Brighton builds a dedicated women's stadium, forging a new path for English football. Discover this historic investment in inclusivity and the game's future.
Brighton and Hove Albion announced their plans to build a purpose-built stadium for the women's team.
A groundbreaking move, as no other English top flight side has ever followed suit.
The placement is to be admired. Next to the 30,000+ Amex, a brand new interconnecting 10,000 capacity stadium will be built in the former Bennett's Field carpark.
There will also be additional underground parking, and overall cementing Brighton's attention as a growing club in the long-term.
The focus towards the women's side of the game started when owner Tony Bloom invested £8.5 million to expand the Lancing Training Ground for access to everyone. Showcasing the fact that everyone is there to play for the same club, just at different levels and for different ages/genders, etc.
Why are people upset?!
The inclusivity is to be admired, and a part of Brighton culture that should be celebrated. Football, after all, is everyone's game. A part of what makes a tournament like the World Cup and Champions League so special!
Unfortunately, much like all good things online in 2026, it was met with an abundance of disrespectful and disregarding comments. My fan-channel, Talk Seagulls, was home to a big portion of these, but... why?
People are seemingly upset over the price it will cost the club, and whether it is 'necessary' for the women to have their own stadium.
For the first part, Brighton are one of the most profitable clubs in world football in recent years, and continues to build influxes of wealth (with immeasurable thanks) to Bloom's investment over the years. His vision to turn the club from a small, irrelevant club in the lower leagues of English football into a global brand is something to be admired. With that in mind, why would the spending even matter anyway? Past investments have proved to be valuable, and ultimately, it isn't fans' money that is being spent!
For the second, why should a team have to ground share with Crawley Town, who are based over 20 miles north of the Amex, and a totally different club? When Albion groundshared with the likes of Gillingham, it was remembered as the club being 'homeless', but for a club to grow from those roots to provide a stadium for their women's side, that truly is a sign of growth and stability.
Women's football teams are entitled to be treated with the respect the sport deserves.
Having covered the last seven years, the growth has been incredible. With full credit to the Lionesses, there are girls across the globe who have always wanted to be footballers too. There is no change, no difference. People are people and are inspired by other people to achieve big things. Just because men are the focal point of football, it doesn't mean that other clubs cannot thrive in the same environment. This move is a generational step towards those dreams being met with reality. That they can have a home and, more importantly, a goal. Something to wake up thinking about.
Division has become popular again in the last year or two, but this step is a huge step for faith and humanity. A win for Brighton, but an even bigger win for every girl and woman who simply love football.