attached women’s – Brighton have revealed an £80m plan for a new women’s stadium attached to the Amex, targeting a 2030-31 debut and a permanent home for the Seagulls.
Brighton have set out an ambitious blueprint for women’s football in Sussex, unveiling plans for a brand-new stadium designed to sit attached to their existing Amex ground.
The Premier League club’s proposal centres on an £80million women’s arena to be built at Bennett’s Field. with a capacity of at least 10. 000.. Crucially for the fan experience. the stadium would be accessed via a walkway linked to the bigger stadium next door—an arrangement intended to keep the women’s team’s matchday world separate in identity. yet connected in access and atmosphere.
Brighton view the project as more than a venue upgrade.. They describe it as the first purpose-built women’s stadium in Europe. and the club want it ready for the 2030-31 season.. Planning work has already begun through a formal application. with the club preparing the site and setting out how the new home would fit alongside the current Amex configuration.
For the women’s team, the timing feels especially significant.. Brighton’s Women’s Super League side has sometimes played at the Amex. but they have often been based at Crawley Town’s Broadfield Stadium—about 20 miles away.. Moving to an attached home in Brighton proper changes the practical rhythm of the season: shorter travel for staff. clearer logistics for players. and. potentially. a stronger link between the club’s men’s and women’s fanbases.
A stadium built around families and first-time fans
Beyond capacity, Brighton’s plans lean heavily into the day-to-day atmosphere of the new matchday.. The club says the layout will create spaces for female players and supporters beyond what exists at many current venues. while also building in family-focused facilities.. Proposed amenities include breastfeeding rooms. baby changing areas. and designated spaces for prams—features that aim to make attendance feel accessible rather than transactional.
In a sport where growth often depends on turning first impressions into repeat habits, these design choices are not small.. Women’s football has surged in attention across leagues. cups. and grassroots pathways. but permanent infrastructure can determine whether that momentum becomes sustained culture in a city.. Brighton’s decision to draft a venue specifically around families and first-time attendees suggests the club is trying to convert curiosity into long-term loyalty.
There is also an identity dimension to the blueprint.. Brighton’s wording—seeking to “provide a permanent home and identity”—signals a shift from temporary solutions toward a venue that is recognisably theirs.. Attached stadiums can sometimes feel like annexes; Brighton’s aim appears to be the opposite: a distinct environment with its own character. yet benefiting from the proximity to a major football landmark.
Why an attached Amex-style venue could reshape momentum
The wider implication matters: purpose-built women’s stadiums are still rare. and each high-profile announcement changes how stakeholders plan for the future.. When a Premier League club commits to a dedicated site. it sends a signal to broadcasters. sponsors. local partners. and governing bodies that investment is not confined to elite moments—it can be translated into everyday infrastructure.
Brighton’s leadership framed the project in those terms.. The club’s managing director of women’s and girls’ football. Zoe Johnson. described the prospect of a bespoke stadium as “incredibly exciting. ” positioning it as a landmark for the UK and Europe. and as a global reference point for women’s football.
Brighton chairman and owner Tony Bloom added that the plan has been in discussion for some time and that finding the right location was key to making it work.. He also underlined the generational aspect. pointing to young players as the immediate beneficiaries while tying the long-term vision to what comes after them.
From an editorial standpoint. the real story here isn’t just the cost or the headline capacity—it’s the strategic timing.. By targeting a 2030-31 opening. Brighton are building a timeline that aligns with the sport’s rising commercial confidence and the league’s ambition.. If the project delivers. it could become a blueprint for other clubs weighing whether to expand existing grounds or build dedicated homes.
For fans. the promise is straightforward: a closer. more consistent venue; a matchday designed for families; and a sense that women’s football has a permanent address.. For the women’s team. it’s about stability that matches the ambition—training and staging a WSL campaign with a home that feels built for the level and the audience arriving right now.