AFC Bournemouth unveil their stadium expansion plans with a new fly-through video and images on their site and socials.
The redevelopment of Vitality Stadium aims to secure the club’s long-term success and sustainability in the Premier League, marking a significant milestone in the club’s history.
There are plans to expand from 11,286 to approximately 20,200 seats, with over 8,400 new general admission seats and 600 hospitality seats.
There will be improve facilities, including a new fan zone in the southwest corner with food and beverage outlets, and a new ticket office.
They are to ensure full compliance with league and UEFA standards, while also strengthening community engagement through the upgraded facilities.
Construction is planned to minimise disruption, allowing matches to continue during the football season.
The plan is to demolish and replace the South Stand with a new 7,000-seat grandstand, then infill all four corners to add ~1,440 general admission seats.
Vertically and horizontally expand North (1,200 seats) and East (1,700 seats) Stands.
Internal refurbishments to the West Stand to enhance player facilities, hospitality, and concourses, enclosing open-air patios.
𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 anything is possible pic.twitter.com/83xdEY2Gg2
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) July 15, 2025
CLUB STATEMENT:
The transformation and development of Vitality Stadium will secure the long-term success and sustainability of AFC Bournemouth.
The expansion and improvement of the stadium represents a major milestone in the Club’s history and its stated journey to be top a performing club in the Premier League.
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
New stadium perimeter fence line including relocated turnstiles
New ticket office
Demolish existing South Stand and build new grandstand (c.7,000 capacity)
Infill all four stadium corners to create additional general admission capacity(c.1,440 capacity)
Vertically and horizontally expand North and East Stands
New fan zone
New outside broadcasting (OB) area
Relocate existing floodlights from the corners and space along the grandstands
Partial rerouting of combined pedestrian /cycle route
Optimisation of car and cycle parking layout
Amend vehicle circulation routes
Enabling works:
Planning application: Summer 2025
Construction start date: Q1 2026
Phase 1:
Planning application: Autumn 2025
Construction start date: Q1/Q2 2026 (during active season)
Phase 2:
Planning application: Autumn 2025
Construction start date: Q3 2027
Q: What is the proposed new capacity of the stadium?
A: The stadium will expand from 11,286 to approximately 20,200 seats.
Q: Will you add more season tickets?
A: Yes! The main goal for the project is to more than double the amount of season tickets, adding thousands.
Q. How will you determine who is offered a season ticket?
A: A combination of data points will be utilised to determine the purchase priority for new season tickets. These data points will include prior purchase history, Cherries Points priority status, etc. Our intention is to ensure that every Maximum Point Holder will have a purchase opportunity. More details will be shared in the coming months.
Q: Will you be adding more hospitality?
A: The plan is to add approximately 9,000 total seats during both phases of renovation. 8,400 of these new seats will be General Admission. We will be adding a few new hospitality areas in the Main and East Stands encapsulating the remaining 600 seats.
Q: What changes are being made to the South Stand?
A: The existing South Stand will be demolished and replaced with a new grandstand accommodating around 7,000. In the same phase of works, all four corners will be filled to add approximately 1,440 general admission seats.
Q: What improvements are planned for the West Stand?
A: Internal refurbishments will enhance player facilities, hospitality areas, concourses, etc. In addition, we plan to enclose both open-air patios on the second floor.
Q: What is planned for the North and East Stands?
A: These will be extended to add approximately 1,200 seats in the North and 1,700 in the East.
Q: What are the enabling works?
A: We will be installing a new perimeter fence line with relocated turnstiles to allow for easier ingress and egress. In addition, a new ticket office will be added to the exterior of the new perimeter fence line.
Q: Will you add any additional Fan Zones?
A: The plan is to add a new Fan Zone to be located on the SW corner of the stadium grounds, offering food and beverage outlets.
Q. Is the stadium going to host non-football events?
A: As is currently the case, hospitality spaces within the stadium would be used for non-football activities (i.e. conferences, meetings, business events, proms etc.) across the calendar year. During the off season the stadium may also host other events such as concerts or other sporting events. However, they would be infrequent.
Q: Will matches continue during construction?
A: Yes, construction is planned to minimise disruption and allow the stadium to remain operational during the football season.
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.”
Cllr Rich Herrett BCP
Council Cabinet Member for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations
Here’s how fans reacted after Bournemouth unveil stadium expansion plans with a new fly-through video and images…
@ACE_W: Looks amazing and will be wonderful for players and fans alike. Excited to hear about sustainability features in due course.
@Officalrpj: Im going to cry 🥺
@jackwiles17: Little old dean court going big time
@AfcbPhilippines: Stunning! They have managed to retain the look and feel of the original, much better than the soulless bowl designs out there
@scottweller123: Looks spot on
@joerusling9: Wow. A modern stadium expansion that isn’t a bowl and still keeps the general feel of Dean Court. Very impressed and excited for our little tinpot football club, and I doubt anyone’s garden shed will actually be bigger than this. #afcb
@alexdeutsch: The most excited I’ve been about football in a long time. Incredible.
@AFCBNG: Looks incredible. Looking forward to seeing it live
@_A_J_5_: Unreal . Bravo to everyone involved . Keeps the general feel of the stadium – no toilet bowels . 👏
@DRE93___: Hopefully it can withstand the windy months! But looks great! Especially what you boys need!
@edward_w97: They’ve needed this for ages. Being an established Premier League side with an ~11,000 ground couldn’t last forever. South Coast Ashton Gate on the look of that design.
@Efdejaycy: Fucking brilliant, everything it should have been. How lucky are we to have such fantastic owners, thank you Foley and co. Up the cherries
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