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AFC Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium expansion fell two weeks behind schedule but has now been brought back on track ahead of the new season.
The Cherries have been given additional weekend working hours to help complete the key elements of the redevelopment before Everton's visit on Saturday 29th August.
Vitality Stadium now set to be ready for season opener
The Cherries have faced “significant challenges” during the expansion, with the club telling BCP Council that the project had fallen two weeks behind schedule, as per the Bournemouth Echo.
The council subsequently approved extended working hours across four weekends in August, allowing construction crews to work between 8am and 6pm on Saturdays and 9am and 4pm on Sundays.
That additional time has helped the project get back on track, with the Vitality Stadium now set to host Everton this weekend.
The south east and north west corners will not be ready for the match, but Bournemouth are targeting their completion within the next few weeks.
The stadium will remain a construction site for at least another year as the wider expansion continues.
The club has also taken steps to limit the impact on nearby residents, including disconnecting a site generator once the stadium was connected to the National Grid, while the council continues to monitor noise levels.
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FGG says: Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium expansion is back on track
Getting the stadium ready for the opening home game is an important milestone after the project slipped behind schedule, particularly with Bournemouth entering a season that includes European football.
The unfinished corners will be noticeable, but the club has managed to avoid delaying its first home fixture and can now continue the expansion around matchdays.
With the ground eventually set to reach around 20,200 capacity, the short-term disruption should be worthwhile if Bournemouth can successfully deliver the transformation over the next year.