Features

Work on new Brentford stadium halted by COVID-19

Work on a new stadium for Championship football club Brentford has been temporarily paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brentford is due to move into the 17,250-seat stadium ahead of the 2020-21 season. With professional football in England having been suspended until at least April 30, it remains to be seen when the 2019-20 season will resume and the disruption may end up affecting the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

Brentford Community Stadium, which will also serve as the home of the London Irish rugby union team, is located on Lionel Road and is being delivered by EcoWorld London. Amid government advice on social distancing and working from home where possible, work on the project has been put on hold for the time being.

An EcoWorld London spokesperson told TheStadiumBusiness.com: “EcoWorld London decided last week to close construction sites under its control in Brentford until further notice.

“We can also confirm, following discussions with Brentford FC and Buckingham Group Ltd, that work on the new stadium construction site at Lionel Road will also be temporarily paused and we are working with both parties to understand how this will impact the build programme.

“Only essential works to make and keep the sites safe and secure will continue.”

EcoWorld London also serves as Brentford’s shirt sponsor and benefits from advertising exposure at Griffin Park, the club’s current home.

The wide-ranging stadium development will also result in the construction of a purpose-built location for the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, as well as a public square with shops, cafes and restaurants, and more than 900 new homes for sale and rent.

In October, Brentford named Levy UK as the official food and hospitality partner of the stadium. The catering company signed a five-year contract to deliver services at the venue and will offer fan favourites among the food and beverage options.

Brentford Community Stadium has already been pencilled in to be one of the host venues for England’s staging of the UEFA Women’s Euro. The tournament is scheduled to take place in the summer of 2021 but looks set to be pushed back after the men’s competition scheduled for this summer was delayed by a year due to COVID-19.

Brentford is challenging for promotion to the Premier League and currently sits fourth in the Championship.

Image: Brentford FC