Brentford Community Stadium
{{short description|Football stadium in Brentford, London, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Gtech Community Stadium
| nickname =
| fullname = Gtech Community Stadium
| image = Brentford Community Stadium 2020.jpg
| caption = View from the exterior of the stadium (2020)
| address = 166 Lionel Road North
| location = Brentford
London, England
TW8 0RU
| broke_ground = 25 March 2017
| built = Spring 2018–Summer 2020
| opened = 1 September 2020
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner =
| operator = Brentford F.C.
| surface = Desso Grassmaster
| construction_cost = £71 million{{cite web | url = https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/londonassembly/meetings/documents/s38897/Appendix%204%20-%20Brentford%20FC%20summary%2015.07.14.pdf | title = Regeneration Committee site visit to Brentford FC | date = 2014-07-15 | website = Greater London Authority | access-date = 2021-03-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210327112608/https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/londonassembly/meetings/documents/s38897/Appendix%204%20-%20Brentford%20FC%20summary%2015.07.14.pdf | archive-date = 2021-03-27}}
| architect = AFL Architects{{cite web|url=http://www.afl-architects.com/projects/brentford-community-stadium|title=Brentford Community Stadium|date=20 June 2013|website=AFL Architects|access-date=12 February 2019}}
| structural engineer = Arup{{cite magazine |author1=Catherine Kennedy |title=Arup's role on Brentford Stadium draws to a close |url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/arups-role-on-brentford-stadium-draws-to-a-close-19-09-2020/ |magazine=New Civil Engineer |date=19 September 2020}}
| tenants = Brentford F.C. (2020{{ndash}}present)
London Irish (2020–2023)
| record_attendance = {{formatnum: 17215}} (Brentford vs Liverpool, 18 January 2025)
| dimensions = 105 x 68 m (association football)
110 x 66m (rugby union)
| publictransit = {{rint|gb|rail}} {{rws|Kew Bridge}}
}}
The Brentford Community Stadium, currently known as the Gtech Community Stadium for sponsorship reasons,{{Cite web |title=The Gtech Community Stadium |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/gtech-announced-as-stadium-naming-rights-partner |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb }} is a football stadium in Brentford, West London that is the home of Premier League football club Brentford. The stadium has a capacity of 17,250 and is suitable for use for both association football and rugby union matches. Opened in 2020, the stadium is at the heart of plans to regenerate the surrounding area, including new homes and commercial opportunities. It was used during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 (Euros), which was held in England.
History
= Background =
File:Brentford Community Stadium under construction, September 2018.jpg
In October 2002 while still playing at Griffin Park, following several years of speculation about a possible relocation, Brentford Football Club announced plans to move to a 20,000-capacity stadium near Kew Bridge. This included an ambitious monorail proposal, which was later dropped from the scheme. After several years of uncertainty, the project was suddenly brought back to public attention in late 2007 when the club announced that it had secured an option on the site.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brentford/7132539.stm | work=BBC News | title=Brentford given new stadium boost | date=7 December 2007}}
This was followed up in February 2008 when a partnership deal with Barratt Homes to develop the site was announced.{{Cite web |url=http://www.brentfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~1246803,00.html |title=BRENTFORD FOOTBALL CLUB AND BARRATT HOMES TEAM UP TO ACQUIRE LAND FOR NEW COMMUNITY STADIUM – Brentford – News – Latest News – Latest News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429225713/http://www.brentfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~1246803,00.html |archive-date=29 April 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=12 February 2019}}
The club's plan to move to a new community stadium took a massive step forward when, on 28 June 2012, the club bought the {{convert|7.6|acre|m2|adj=on}} site in Lionel Road, Brentford, from Barratt Homes who had originally acquired the site in January 2008. The club aimed to build a 20,000-capacity stadium on the land in time for the 2016–17 season, with the option of extending to 25,000 seats. In December 2013 the club was given approval for the new stadium by Hounslow Council with further approval sought and received from the Mayor of London and the government in December 2013.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25249046 | title=Brentford Football Club given Lionel Road stadium go-ahead | publisher=BBC News | access-date=7 December 2013 | date=6 December 2013}}
