Bournemouth director issues Vitality Stadium expansion update – “All options on the table”

Bournemouth are reconsidering plans to expand the North and East Stands at the Vitality Stadium after the projected cost of the work doubled.

The Cherries remain committed to increasing the ground's capacity to around 18,000, but president of business operations Jim Frevola has revealed that initial plans have proved “much more cost-prohibitive” than first thought.

Bournemouth weigh up expansion options

Frevola told the Bournemouth Echo that extending the North and East Stands, which is the third phase of the club's redevelopment project, is now expected to cost “many, many millions”.

The club had initially hoped to use modular construction, but UEFA requirements meant permanent structures were necessary, increasing costs and delaying the wider redevelopment.

“It's just been much more cost-prohibitive than we were anticipating once we had to go to permanent construction,” Frevola said. “So we're thinking about how to do that, should we do that, is it the right thing to do, or should we look at other ways to do it?

“Should we look at something that adds seats in different areas, different ways? So all options on the table right now.”

The North and East Stand extensions had formed part of the longer-term plan to take the Vitality Stadium beyond 20,000 seats.

However, Bournemouth are now considering whether expanding the Main Stand could provide an alternative way to increase capacity.

That option also presents challenges, as the stand houses the players' tunnel, dressing rooms and much of the club's hospitality operation.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the next phase, Bournemouth's immediate redevelopment plans remain on track, with work continuing behind the existing South Stand.

The club has completed two stadium corners and associated hospitality improvements, adding just under 1,000 seats, and further work will include completing the remaining corners and building a new South Stand.

Frevola acknowledged that the switch to permanent construction had pushed back the original timetable, meaning the upper tier would no longer be ready as early as April 2027.

The club hopes to have the rear structure of the new South Stand ready for the start of next season, allowing the existing stand to be demolished after the current campaign.

FGG Says: Bournemouth looking to strike a balance

Bournemouth clearly need to expand their ground, with the Vitality Stadium the smallest in the Premier League, but it is important that this is done in a cost-effective manner.

It remains to be seen how Bournemouth will proceed once the ongoing developments are completed, but it will be interesting to see what happens.