Two Days To Go! AFC Bournemouth's Race To Get Vitality Stadium Ready

AFC Bournemouth’s redevelopment of Dean Court is entering its final stages ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Everton, with contractors working at pace to ensure the stadium is ready to welcome supporters.

Significant progress has been made around the ground over the past week, with extensive tarmacking completed across the car parks and outside broadcast compound, while unfinished areas have been levelled and stabilised.

The main stand has also received new exterior signage, with lettering added to the turnstiles and the lift to the right of the main shaft now operational. Inside the stadium, the club shop is being stocked ahead of its opening, while point-of-sale terminals, turnstile entry systems and kitchen equipment are among the facilities undergoing final testing.

Temporary floodlights have also been installed in the north-west and south-east corners of the stadium while the permanent structures are awaited. Staff have been working to fine-tune the lighting levels and ensure the entire pitch is sufficiently illuminated.

The temporary installation in the north-west corner does, however, mean further concrete work in that area is likely to wait until the floodlights are moved. The steelwork is already complete, while the crane used for the redevelopment has now been removed.

The south-east corner has also taken shape, with concrete laid and fixings installed ready for seats and rails to be added. Boarding and fencing are being introduced around the construction areas to separate supporters from the ongoing work.

The scale of the redevelopment becomes even more apparent once inside the stadium.

The new wing extensions and covered canopies have created substantial additional space, with the Cherry Orchard, Gallery restaurant and 1899 hospitality suite now taking shape as significantly larger areas than before.

The hospitality spaces have also been fitted out with a mixture of seating arrangements, including smaller tables, larger tables, booths and bar-style seating.

The varied layout is designed to create a more flexible and personal hospitality experience rather than relying on a traditional arrangement of identical large tables.

Work has also continued in the tunnel, lounges, offices, corridors, changing rooms and club shop, with contractors putting the finishing touches to various areas of the stadium.

There have even been some changes to the location of toilets, meaning supporters will need to pay particular attention to the signage when they return to Dean Court.

The redevelopment will inevitably mean some changes to how supporters move around the stadium.

In the south-east corner, work has continued on the new access areas, with steps, seat fixings and rails now in place. Groundwork is also being completed to allow supporters to circulate safely around the area.

A canopy over the turnstiles in this section is not expected to be ready for the Everton fixture, meaning temporary arrangements could be required, potentially including staff using handheld ticket scanners.

Once supporters are inside the stadium, however, the removal of the old turnstile entry buildings means they will be able to move around the ground more freely.

Fans approaching from Thistlebarrow Road should also be aware that they will no longer be able to enter through the usual route. Instead, they will need to walk around the apartments and use the turnstiles opposite the Main Stand.

The route through the outside broadcast compound is also being altered, with a newly tarmacked path now connecting with the existing route towards Little Down. The previous access point is expected to be closed off, with supporters diverted along the new pathway.

One of the biggest changes facing supporters this season is the cost of parking.

The South Car Park has now been extensively tarmacked and lined, with vehicles already being parked on the newly completed surface.

The West Car Park is also taking shape, with a new service road running parallel to Kings Park Drive and serving the parking bays.

However, the redevelopment has coincided with a significant increase in matchday parking charges, with spaces now costing £25 per game.

The rise has already prompted concern among supporters, particularly those with limited mobility. A 40% discount is understood to be available for disabled supporters, although this still represents a significant increase compared with previous arrangements.

Alternative parking is available in the surrounding area, including at Queen’s Park Golf Course and other nearby locations, although these options can involve a longer walk to the stadium.

While much of the stadium is now beginning to look ready for Premier League football, significant construction work remains around the corners.

The north-west corner has its steel framework in place, but further concrete work will have to wait until the temporary floodlights can be moved.

The expectation is that, once the Everton match has passed, the floodlights can be relocated and the crane brought back in, potentially allowing further progress before Bournemouth’s subsequent Premier League fixture against Brentford.

Further groundwork is also taking place behind the Ted MacDougall Stand, where concrete blocks and timber battens are being prepared for additional hoarding to separate supporters from the construction site.

The foundations for the new South Stand will eventually be established in this area.

Despite the amount of work still taking place, the pitch itself is looking in excellent condition. The markings were also completed manually rather than using GPS technology, adding another example of the effort being put in by stadium staff to get the ground ready.

With just days remaining before Everton arrive at Dean Court on Saturday, the stadium is clearly still a work in progress — but the rapid pace of change means supporters returning this weekend are likely to notice a very different Vitality Stadium from the one they left at the end of last season.