Premier League club increase capacity of stadium as part of £40m project

Brighton have spent the summer giving the Amex Stadium a makeover in time for the new season.

The Seagulls confirmed their intention to expand their home ground earlier in the year.

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“The club can confirm safe-standing will be extended to the lower rows of the North Stand in September 2026,” a statement read on the club’s official website at the time.

“Following a review of the voting, safe-standing is moving to lower rows but only in more central blocks where this had the most support.

“This may mean that sight lines are impacted for the seats situated immediately next to safe standing areas.

“For those supporters whose seats will be converted to safe standing, a priority window will be available to move elsewhere in the stadium.”

And the summer renovations means they have expanded their capacity to 32,500 in time for Brighton’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa on Sunday August 23.

The changes also mean that away fans will be relocated to the south-west corner of the stadium in time for the 2027/28 season.

Meanwhile, a new premium hospitality space, known as the 1901 Club, has been added to the North Stand as part of the project worth £40million.

What is safe-standing?

Brighton are the latest Premier League side to implement safe-standing.

The likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Chelsea, who signed Danny Welbeck from Brighton last week, have all adopted rail seating.

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Safe-standing is a measure in place that ensures spectators are able to stand safely during events.

The idea is to boost the home team and provide a more intimidating atmosphere for visiting sides.

It’s become popular once more among the top-flight teams, all of which were forced to implement all-seater stadiums in the 1990s owing to a number of fatal incidents at football matches, notably Hillsborough, where 97 Liverpool fans tragically lost their lives in 1989.

Brighton will be hoping to increase in capacity will benefit them when they face either Romanian side CFR Cluj or Norwegian outfit Tromso in their UEFA Conference League playoff later this month.

The Seagulls will play the first leg away from home on 20 August.

And they’ll play the reverse fixture in front of their home fans a week later as they seek to maximise home advantage and book a spot in Europe’s third tier competition.

Brighton first moved into the Amex Stadium in 2011, having earned promotion from League One to the Premier League in that time.