Bournemouth Owner Foley To Buy Back Vitality Stadium And Renovate to 23,000 capacity

Premier League Bournemouth’s owners – the Black Knight Football Club – are set to buy the Vitality Stadium, which the club have called home since 2010. Having considered moving to a larger new-build stadium locally, the club will now develop its existing ground instead.

The smallest stadium in the Premier League with a capacity of just 11,307, the club said it “making progress” on development plans. The club recently opened a new multimillion-pound performance centre.

“This acquisition is a strategic and logical step as we pursue AFC Bournemouth’s and Black Knight Football Club’s continued ambitions,” said owner and general partner Bill Foley.

“We have acknowledged that accommodating more of our growing fanbase is integral to our goals for the club, and this move will allow us to pursue all options moving forward.”

The club have previously owned the stadium but sold it in 2005 to property company Structadene for a report £3.5 million to avoid bankruptcy. No value has been given for the buy back.

“We are preparing our pre-application to the Council with regard to expanding and renovating the stadium with the goal being within two and a half years we’ll have 20,000 seats,” said Foley.

“With the further goal, if things work out well, to go into 23,000 seats. It’ll allow us to provide more hospitality, it’ll allow us to take care of some of the 15,000 people that are currently on our waiting list and the stadium will be completely renovated.”

During the renovation the stadium will remain open with no reduction in capacity.

The Cherries first won promotion to the Premier League in 2015 but were relegated after five seasons in the top tier in 2020. In 2022 they returned to the Premier League and at the end of 2022 were bought by Foley for a reported £125 million. Bournemouth are currently in 10th place in the Premier League.

Insideworldfootball.com