In this post, I will be ranking the smallest Premier League stadiums In the 2023/2024 season. These are stadiums In the EPL with the lowest capacity for the 2023/2024 season. Below is a table of the smallest stadium In the Premier League:
Rank | Stadium | Capacity | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kenilworth Road | 10,356 | Luton United |
2 | Vitality Stadium | 11,307 | Bournemouth |
3 | Gtech Community Stadium | 17,250 | Brentford |
4 | Turf Moor | 21,944 | Burnley |
5 | Selhurst Park | 25,486 | Crystal Palace |
6 | Craven Cottage | 29,600 | Fulham |
7 | City Ground | 30,332 | Nottingham Forest |
8 | Molineux Stadium | 31,750 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
9 | Falmer Stadium | 31,800 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
10 | Bramall Lane | 32,050 | Sheffield United |
Let’s dive right In.
1. Kenilworth Road Stadium
As of the 2023/2024 season, Kenilworth Road is the smallest EPL stadium and it has been the home ground of Luton Town Football Club since 1905.
You’ll find Kenilworth Road located in the neighborhood of Bury Park, just a mile west of Luton’s center. This stadium hosted football matches in the Southern League until 1920 and continued to do so in the Football League until 2009 when Luton faced relegation to the Conference Premier.
Kenilworth Road roared back to life as a Football League venue in 2014. And, with Luton Town’s promotion to the Premier League in 2023, it had the honor of hosting its first Premier League game against West Ham United in September 2023.
In 1953, floodlights were installed to brighten up the action on the pitch, and in 1991, the stadium transformed, becoming an all-seated arena for a more comfortable experience.
One record worth mentioning is the stadium’s highest-ever attendance of 30,069 spectators, which happened during an FA Cup sixth-round replay against Blackpool in 1959.
Kenilworth Road is also known for its entrance to the Oak Road End, which adds a touch of character to this small but beautiful stadium.
Additionally, it has a piece of history related to fan behavior, as it imposed a five-season ban on away supporters following a riot by visiting fans in 1985.
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2. Vitality Stadium
Vitality Stadium, formerly known as Dean Court is the home ground of AFC Bournemouth and can be found in Kings Park, Boscombe, a suburb of Bournemouth in Dorset, England.
Vitality Stadium is one of the smallest EPL stadiums In the 2023/2024 season. In 1910, Boscombe F.C. received a piece of land from the generous Cooper-Dean family, and that’s how Dean Court got its name.
Initially, the club had to play at the nearby King’s Park until December 1910 when they finally moved into Dean Court. However, the club’s facilities weren’t fully ready, so players had to change to a nearby hotel.
In 1923, the club joined Division Three South of the Football League, changing their name to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.
This was also when the first Football League match took place at Dean Court, with 7,000 fans watching a 0–0 draw against Swindon Town. The stadium saw several upgrades, including a 3,700-seat stand and a covered terrace.
The record League attendance happened in 1948 with 25,495 fans witnessing a match against QPR, while the overall record was set in 1957 with 28,799 people cheering on during an FA Cup match against Manchester United.
The stadium underwent a significant transformation in 2001, with the pitch being rotated and the stadium moved. The capacity reached 9,600, and seats were added to the south end in 2005.
One of the amazing moments in the stadium’s history was when Bournemouth’s James Hayter scored the fastest-ever Football League hat-trick, netting three goals in just 2 minutes and 20 seconds during a game against Wrexham in 2004
3. Brentford Community Stadium
The Brentford Community Stadium is currently known as the Gtech Community Stadium due to sponsorship, but that doesn’t impact the fact that it is one of the smallest premier leagues in the 2023/2024 season. It is a modern football arena located in Brentford, West London, and it is where Brentford plays its home games.
This stadium can hold up to 17,250 fans, and It’s not just for football; it’s also suitable for rugby union matches, adding a bit of variety to the sports action.
