Councillors have called for a dedicated stadium to be built to support the return of Brighton and Hove Albion’s top-flight women’s team to the city.
The side play in the Women’s Super League (WSL) but most of their home matches take place more than 20 miles away in Crawley.
Labour councillor John Hewitt proposed a motion which said that this had a detrimental effect on attendances and hindered development and participation.
He said that the team having a purpose-built stadium in Brighton and Hove would benefit both the club and the city.
Councillor Hewitt urged fellow councillors to support in principle the return of the Albion women and for a report to explore how the council could support the club in establishing a women’s stadium locally, including through identification of possible sites.
He said: “It is vital that the team relocates to the city so that the infrastructure is in place so that they can thrive.
“A purpose-built stadium for our team will allow attendance to improve, encourage participation and will enable the team to follow on in the footsteps of the men’s side.
“Imagine having two European tournaments to go on in the same season.”
Councillor Hewitt said that an independent assessment published in August found that the club had contributed a staggering £595 million to the local economy during their 2022-23 campaign.
Green councillors Raphael Hill and Kerry Pickett asked that any report included ideas on how the council could continue to promote and encourage participation in women’s sport in the city.
Councillor Pickett described herself as a “lifelong” Albion fan, following the club at the Goldstone Ground and Withdean Stadium.
She said: “Last weekend, their (women’s team) game at the Amex against Tottenham drew a crowd of just under 7,000 fans – including a large number of young girls keen to cheer on their heroes.
“I believe this level of support can and will increase. The curve, in terms of attendance and interest, will only grow.”
Conservative councillor Samer Bagaeen said that the women’s team should play at the Amex rather than have a purpose-built stadium.
He said that it took 12 years to find the land, obtain planning permission and build the stadium before Brighton and Hove Albion played at the ground in Falmer.
Councillor Bagaeen said: “More recently, as a city, we’ve been unable to find the location for a new King Alfred. And if someone in this room thinks they have, then do tell us where that site is.
“So finding a new location for a women’s stadium in time for us to see the women’s team play in the city in our lifetimes is never going to happen.”
Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Bridget Fishleigh said that, having spoken to people at the club, many there had told her that the council should “keep its beak out of their business”.
She said: “What is the point of this? We offer our support but we haven’t got any money or any land.
“Is it just we are giving them our support because they are working on a business plan to raise finance for it?”
At a meeting of the full council at Hove Town Hall on Thursday evening (19 October), Councillor Hewitt’s motion was passed.
A report is expected to be presented to a future meeting of the council’s Culture, Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Economic Development Committee.
If BHA women’s team cannot play all their home matches at The Amex, let’s find a way to bring them home. The demand is there, with nearly 7,000 people watching the team at The Amex against Spurs last week.
BHA already have a perfectly good stadium at Falmer. If BHA cannot sort themselves out so that all of their teams (both men’s and women’s) can share an entire stadium, that’s no business of the Council’s.
That’s too simplistic a view. It costs money to staff the stadium for a match which means there’s a minimum amount of supporters needed to make it financially viable. Not sure how many they need but I guess 7000 is not enough.
“…..people at the club, many there had told her that the council should “keep its beak out of their business”.” which business? and the Amex could the women do the Matinee and the men in the evening? mixed metaphors a fun.
Ridiculous…why can’t they just play at Amex …daft
The council should stick to sorting out the bins and the weeds.
But they have problems doing those simple things
Mr Blatchberg , they can’t do those things ,cos they are incompetent .
The council is simply passing a motion to say they would be in favour of a new stadium. The logical place to put it, would be on the UNused carpark right next to the men’s stadium. All the infrastructure is already there and they could take the opportunity to build a park and ride site underneath the new stadium
The Chinese will build two new airports and three new towns while our council will be having committee meetings galore and talking about where the new bus lane needs to go. It’s a good idea but I feel hell will freeze over before BHC make any progress. Still in the meantime the council can have a nice cozy committee meeting and enjoy their tea and biscuits. So get on with it, select a site, find investment and get building.
In 27 different countries
Why would the Council build anything for BHA? It’s privately owned.
If anyone needs to build infrastructure for the BHA Women’s team, it is Mr Bloom and BHA, not the Council.
Save your ire for the right responsible people.
Work for the council do we?
No, not at all. Are you struggling to accept that BHA is a privately owned enterprise that is responsible for it’s own teams and revenue, and nothing to do with BHCC?
Definitely touched a nerve Sam !!
I think it was 12 years and a referendum- even though it was built on Lewes DC land.
Oh Chris it’s the return of NIMBY long time no hear
Why don’t they just play at the amex on alternate saturdays – Arsenal women play some of their games at the men’s stadium. they had a record attendance for a wsl game of over 50,000 against Aston Villa last week
Sounds like that would work, even if it was an interim solution until the council gets their act together and sorts out a more permanent home for women’s team.
Why on earth is it the council’s responsibility to sort out a permanent home for a privately owned club’s football team?
Why don’t they put them at the old withdean stadium Brighton managed it for a few years
My point exactly!
The council are saying that they support Brighton and Hove ALBION football club in trying to find a suitable venue in the city for womens team.
I thought we were moving away from only men and only women facilities. Share the stadiums we already have. The council does not even have the money to maintain what we have, look along the seafront its in decline due to lack of maintenance.
One perfect location – with connected transport links and a regular ice cream van!
Anyone for the new Volks Stadium at Black Rock?
Whos paying for this new stadium? The womens game doesn’t generate enough money to build a new ground so i guess the mens money will be paying for the majority of it. Just share the amex, they only need to open one stand to let few fans in. Ridiculous!!!
Albion survived many years at Withdean, with bigger numbers? Why not regenerate the stadium through mixed use again?