Aston Villa announce plans for £100million stadium expansion
Villa have announced plans for a £100million redevelopment of the North Stand which will increase the capacity of Villa Park beyond 50,000.
The project is expected to be completed in 2027, 12 months before the stadium is due to be a host venue for Euro 2028.
It is the latest major investment from co-owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, who have transformed the club's fortunes since saving it from administration in 2018.
Villa competed in the Champions League for the first time this season and in a statement announcing the planned stadium expansion, chairman Sawiris re-stated his desire to make the club into a "European powerhouse".
Plans to completely rebuild the North Stand were shelved in late 2023 due to concerns the club would be playing high-profile matches with a severely reduced capacity.
The new scheme will not see capacity dip below the current level of 42,800 at any stage of construction.
Most crucially, it follows a commitment from West Midlands mayor, to rebuild Witton railway station. Without that, the club says the project could not take place and it would need to “re-examine” whether it could continue as a Euro 2028 host venue.
Sawiris said: “Since Wes (Edens) and I became owners of this storied club in 2018 and Atairos joined us as partners in 2024, we have shared a clear ambition: to restore Aston Villa to its rightful position competing at the highest levels of English and European football, and to transform the Club into a global brand and European powerhouse.
“Thanks to the Mayor’s commitment to develop Witton Station and to improve local transport links, this project will mark an important milestone in the club’s journey to becoming a world-class sports and entertainment venue.
“A bigger, better North Stand will not only allow many more Villans to see their team in person, improving matchday experience, but will also dramatically improve the club's ability to invest and compete in the long term."
The project will see the capacity of the North Stand, the oldest at Villa Park having been built in the 1970s, increase to more than 12,000. This, combined with other work around the stadium, will push total capacity over 50,000. It is the first major redevelopment of the stadium since the Trinity Road Stand was rebuilt in 2000.
It is intended work on Witton railway station, which can become heavily congested on matchdays, will allow it to deal with more than 10,000 supporters.
Villa claim the proposed redevelopment will send their contribution to the local economy will beyond £120m, with more than one million people visiting the stadium - which has also begun hosting a series of high-profile concerts during the summer - each year.
West Midlands mayor, Richard Parker, said: “Aston Villa is a vital part of our region’s identity and I’m proud to support the club’s ambitious plans to redevelop the North Stand.
“Their long-standing commitment to Aston and the wider community is clear – not just through this redevelopment, but through investment in The Warehouse, community facilities, job creation and the Aston Villa Foundation.
“We have been working closely with the club, Network Rail and other partners to ensure the necessary improvements at Witton station will be made in time for the Euros in 2028.
“I am fully committed to securing upgrades including safer queuing systems, new passenger shelters, a new footbridge and higher capacity services, so we can double the station’s handling capacity and deliver a world-class experience for fans arriving at Villa Park during the tournament and beyond.”
