Vitality Stadium redevelopment: what has changed so far
AFC Bournemouth is expanding the Vitality Stadium from 11,300 seats to 20,196, with new corners, a new Main Stand roof and a south stand. Where the work stands.
The Vitality Stadium is the smallest ground in the Premier League, and AFC Bournemouth has started the work that will change that. StadiumDB reported in July 2026 that the redevelopment will take the capacity from around 11,300 to 20,196, with a new south stand, filled-in corners, upgraded hospitality areas, better media facilities and improved accessibility for supporters.
The club publishes progress on its own stadium updates page. Recent updates, summarised by Roundtable, have covered two new corner sections adding roughly 800 to 900 seats, the new roof structure on the Main Stand, foundations for modern entry turnstiles, new perimeter fencing and upgraded facilities.
Why it is happening now
Bournemouth finished 2025-26 in the club's highest ever league position and qualified for Europe for the first time. A ground of 11,300 in the Premier League, let alone the Europa League, leaves money on the table every home game and limits the away allocation for visiting supporters. The redevelopment is phased around the fixture list so the team keeps playing at home throughout, which is why the corners and the roof have come first and the south stand later.
What a visitor will notice
- Entry is changing. New turnstiles and fencing mean the way into the ground moves as sections open. Check the club's stadium page before a game rather than relying on last season's routine.
- The area around Kings Park is a building site on non-match days. Contractors, deliveries and site traffic use Kings Park Drive and the surrounding roads. If you are walking from Pokesdown station, allow a few extra minutes.
- More seats, eventually. For the European nights this autumn the capacity is still close to 11,300, so tickets remain tight.
Site teams working on the ground are among the contractors staying in town by the month this year, alongside the East Cliff engineers and the Boscombe regeneration crews. The business desk explains how project teams book serviced apartments on one account. For the club's story and the match-day routine, start with the AFC Bournemouth guide and the Cherries desk.
Frequently asked questions
The published plan takes the ground from around 11,300 seats to 20,196, according to StadiumDB's report on the start of the redevelopment. It remains the smallest ground in the Premier League while the work continues.
The club has kept playing at the Vitality throughout, with work phased around the fixture list. Entry points and turnstiles are changing as the new sections open, so check the club's stadium updates page for the latest arrangements before a game.
