Portsmouth chief executive outlines bold Fratton Park expansion ambition in candid update

It has been quite the journey for Portsmouth over the last 20 years, from Premier League regulars and FA Cup winners to the verge of collapse and then back up the Football League again.

For the past two seasons, they have battled hard against relegation from the Championship. Still, after successfully navigating both campaigns, there will now be determination across the club to push them towards a Premier League return in the coming years.

Over the past six years, redevelopment work has taken place at Fratton Park to modernise the club and assist with their bid to return to the promised land. Could more work be on the way in the near future? A recent update from the club's chief executive suggests that there may well be.

Pompey CEO talks ‘ambition' in stadium expansion update

Between 2020 and 2024, the make-up of Fratton Park changed significantly, in a move that split opinion across the fanbase.

The first phase focused on redeveloping the Milton End by increasing capacity, improving accessibility with additional disabled seating, and providing greater flexibility for away supporters. During 2020, essential structural work was also completed on the North Stand, including the installation of a new roof, translucent roof panels, replacement cladding, and strengthened support beams.

#Pompey Chief Exec Andy Cullen on the new North stand…

"The ambition to increase capacity to 25,000 or beyond, it dominates a huge amount of my time as chief executive of the football club"

Search "Portsmouth" on BBC Sounds for the full interview

— Andrew Moon (@mrandrewmoon) June 26, 2026

In June 2021, the North Stand received new seating that increased capacity by around 600 seats, while a year later, the South Stand was converted into a single continuous tier, revealing the original Archibald Leitch “X” truss design that had been hidden since 1985.

In November 2022, the capacity was marginally increased in the Milton End, and in August 2023, additional safe standing areas were installed at the Fratton End.

At present, the ground has a capacity of 21,178, but it appears there are plans to increase. In an interview with the BBC, the club's Chief Executive Andy Cullen said: “The ambition is to increase capacity to 25,000 or beyond, it dominates a huge amount of my time as chief executive of the football club”

FGG says: Fratton Park doesn't need to get any bigger

Fratton Park is one of the best grounds in the country, largely because of how compact and intimate it feels. By continuously expanding, you run the risk of losing this and turning it into just another run-of-the-mill lower league ground.