AFC Bournemouth have taken a decisive step in their long-term vision to grow on and off the pitch, after unveiling plans that reaffirm the club’s ambition to cement its status in the Premier League.
The Vitality Stadium is currently the smallest venue in England’s top flight, accommodating just over 11,000 fans.
The dramatic expansion that will nearly double its current capacity has been backed by local authorities, increasing the capacity to approximately 20,200 by August 2027.
The phased redevelopment will take place in three key stages to minimise disruption to matchday fixtures and keep the stadium operational throughout:
Cllr Rich Herrett from BCP Council, told AFC Bournemouth: “The council recognises how valuable AFC Bournemouth is to Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole, with its continued success on the pitch, and their support for our local communities.
“We have a positive relationship with the football club and have enjoyed like many, their recent successes on the pitch.
“We look forward to working with them on their plans to invest in the area and improve the matchday experience for fans at Vitality Stadium, via the appropriate planning and democratic processes.”
While new stadium plans capture headlines, the Cherries have already started their transformation with a new state-of-the-art training facility in Canford Magna.
Not only do these plans benefit the men’s team, but they also support the women’s and academy teams in building a strong foundation.
The transition to this facility marks a major uplift in professional standards for the club, helping attract talent on and off the pitch.
Bournemouth’s owner, Bill Foley, also commented on these plans: “This is an exciting and important moment for the club.
“Our proposed new stadium reflects not only our ambition on the pitch, but also our commitment to investing in the community.
“The project will deliver long-term benefits for supporters, local residents, and the wider region beyond the BCP area.”
Beyond the immediate visual impact of these proposed changes, these plans carry significant long-term benefits for the club on various levels.
The increased capacity will boost matchday revenue, allowing the club to better compete with established Premier League sides and hopefully help them reach their goal of European football in the future.
The vision within the club is to become a top-performing club in the Premier League, achieving five key points:
- Increase capacity to approximately 20,200
- Enhance the matchday experience
- Achieve full compliance with Premier League and UEFA Standards
- Strengthen community impact
- Implement cost-effective, low-disruption solutions during the redevelopment
These plans signify an exciting future for the Cherries, as the prospect of a louder, fuller ground only adds to the sense of anticipation, with supporter’s hopeful the stadium can retain its intimate atmosphere while amplifying the noise and identity they have already defined.
For a club that has already beaten the odds of staying in the Premier League, AFC Bournemouth are now building a future that finally matches the size of their ambition.
