Panoramic view of the Amex Stadium pitch and stands in Brighton

The Amex Stadium: The Complete Guide to Brighton’s Modern Marvel in the Downs

Introduction

The American Express Stadium, which is often called The Amex, is one of the most beautiful football stadiums in the UK. It is set against the rolling green hills of the South Downs National Park. But for Brighton & Hove Albion fans, it’s more than just a pretty building. It is a miracle. This club was homeless for more than ten years, moving from a field 70 miles away to a converted athletics track with temporary seats and no roof. The Amex is a sign of their survival, their return to life, and their rise to the top of the Premier League and European football.

This arena, which opened in 2011 and can hold 31,800 people, is a work of art in modern stadium design. Its wide, curved roofs are meant to blend in with the hills around it, which makes it less noticeable from the outside but more comfortable inside. People say it has some of the best facilities in the country, like famous catering and padded seats for general admission fans. This guide is the best place to find out everything you need to know about visiting this gem on the South Coast. We will talk about the sad story of the “Years of Exile,” the unique architecture, and give you a complete guide to everything from the famous “free travel” program for fans to the best pubs in Brighton’s lively city centre. This is everything you need to know about the Amex, whether you are a Seagulls fan, a travelling away supporter, or a groundhopper.

The Long Road Home: History and Key Facts

The story of the Amex is closely tied to the club’s fight to stay alive. It’s a dramatic story about taking things away, protests, and a long legal fight for a home.

The Goldstone Trauma (1997)

Brighton played at the Goldstone Ground for 95 years. It was a traditional home that people loved. In the middle of the 1990s, the club’s board made the controversial decision to sell the ground to property developers to pay off debts, which left the club without a home. The last game in 1997 was full of sadness and anger. The club barely avoided being kicked out of the Football League and going out of business, but they had no place to play.

The Wilderness Years: Gillingham and Withdean

For two seasons, Brighton fans had to make a 140-mile round trip to play their “home” games at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium in Kent. They went back to Brighton in 1999, but this time they moved into the Withdean Stadium. The council owned this athletics stadium, which was in a leafy suburb. Many people thought it was one of the worst places to play in the pros. Fans sat in temporary scaffolding stands that were open to the rain and separated from the field by a running track. The team did well on the pitch, but the club was losing money and really needed a proper stadium, even though the facilities were terrible.

The Fight for Falmer

In the late 1990s, the site at Falmer was chosen, but getting planning permission was a long and difficult process. It had a lot of opposition because it was in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The public inquiry that followed was one of the longest in the history of UK planning. Fans marched, wrote letters, and even started a political party to save the stadium. Finally, in 2007, the government gave the go-ahead. Building started in 2008, and the stadium officially opened on 30 July 2011, with a friendly match against Tottenham Hotspur. The first competitive game was against Doncaster Rovers, which is fitting because they were the last team to play at the old Goldstone Ground.

Expansion of the Premier League

The stadium was built to hold 22,374 people, but the club quickly started to expand because so many people wanted tickets. By filling in the corners and adding more levels, the capacity grew to over 30,000 just in time for their first Premier League game in 2017. The stadium has since hosted Lionesses’ games during the Women’s Euro 2022 and Brighton’s first-ever Europa League matches in 2023.

Technical Data

  • Official Capacity: 31,876
  • Record Attendance: 31,876 (The stadium often sells out completely).
  • Pitch Dimensions: 105 metres x 68 metres.

KSS Group came up with the design for the building. The semi-circular arched roof trusses, which are meant to look like the rolling hills of the South Downs, are what make this building stand out. The pitch is set into the ground to make the building look smaller.

Stands

  • West Stand: The main stand, which has three levels. It has the corporate hospitality, dressing rooms, dugouts, and premium seating.
  • East Stand: A two-level stand across from the main stand, with the Family Stand on the lower level and general admission on the upper level.
  • North Stand: A stand with only one level behind the goal. This is where the loudest Brighton fans live, and it makes the most noise.
  • South Stand: This is behind the other goal. Fans from both teams can sit in this stand.

The Away Fan’s Guide (Priority Section)

Travelling fans often say that going to Brighton is one of the best away days in the league because of the city’s modern amenities and the city itself.

Location, Allocation, and View

Fans from the other team are in the South East corner of the South Stand. The usual number of tickets is about 3,000, which takes up a lot of space in this stand. The view is great. The stadium is new and doesn’t have any pillars that get in the way of the view. The stands are steep, so you can see the pitch well. One thing that makes the Amex stand out is that all of the seats are padded, which is something that isn’t common in football stadiums. The concourses are wide, clean, and up-to-date, and there are lots of TVs showing the build-up to the game.