Attention then shifted to acquiring the remaining land, required for the enabling development of flats, and completing the development agreement. A Compulsory Purchase Order was approved for the remaining land in the summer of 2014{{cite news | url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/compulsory-purchase-plans-approved-secure-7436088 | title=Compulsory purchase plans approved to secure Brentford stadium site | publisher=Get West London | access-date=12 June 2015 | date=16 July 2014}} and although negotiations continued, a number of objections to the CPO resulted in a further hearing in September 2015.{{cite news | url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/public-inquiry-over-brentford-fc-9165640 | title=Public inquiry over Brentford FC stadium set for September| publisher=Get West London | access-date=12 June 2015 | date=6 May 2015}} The development agreement was signed with Willmott Dixon in December 2014.{{cite news | url=http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/brentford-fc-lionelk-road-development-agreement-2161784.aspx | title=Brentford FC and Willmott Dixon sign Development Agreement for Brentford Community Stadium | publisher=Brentford FC | access-date=12 June 2015 | date=23 December 2014 | archive-date=16 April 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416070328/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/brentford-fc-lionelk-road-development-agreement-2161784.aspx | url-status=dead }} The CPO was approved in April 2016 and the process completed on 1 September 2016.{{cite web|title=News {{!}} Brentford Community Stadium|url=http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/?page_id=333|website=Brentford Community Stadium|publisher=Brentford FC Ltd.|access-date=1 September 2016}}
File:Stratton Gentry, Lionel Road South - geograph.org.uk - 1846576.jpg
= Construction =
Work on the new stadium officially started on 24 March 2017 with site clearance and preliminary works.{{cite web|title=Work Underway|url=http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/news/work-underway|website=Brentford Community Stadium|access-date=24 March 2017}} The main works began in spring 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.pitchcare.com/news-media/brentford-new-groundbreaking-stadium-one-year-on.html|title=Brentford new groundbreaking stadium: one year on|date=7 April 2019|publisher=Pitchcare|access-date=21 July 2019}}
On 30 August 2020, Brentford confirmed that the stadium was complete and ready to host football matches.{{Cite web |title=Brentford FC move in to new home |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2020/august/brentford-fc-move-in-to-new-home/ |access-date=2020-08-30 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}
= Further development =
During the summer of 2022 the entire West Stand and the north east corner of the stadium were converted to rail-seating to allow safe-standing during matches. This was made possible following a change by the government to allow licensed safe-standing after a successful government-commissioned trial held during the previous season.{{Cite web |title=Safe standing at football stadiums to be rolled out next season |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/safe-standing-at-football-stadiums-to-be-rolled-out-next-season |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}
= Sponsorship and naming rights =
= Football at Brentford Community Stadium =
The first football match at the stadium took place on 1 September 2020 when Brentford drew 2–2 against Oxford United in a pre-season friendly.{{Cite web|title=Oxford United the visitors tomorrow for first game at new stadium|url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2020/august/oxford-friendly-annoucement/|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.brentfordfc.com|language=en-gb}}{{Dead link|date=June 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Sergi Canos scored both Brentford goals to give the home side a 2–0 lead before Oxford United staged a late comeback. The first competitive match took place on 6 September when Brentford hosted Wycombe Wanderers in the first round of the EFL Cup.{{Cite web|title=Opening competitive fixture at new stadium chosen for TV coverage|url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2020/august/wycombe-fixture-confirmation/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=www.brentfordfc.com|language=en-gb}} The match finished 1–1 after normal time, with Brentford's Ethan Pinnock opening the scoring. It took a penalty shoot-out to decide the match, which Brentford won 4–2. The first league game to take place at the stadium was a 3–0 win over Huddersfield Town on 19 September, with goals coming from Josh Dasilva, Bryan Mbeumo and Marcus Forss.{{Cite web|title=Brentford FC 3–0 Huddersfield Town FC 19/09/2020|url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2020/september/match-report-for-brentford-vs-huddersfield-town-on-19-sep-20/|access-date=2020-09-20|website=www.brentfordfc.com|language=en-gb}}
== International football ==
=== UEFA Women's Euro 2022 ===
File:Germany Denmark Womens Euros.jpg
