Opponents: Brighton and Hove Albion
Date: Sunday 26 December
Kick-off: 8pm
Capacity: 30,666
Post code for sat-nav: BN1 9BL
After one of the longest legal fights in English football stadium construction, Brighton and Hove Albion finally moved into their new home at Falmer in 2011, 14 years after they last had a place they could call home.
The plans were initiated by Brighton & Hove Albion after the club's previous home, the Goldstone Ground, was sold by the club's former board to developers in 1995 with no new home arranged.
When the club was evicted at the end of the 1996/97 season, it groundshared for two seasons at Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium, 50 miles away in Kent, before moving back to Brighton as tenants of Withdean Stadium.
The site at Falmer was identified during the 1998/99 season. Planning permission was granted by the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove City Council in June 2002, with the intention of the stadium being ready for the 2005/06 season.
However, five years of legal challenges to the stadium from local authorities meant that the club would have to wait until August 2011 before being able to play their home games there – more than a decade after the stadium was first proposed.
DID YOU KNOW?
The stadium hosted two Pool B matches in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The first of which saw Japan cause one of the biggest upsets in Rugby World Cup history by beating twice winners South Africa 34–32. In 2019, a film was produced telling the story of the match, called The Brighton Miracle.
HOW TO GET THERE
On Boxing Day no trains or Stagecoach buses are operating and Brighton & Hove Buses will be running a significantly reduced service that ends at 7pm.
To compensate for the lack of public transport, Brighton have made additional travel options available to supporters.
Parking: This will be available at Sussex University (Car Park C) at the Bridge (Car Park B), and at the Lower car park at Brighton University. All parking must be pre booked via the club’s website, and there will be no cash sales on the day at any parking locations.
All vehicles parking in Car Park C must enter via Stanmer Park, as there will be no entry at Falmer or Knights Gate. Sussex University (Car Park C) is a short walk through the underpass to the Amex stadium.
Park & Ride: We will be operating five park and ride services, all free to supporters. As well as the usual sites at Mill Road (BN1 8ZF) and Brighton Racecourse (BN2 9XZ), parking is also available at Brendan Equestrian Centre in Pycombe, Sainsbury’s West Hove and Asda Hollingbury.
All parking sites will be open from 5pm.
Mill Road Park & Ride (BN1 8ZF): Will be available to supporters on a first come basis as normal, supporters will not need to pre-book for this location. Note: Amex drop off and pick-up locations as normal.
Brighton Racecourse Park & Ride (BN2 9XZ): Will be available to supporters on a first come basis, and supporters will not need to pre-book for this park and ride. Note: Amex drop off and pick-up locations as normal.
Brendon Equestrian Centre, Pyecombe Park & Ride (BN45 7EG): Located in the grounds at Haresdean Farm, all vehicles and passenger numbers plus any walk-ups must be pre-booked on the club’s website.
You will be dropped off and picked up at the Bus stop at Brighton University South side.
Sainsbury’s West Hove Park & Ride (BN3 7GD): All vehicles and passenger numbers plus any walk-ups must be pre-booked on the club’s website.
You will be dropped off and picked up at the Bus stop Brighton University North side.
Asda Hollingbury Park & Ride (BN1 8AS): , All vehicles and passenger numbers plus any walk-ups must be pre-booked on the club’s website.
You will be dropped off and picked up at the South side A27 bus stop.
No overnight parking is available at any of our park and ride sites.
Shuttle Services: We are also operating two free shuttle services from the rear of Brighton Railway Station and from outside Lewes Railway Station.
Brighton Station Shuttle Service (BN1 4DJ): Free parking is available at Brighton Station car park in Stroudley Road, and we will be operating a free bus shuttle service from the rear entrance of Brighton station starting at 5pm. No booking will be required.
You will be dropped off and picked up at the South side A27 bus stop.
Lewes Station Shuttle Service (BN7 2UP): Free parking is available at Lewes Railway Station car park, based off Station Road, and we will be operating a free bus shuttle service from the main entrance of the station from 5pm. No booking will be required.
You will be dropped off and picked up at the North side A27 bus stop.
Please note: There is no local street parking available as all areas close to the Amex have a residents parking scheme in operation, and enforcement officers will be on patrol.
Drop-off and pick-up point: Because of the extensive travel operation in place, Village Way will be very busy. We ask supporters who plan to be dropped off and picked up to use car park 5 (the Sports Hall car park) at the University of Sussex. This is a short walk through the underpass and over the railway footbridge at Falmer Station to the Amex stadium.
Please avoid Village Way on the night.
STADIUM INFORMATION
Fans attending the game are reminded that COVID-19 protocols are in place at all major outdoor events. Brentford supporters will need to show proof of their COVID status to gain entry. This is a condition of attendance.
Get yourself Match Ready
Travelling supporters will enter the stadium via the south stand turnstiles. Turnstiles will open 2 hours before kick-off. Travelling supporters are advised to arrive in plenty of time to assist with the increased checks on arrival.
Brighton respectfully ask that you do not bring bags to the stadium; if you do so, the maximum permitted size will be A4 (297mm x 210mm). There are no exceptions to the policy and there are no bag storage facilities at the stadium. Any bags left outside the stadium will be removed and disposed.
The Amex Stadium is now completely cashless; Brighton accept all major debit and credit cards and mobile payments, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.