Food and Drink: Are These the Best Pies in the League?

Brighton is known for having great food on match days. The stadium works with a nearby bakery called “Piglet’s Pantry” to offer a selection of award-winning pies. Steak and ale, chicken and gammon and a vegetarian butternut squash and spicy vegetable pie are some of the options. A lot of people think they are the best in the Premier League. In the away end, the stadium also serves “Harvey’s,” a popular Sussex ale on tap.

Advice for Pubs and Pre-Match

The Amex is a stadium that is “out of town” and is on a university campus. There aren’t many pubs close by.

  • Dick’s Bar is at the stadium, but only home fans can go there.
  • The Swan is a small pub in Falmer village near the train station. It’s often only for home fans.

The Strategy: The best thing for away fans to do is drink in Brighton city centre near the train station and then take the train to the game.

  • The Evening Star is a famous real ale pub that’s only a short walk from Brighton Station.
  • The Grand Central is a big pub next to the station that away fans like to go to.
  • The Prince Albert is another choice that is very close to the station.

Brighton is a lively, friendly city, and most bars in the city centre are happy to have away fans.

Practical Information – Getting to the Stadium (Free Travel Scheme)

If you have a match ticket, you can use Brighton & Hove Albion’s great Free Travel Scheme. This is important information for all visitors.

The “Travel Voucher” Benefit

Your ticket to the match is like a travel voucher. On match days, you can ride buses and trains for free within the “Free Travel Zone,” which covers almost all of Sussex. You just have to show your match ticket to the driver or at the station barrier.

By Train

Taking the train is the most common way. Falmer is the stadium’s own station and is right next to the North Stand (a two-minute walk). Every ten minutes, a train leaves Brighton Station for Falmer. It only takes 9 minutes to get there. Trains also come from the east, from Lewes and Eastbourne. Warning: The lines for the train back to Brighton after the game can be very long (up to 45–60 minutes), but they are well-organised.

By Bus

The club runs strict Park & Ride services (see below) and pays for local buses. The 25 and 28 buses go from the city centre to the stadium.

Fans can’t park at the stadium; only people with permits can. The club has three great Park & Ride locations:

  • Mill Road (BN1 8ZF): This is the best way to get there from the A23/London.
  • Brighton Racecourse (BN2 9XZ): Best for people coming from the east or the coast.
  • Mithras House (BN2 4AT): On the Lewes Road.

You don’t have to pay to park, and your match ticket includes a bus ride to the stadium.

Driving

Don’t try to park on the residential streets near Falmer or the University. On match days, there is a strict exclusion zone (Controlled Parking Zone) in place. If you park there, you will be fined or towed.

Around the Stadium: Atmosphere and Environment

The Setting

The stadium is next to the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex. There are green fields and hills all around it. It is a nice place to be, but it doesn’t have the city buzz of a city centre ground.

The Atmosphere

The atmosphere at the Amex has gotten a lot better since the expansion. The North Stand is where the noise comes from, but the curved roof helps keep it inside. As the teams come out, they sing the pre-match song “Sussex by the Sea” with gusto.

Stadium Tours

The club offers full stadium tours that let you get a close look at the award-winning facilities.

  • Availability: Tours are usually available on Mondays, Thursdays, and weekends when there isn’t a match.
  • What’s Included: On the tour, you’ll see the fancy media centre, the hospitality lounges, the boardroom, the directors’ box, the home and away dressing rooms, and the dugouts through the tunnel. You will also see the trophy room of the club.
  • Booking: You must book online through the official Brighton & Hove Albion website. Adults usually pay between £15 and £20.

Summary: Key Tips for Your Visit

  • Use the Free Travel: Your bus and train pass is your match ticket. Use it! It makes it very cheap and easy to get to the ground.
  • Stay in Brighton: Don’t go to Falmer early expecting a pub crawl. You can enjoy the bars and beach in Brighton city centre, then take the train to the game 60 to 90 minutes before it starts.
  • Try the Pies: Don’t eat before you get in. The “Piglet’s Pantry” pies in the concourse are very well-known and worth the price.
  • Use Park & Ride: If you’re driving, use Park & Ride. It’s the only way to park near the stadium without stress. If you try to park on the street, you will definitely get a ticket.
  • Be Ready for Long Lines: The only bad thing about the train ride after the game is that there will be a long queue. Be patient, or wait for the crowds to thin out by staying in the stadium concourse for a drink (which is usually open after the game).
  • Admire the Architecture: Look at the stadium from the outside for a second. In English football, it is unique how it fits into the landscape.

Key Visitor Information

Featured Image: The Amex Stadium – Photo by Julian P Guffogg via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0