The stadium was selected as one of several venues for the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 tournament. It hosted Group B fixtures Germany vs Denmark (8 July 2022), Germany vs Spain (12 July 2022) and Denmark vs Spain (16 July 2022) as well as Germany vs Austria in the quarter-final (21 July 2022).{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |date=2022-04-04 |title=Event guide: London Brentford Community Stadium {{!}} UEFA Women's EURO 2022 |url=https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/event-guide/london/stadium/brentford/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701090450/https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/event-guide/london/stadium/brentford/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 July 2022 |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=UEFA |language=en}}
| class="wikitable"
!Date !! Home !! Away !! Result !! Attendance !! Stage | |||||
| 8 July 2022 | {{fbw|GER}} | {{fbw|DEN}} | 4–0 | 15,736 | UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Group B |
| 12 July 2022 | {{fbw|GER}} | {{fbw|SPA}} | 2–0 | 16,037 | UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Group B |
| 16 July 2022 | {{fbw|DEN}} | {{fbw|SPA}} | 0–1 | 16,041 | UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Group B |
| 21 July 2022 | {{fbw|GER}} | {{fbw|AUT}} | 2–0 | 16,025 | UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Quarter Final |
=== Other ===
England hosted Australia in a women's international friendly match (11 April 2023). {{Cite web |date=2023-04-11 |title=England 0-2 Australia |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/england/womens-senior-team/fixtures-results/2023/england-women-australia-alzheimers-society-international-tuesday-11-april-2023}}
| class="wikitable"
!Date !! Home !! Away !! Result !! Attendance !Competition | ||||
| 11 April 2023 | {{fbw|ENG}} | {{fbw|AUS}} | 0–2 | 14,489
|Friendly (Women) |
| 17 October 2023
|{{Fb|Australia}} |{{Fb|New Zealand}} |2–0 |5,761 |Friendly (Men) |
=Rugby Union at Brentford Community Stadium=
On 15 August 2016, rugby union club London Irish announced that discussions were ongoing with the borough for a move to the new stadium as tenants of Brentford. Irish played in Reading, Berkshire, but were hoping to move back to the capital.{{cite web|last1=Hyde|first1=Nathan|title=London Irish could soon leave Madejski Stadium|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/london-irish-could-soon-leave-11754005|website=Get Reading|publisher=Trinity Mirror Southern|access-date=15 August 2016}} An amended application to use the stadium for rugby in addition to its main purpose of hosting football was passed on 9 February 2017, effectively allowing London Irish to play at the stadium from its opening season.{{cite web|title=Approval for rugby|url=http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/news/approval-rugby|website=Brentford Community Stadium|access-date=10 February 2017}}. The move to Brentford from its opening season was later confirmed.{{cite web|title=Back in Town — The Irish are Returning to London!|url=https://www.london-irish.com/news/back-in-town-the-irish-are-returning-to-london/bp2044/|website=London Irish|date=18 December 2018 |access-date=18 December 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46440769|title=London Irish to move to Brentford Community Stadium in 2020|work=BBC Sport |date=18 December 2018|access-date=12 February 2019}}
London Irish played their inaugural match at the stadium on 29 November 2020, when they beat Leicester Tigers 22–9. The first try was scored by Curtis Rona of London Irish.
London Irish were suspended from the league ahead of the 2023–24 Premiership Rugby season and subsequently entered administration meaning their future remains uncertain.{{Cite web |title=London Irish suspended from Gallagher Premiership and all leagues by RFU due to financial issues |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12550/12897294/london-irish-suspended-from-gallagher-premiership-and-all-leagues-by-rfu-due-to-financial-issues |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}
Location
The stadium is located on a {{convert|7.6|acre|m2}} site off Lionel Road, adjacent to Kew Bridge railway station. It stands in the middle of a triangle of railway lines, some used for freight. There are proposals to re-open a passenger rail route from Willesden and Brent Cross through to Hounslow via a station at Lionel Road using one of these freight lines (the 'West London Orbital' scheme). Outline planning documents suggest a station could be built to serve the stadium on the Lionel Road site. The nearest station on the Transport for London network is Gunnersbury, served by the London Underground District line and the recently-named Mildmay Line on the London Overground (Stratford to Richmond route). Kew Bridge railway station is adjacent to the stadium.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{official website|http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com}}
{{Brentford F.C.}}
{{Premier League venues}}
{{UEFA Women's Euro 2022 stadiums}}
{{coord|51|29|27|N|0|17|19|W|type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in the United Kingdom
Category:2020 establishments in England
Category:Football venues in London
Category:Premier League venues
Category:Sport in the London Borough of Hounslow