Stadium Latest: Turnstiles, Electric Supply, Roof Panels & Main Stand Seats

AFC Bournemouth's ambitious redevelopment of the Vitality Stadium continues to gather momentum, with another week of significant progress bringing the transformed home of the Cherries closer to completion.

Following last week's official groundbreaking ceremony, where club president Jim Frevola marked the symbolic start of the project despite construction already being well underway, work has accelerated both inside and outside the stadium ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

As such, a recent Back of the Net video demonstrated the latest progress, with drone footage being shared to supporters which give aerial shots of Dean Court, as well as some great shots from the ground which reveal the latest progress.

Perhaps the most visible change since last week has been the continued transformation of the Main Stand. Installation of the new black seating has now begun after the East Stand's seating replacement neared completion, while additional roof panels have been fitted to the refurbished Main Stand roof, including the transparent polycarbonate frontage designed to improve natural light while delivering improved insulation and weather protection.

The playing surface has also reached another key stage. After the irrigation system was tested and the lower root zone installed, the pitch is now ready to be seeded, with the surface having been subtly raised to improve drainage across the field.

Away from the pitch, structural work continues across the western side of the stadium. Flooring has now been completed across every level of the south-west wing extension, while further steelwork has been installed as hospitality facilities continue to expand. The enlarged upper-floor restaurant remains one of the centrepieces of the redevelopment, reflecting the club's increasing focus on premium matchday experiences - a focus which is understandable, given 6% of the attendance via hospitality contributes to 40% of matchday income.

Elsewhere around the site, fresh evidence of the stadium's upgraded infrastructure is beginning to emerge. Steel frames have appeared on several of the new concrete bases in the West Car Park, confirming they will form part of the stadium's new turnstile entrances, each protected by covered shelters.

Utility works have also progressed, with trenches extended towards the outside broadcast compound and pedestrian routes continuing to take shape around the southern perimeter. 

One area where progress has briefly paused is the north-west corner infill. Foundation piling had been expected to begin this week, but contractors have instead been forced to divert a large drainage system discovered beneath the site before work can continue. Specialist piling equipment is already in position, suggesting construction will begin once the underground services have been relocated.

Also in this area, the electric sub-stations are still yet to be active. Due to this, contractors are using temporary generators for the power, given the current supply isn't yet sufficient for their high-usage power tools. The need for a better supply is also of utmost importance given that the kitchen at Vitality Stadium are changing from gas to electric.

Across the stadium in the south-east corner, preparatory work continues ahead of the second corner infill. The foundations have been piled, which means steels should soon be installed, however focus is now on the temporary Ted MacDougall Stand, which is understood to require several modifications to satisfy UEFA requirements, including removing to cladding to expose the structural fixings, which will need to be upgraded.

The redevelopment is not solely focused on increasing capacity. Significant internal alterations are also being carried out to ensure the stadium meets UEFA regulations ahead of AFC Bournemouth's historic first European campaign. As well as the Vitality stadium upgrades noted recently, new cranked floodlights are also beginning to appear, with foundations now visible in both corners of the stadium to meet UEFA lighting standards.

Elsewhere, the rerouted pedestrian path has now been tarmacked to link up with the "old" shared path, which arches around to what will be a zebra crossing on Kings Park Drive, which leads to the cricket pitch and Kings Park Cafe.

With Bournemouth's opening Premier League fixture now less than two months away, attention is firmly fixed on delivering the first phase of the redevelopment in time for the new season. While some UEFA-specific facilities are not required until European competition begins later in September, the pace of construction suggests the club remains firmly on course.

What initially appeared to be a complex demolition and refurbishment project is increasingly resembling a modern football stadium, with fresh progress visible almost every week as one of the Premier League's most ambitious stadium redevelopments continues to take shape.