Brighton & Hove Albion have been through some dark days and football fans from around the country rallied behind them. It’s 14 years since they left the Goldstone Ground and after a two year ground share at Gillingham they have spent 12 years at the Withdean Stadium. It kept the club alive but it’s not a suitable setting for football. Away fans in particular will be glad to see the end of it and to get closer to the action and the opportunity to create some atmosphere.
Brighton & Hove Albion have been through some dark days and football fans from around the country rallied behind them. It’s 14 years since they left the Goldstone Ground and after a two year ground share at Gillingham they have spent 12 years at the Withdean Stadium. It kept the club alive but it’s not a suitable setting for football. Away fans in particular will be glad to see the end of it and to get closer to the action and the opportunity to create some atmosphere.
There is no doubt that the Amex Community Stadium will be a spectacular addition to the Football League. Manager Gus Poyet has had Brighton playing some stylish and controlled football this season. They are 13 points clear at the top of League 1 and near certainties to grace the Championship next season.
It was a struggle to get the site at Falmer approved with determined opposition from some local residents. Decisions had to be taken at the highest level and required some astute and determined political campaigning from Seagulls fans. But the stock of goodwill they have built up around the country served them well.
The new stadium cost £96m and will have a capacity of 22,500. 14,000 season tickets have already been sold which is twice the capacity of the Withdean. All the executive boxes have been snapped up and the conference and banqueting facilities have already attracted considerable advance bookings. The club is hoping for regular attendances of 17,000 – 18,000 which seems an achievable target.