
“It’s going to be a hub for football in Brighton,” Kirby said. “It’s not men’s and women’s - it’s just Brighton.”
