Great Britain is a nation of football players and fans, being home to over 40,000 association football clubs and dedicated to showcasing the best of these in the Premier League. Consisting of 20 teams, the Premier League is the top tier of British football with the teams battling on an annual basis for victory over their counterparts.

One way in which Premier League teams are increasing their exposure is through the expansion or construction of new stadia, allowing them to accommodate more fans, achieve greater visibility and promote themselves as worthy contenders. 

It has recently been reported that 16 Premier League teams have ambitious plans for stadium expansion in motion, or are exploring venues for new stadia that can accommodate greater visitor numbers, provide better facilities, enhance the fan experience and ultimately increase the club's revenue.

Relocation or expansion

Football Clubs must always be mindful of the bottom line. They are ultimately a business and must turn a profit in order to function. Where visitor numbers are hampered by access arrangements, accessibility constraints, location or parking availability, careful consideration must be given to implementing changes.

Any changes will come at a cost, and deciding whether to expand or relocate requires careful consideration. Clubs must investigate the terms of their lease, where the facilities are provided by the council and determine whether investing in the existing infrastructure represents value for money.

Where the facilities are owned, planning permission will need to be sought to make material changes, such as moving pillars to obtain better visibility of the pitch, increasing the width of walkways to accommodate wheelchairs or other accessibility equipment, installing disabled toilet facilities or increasing the size of the venue's car park.

Where the cost or complexity of expanding the existing infrastructure is excessive, due consideration must be given to relocation. Relocation allows Football Clubs to occupy larger or better equipped facilities without the need for costly building works or disrupted home games, but may affect the ability of fans to attend games, particularly if the new site is outside of city boundaries or lacks public transport links. 

There is also a contractual discussion to be had with regard to the use and purpose of the existing stadium that is to be vacated. The vast majority of Football Clubs cannot afford the expense of owning, renting or occupying two sites so unless a break clause exists in the contract, relocation plans may have to be shelved until closer to the end of the current contract period.

Who's already made their decision?

Aston Villa has received permission to increase Villa Park's capacity by 8,000 and intends to complete this work by 2027, ready to host the EURO 2028 tournament. Brighton is also expanding, with the creation of a fan zone in its AMEX stadium and concurrently pursuing plans to build a second 10,000 seat stadium specifically for its women's team. 

Crystal Palace is more than doubling the capacity of its main stand and improving its hospitality facilities. The work will begin next month and complete in time for the 2026/27 season. Also working on its stand and hospitality facilities is Fulham, which is also making headlines for its decision to install a rooftop pool. 

Manchester City's North Stand is currently undergoing expansion, with its capacity being increased to hold over 60,000 fans. The work is scheduled to be completed in 2025, although based on current progress, it is likely that this project will deliver ahead of schedule. 

Luton Town's new Power Court Stadium development is underway and should complete in 2026. Finally, Liverpool's recent completion of its Upper Anfield Road stand expansion looks to have been money well spent as the team has reported its largest ever attendance for a league game.

Who has plans afoot?

Bournemouth is exploring its options with reports that the team wishes to build a new training ground and a new 20,000 seat stadium. Burnley is in the assessment phase to determine how to implement safe standing at its Turf Moor site. 

Newcastle United is consulting on ways to increase the size of its St James Park stadium and, at the same time, exploring options for building a new stadium. Manchester United is another team that is weighing up its options, and again needs to decide between expansion or relocation.

Wolverhampton Wanderers has proposed renovations to its Steve Bull and Sir Jack Hayward stands, which will include an increased capacity, however no recent updates have been published.

Chelsea is reported to have purchased a plot of land near to Stamford Bridge at a cost of £80M however it is as yet unclear what the Club intends to do with this plot. 

These teams have challenges to overcome

Everton, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United are reported to have significant challenges to overcome if they are to progress their ambitious development plans. Nottingham Forest has a lease disagreement with their local council, while Everton and Sheffield United's plans are on hold due to ownership and cash flow uncertainty.

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