Aside from hosting exciting games, it plays a pivotal role in revitalizing the surrounding area. Plans are in place for new homes and commercial opportunities, making it a catalyst for positive change in the community.
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4. Turf Moor Stadium
Turf Moor might be the second-longest continuously used ground in English professional football, but it is one of the smallest EPL stadiums due to its small capacity.
The stadium is located on Harry Potts Way, named after the manager who led the club to victory in the 1959–60 First Division.
Turf Moor may not be the biggest stadium around, but it can still host a respectable 21,944 fans. The history of the Turf Moor site dates back even further, to at least 1843 when it was used for sporting activities.
Originally, it was home to Burnley Cricket Club before they invited Burnley Football Club to share the space in 1883. The first grandstand appeared in 1885, and that same year, terraces were added to both ends of the ground.
The mid-1950s to the mid-1970s saw a major transformation, with all stands being rebuilt. In the 1990s, the Longside and the Bee Hole End terraces were replaced by all-seater stands following the recommendations of the Taylor Report.
Today, Turf Moor comprises four distinct stands: the Bob Lord Stand, the Cricket Field Stand, the North Stand, and the Jimmy McIlroy Stand, each with its character.
In 1886, Turf Moor had the honor of hosting a member of the Royal Family when Prince Albert Victor attended a friendly match between Burnley and Bolton Wanderers.
The first Football League match at this iconic ground took place in October 1888, with Fred Poland scoring the first league goal there.
Turf Moor has hosted memorable matches, including hosting its only FA Cup semi-final in 1922 and an international match between England and Wales in 1927.
The stadium’s record attendance was achieved in 1924 when 54,775 fans filled the stands during an FA Cup third-round game between Burnley and Huddersfield Town.
5. Selhurst Park Stadium
Though Selhurst Park is small in capacity, it is one of the most stunning stadiums In England. Selhurst Park was designed by Archibald Leitch, and it opened its doors in 1924.
The stadium has seen some of the world’s top football games and was even used for the 1948 Summer Olympics. The ground was once shared by Charlton Athletic from 1985 to 1991 and Wimbledon from 1991 to 2003.
This venue recorded 51,482 attendance in 1979 to witness Crystal Palace secure the Football League Second Division championship title, defeating Burnley 2–0.
The stadium also holds the attendance record for a Division Four (now League Two) match, with 37,774 fans in attendance when Crystal Palace faced local rivals Millwall in 1961.
Also, Selhurst Park recorded the lowest-ever attendance for a Premier League game, with just 3,039 fans showing up for a Wimbledon vs. Everton match on 26 January 1993.
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6. Craven Cottage Stadium
Craven Cottage is one the smallest stadiums In the Premier League In the 2023/2024 season with a capacity of 22,384.
It may not be the largest stadium, but it certainly packs a memorable history and atmosphere. The record attendance there dates back to 1938 when 49,335 fans flocked to watch a game against Millwall.
This venue has a legacy that spans over 300 years, and it is located next to Bishop’s Park, along the serene banks of the River Thames.
However, Craven Cottage is not just a home for Fulham FC. Over the years, it has been used by national teams from the United States, Australia, Ireland, and Canada. It also used to be the home ground for the rugby league club Fulham RLFC.
7. City Ground Stadium
City Ground might not be the biggest stadium in the Premier League with a capacity of 30,455, but it played a crucial role when England hosted UEFA Euro 1996, witnessing some of the tournament’s memorable moments. The stadium is close to Meadow Lane, home of Nottingham Forest’s neighboring club, Notts County.
These two stadiums are the closest professional football stadiums in England and the second-closest in the entire United Kingdom, rivaled only by the grounds of Dundee and Dundee United, located on opposite sides of the River Trent.
Nottingham Forest, one of the world’s second-oldest league football clubs, was founded in 1865. However, it wasn’t until 33 years later, that they moved to the City Ground, their seventh home.
In their early years, Forest played most of their matches at the Forest Recreation Ground, and In 1879, they moved to the Castle Ground in the Meadows, which allowed them to charge entry for their matches.
