Falmer Stadium
Falmer Stadium, known for sponsorship purposes as the American Express Stadium and more commonly referred to as the Amex, is a football stadium in Falmer, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex. With a capacity of 31,876, it is the second largest stadium in all of South East England, and the 31st largest stadium in the United Kingdom.
The Amex | |
Falmer Stadium at night in April 2011 | |
| Full name | American Express Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Falmer, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England |
| Public transit | Falmer 23, 25 and 28/29 bus routes |
| Owner | The Community Stadium Limited |
| Operator | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| Capacity | 31,876 |
| Record attendance | 31,752 vs Liverpool (Premier League – 8 October 2023) |
| Field size | 105 by 68 metres (114.8 yd × 74.4 yd) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 17 December 2008 |
| Opened | 16 July 2011 |
| Construction cost | £93 million |
| Architect | KSS Design Group |
| General contractor | Buckingham Group |
| Tenants | |
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. (2011–present)
| |
It serves as the home of Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, and was handed over from the developers to the club on 31 May 2011. The first competitive game played at the stadium was the 2010–11 season final of the Sussex Senior Cup between Brighton and Eastbourne Borough on 16 July 2011. The first league game was against Doncaster Rovers, who were also the opponents in the last game played at Brighton's former stadium, the Goldstone Ground, 14 years earlier.
Falmer Stadium hosted Premier League football for the first time in August 2017, following Albion's promotion at the end of the 2016–17 season.
Falmer Stadium hosted European football for the first time on 21 September 2023 when Brighton played against AEK in the UEFA Europa League.
The stadium was designed to allow hosting for other sports and events. It hosted some matches from the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the UEFA Women's Euro 2022. It will also host some 2025 Rugby World Cup fixtures.