The Cooper-Dean family gave the local football team a portion of their land in 1910. In honor of the contributors, the stadium that was constructed on this location was named Dean Court and opened the same year. Prior to the signing of the first naming rights agreement in 2011, this name was the official one. After that, the name was changed to Seward Stadium.
During its early decades, the historic site was set up on one of the stands constructed for the British Empire Exhibition in 1924, which drew 27 million visitors and was the biggest exhibition event in history. However, a comprehensive restoration in 2001 caused Dean Court to lose its outline. To enhance the distance from the nearby structures, the pitch was shifted slightly and rotated 90 degrees. A temporary structure was then erected on the open side to the south, and three additional stands were constructed.In 2005, Bournemouth sold the land to developers Structadene and has been leasing it since then.
When AFC Bournemouth met Manchester United in the FA Cup in 1957, the attendance record was set. There were 28,799 spectators for that match. 11,286 fans can currently be accommodated in fully enclosed stands.
New modular grandstand and better access for fans
The single-tiered, middle-opening new south stand will significantly enhance the amount of seats available for spectators with impairments. The stand will be built outside the building and assembled on-site using a modular design to speed up construction. In order to give them more weeks to start developing, the club has asked the league to relocate both the opening game of the 2019 season and the last away game. After the 2025–26 season concludes, the team plans to start construction. The goal is to avoid match disruptions despite the short offseason.
Cranes on both sides of Vitality Stadium https://znaki.fm/places/vitality-stadium/ can swiftly install components thanks to the modular construction process, which was inspired by similar concepts being investigated by teams like Manchester United. This implies that the steel frame behind the current stand can be assembled and prepared even during the current season.
New stadium layout and interior renovation
The replacement of the temporary structure with the new south stand will be the largest planned change. In keeping with club owner Bill Foley’s emphasis on accessibility, half of it will feature an elevated area with seats for supporters with restricted movement. Although it won’t be a conventional two-level building, the grandstand will feature two lobby levels: upper and lower.
In collaboration with local officials, the stadium barrier and the track behind it will be moved to make room for a larger grandstand. Additionally, the media zone will be moved. The east and main stands will start to undergo internal refurbishment at the same time. The new training center’s offices and other space will be transformed into hospitality spaces. Since this work doesn’t need a building permit and can go on all season long, it will start soon.