Their quest for a suitable home continued, with stops at the Parkside Ground in Lenton and the Gregory Ground. In 1890, they finally found their first proper football stadium, the Town Ground in The Meadows.
The Town Ground was briefly renamed the City Ground in July 1897, coinciding with Nottingham being granted city status.
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8. Molineux Stadium
Molineux Stadium is the first-ever stadium built for a Football League club. It played a pioneering role in British football, being among the first grounds to have floodlights installed.
In the 1950s, it had the honor of hosting some of the earliest European club games. Back in the early 1990s, Molineux underwent a massive multi-million-pound renovation, making it one of the biggest and most modern grounds in England at the time.
However, since then, other ground developments have eclipsed its size and amenities. This stadium has not only been a home for Wolves but also a host for England internationals and England under-21 internationals.
In fact, it was the venue for the first UEFA Cup Final in 1972. Molineux can seat 31,750 fans, but in its history, it consistently attracted much larger crowds when it mostly had terracing.
The record attendance here reached an impressive 61,315. In 2010, ambitious plans were announced for a £40 million redevelopment program to rebuild and connect three sides of the stadium, potentially increasing the capacity to 38,000 seats.
The first stage, the Stan Cullis Stand, was completed in 2012. While the next two stages were postponed to prioritize funds for the development of the youth academy, there are provisional plans for a more extensive redevelopment that could eventually create a 50,000-seat capacity.
9. Falmer Stadium
The Amex which is also known as the Falmer stadium is a modern field with a capacity of 31,876. In fact, it’s the second largest stadium in all of South East England, and it ranks as the 31st largest stadium in the entire United Kingdom.
However, It ranks as one of the smallest Premier League stadiums In the 2023/2024 season. The Amex ground is where Brighton & Hove Albion play their home matches.
It was handed over to the club from the developers on 31 May 2011, and the stadium witnessed its first competitive game.
On 16 July 2011, Brighton faced Eastbourne Borough in the Sussex Senior Cup final for the 2010–11 season. It was a memorable moment for the fans and the club.
Notably, the first league game at the Amex was against Doncaster Rovers, the same team that Brighton had faced in the last game at their former stadium, the Goldstone Ground, 14 years earlier.
The Amex became home for Premier League football in August 2017, following Brighton’s promotion at the end of the 2016–17 season.
However, the Amex stadium was designed to be versatile, and capable of hosting other sports and events. It hosted some matches during the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022.
Also, it’s set to host fixtures for the 2025 Rugby World Cup. One historic moment was on 21 September 2023 when the Amex ground hosted European football for the first time, with Brighton playing against AEK in the UEFA Europa League.
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10. Bramall Lane Stadium
Bramall Lane is the tenth smallest Premier League stadium In the 2023/2024 season. It was once a cricket ground, located on the Bramall family road. In the 19th century, Bramall Lane reigned as the largest stadium in Sheffield and hosted the city’s most matches.
It witnessed historic moments, including the final of the world’s first football tournament, the debut of floodlit football, and crucial matches between the Sheffield and London Football Associations that led to the merger of football rules.
Also, it was used by Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield FC. Since Sheffield United’s establishment in 1889, Bramall Lane has been its home, and it is the oldest major stadium in the world that still hosts professional association football matches.
Alongside the Oval, it is one of only two grounds to have hosted England football internationals, an England Test cricket match, and an FA Cup Final.
It regularly hosted FA Cup semi-finals and replays from 1889 to 1938. In 2022, Bramall Lane played host to UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 matches.
The stadium has also hosted a variety of events, including rugby league games for the Sheffield Eagles, the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
Religious gatherings, rock concerts, motocross events, boxing matches, and even a friendly match between Sheffield FC and Inter Milan.
Bramall Lane’s record attendance of 68,287 was set during an FA Cup fifth-round tie between Sheffield United and Leeds United on 15 February 1936.
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