Featured image credit: Steve Daniels/CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED/Edited for size
Brighton & Hove City Council has put forward a motion to build a purpose-built stadium for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Women’s Super League team.
The team currently plays at the 6,000-capacity Broadfield Stadium (pictured), home of Crawley Town, which is located 20 miles away from Brighton.
The new stadium would be built within the city’s boundaries. The motion will be put forward as a notice of motion to a meeting of the full council on Thursday.
Leader of the council Bella Sankey said: “The phenomenal rise of women’s football at a local and national level deserves recognition. It also requires practical support to ensure the women’s game continues to grow.
“It’s been over 100 years since the Football Association introduced a ban on the women’s game being played at the professional grounds and pitches of clubs affiliated to the FA. Despite this ban being lifted in the 1970s, we are still a long way from women’s football reaching parity.
“Look how the Albion men’s team has roared to success once we got the Falmer stadium built. It’s about time we brought the Albion women’s team home to our city too. Our motion to full council demonstrates our full commitment to working with the club to deliver this for the Brighton & Hove Albion women’s team and all the fans.”
Brighton’s men’s team has played at American Express Stadium since 2011, with the move coinciding with a successful period for the club. Last season, the club finished sixth in the Premier League, securing qualification for the UEFA Europa League for the first time.
The women’s team is currently 10th in the WSL table after three matches of the 2023-24 season. Brighton narrowly avoided relegation last season, finishing 11th.
Last month, Manchester City set a first for the WSL after announcing a deal with baby gear brand Joie for naming rights to the Academy Stadium. The multi-year deal is the first stadium naming-rights agreement for a top-tier women’s team in England.
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