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Brentford Community Stadium

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The Brentford Community Stadium, currently known as the Gtech Community Stadium for sponsorship reasons,[5] 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.

Gtech Community Stadium
View from the exterior of the stadium (2020)
Map
Full nameGtech Community Stadium
Location166 Lionel Road North, Brentford, London, England
Public transitNational Rail Kew Bridge
OperatorBrentford F.C.
Capacity17,250[4]
Record attendance17,201 (Brentford vs Arsenal, 25 November 2023)
Field size105 x 68 m (association football)
110 x 66m (rugby union)
SurfaceDesso Grassmaster
Construction
Broke ground25 March 2017
BuiltSpring 2018–Summer 2020
Opened1 September 2020
Construction cost£71 million[1]
ArchitectAFL Architects[2]
Structural engineerArup[3]
Tenants
Brentford F.C. (2020–present)
London Irish (2020–2023)

History

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Background

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The stadium under construction in September 2018

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.[6]

This was followed up in February 2008 when a partnership deal with Barratt Homes to develop the site was announced.[7]

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 7.6-acre (31,000 m2) 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.[8]

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[9] and although negotiations continued, a number of objections to the CPO resulted in a further hearing in September 2015.[10] The development agreement was signed with Willmott Dixon in December 2014.[11] The CPO was approved in April 2016 and the process completed on 1 September 2016.[12]

 
The former Stratton Gentry Coal Works building on Lionel Road South, demolished in 2017 to make way for the stadium.

Construction

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Work on the new stadium officially started on 24 March 2017 with site clearance and preliminary works.[13] The main works began in spring 2018.[14]

On 30 August 2020, Brentford confirmed that the stadium was complete and ready to host football matches.[15]

Further development

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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.[16]

Sponsorship and naming rights

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On 28 July 2022, Brentford announced a 10-year partnership with British technology manufacturer Gtech (Grey Technology), which included naming rights to the stadium, which immediately became the Gtech Community Stadium.[5]

Football at Brentford Community Stadium

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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.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19]

International football

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UEFA Women's Euro 2022
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Germany vs Denmark, Women's Euros, 8 July 2022

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).[20]

Date Home Away Result Attendance Stage
8 July 2022   Germany   Denmark 4–0 15,736 UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Group B
12 July 2022   Germany   Spain 2–0 16,037 UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Group B
16 July 2022   Denmark   Spain 0–1 16,041 UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Group B
21 July 2022   Germany   Austria 2–0 16,025 UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Quarter Final
Other
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England hosted Australia in a women's international friendly match (11 April 2023). [21]

Date Home Away Result Attendance Competition
11 April 2023   England   Australia 0–2 14,489 Friendly (Women)
17 October 2023   Australia   New Zealand 2–0 5,761 Friendly (Men)

Rugby Union at Brentford Community Stadium

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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.[22] 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.[23] The move to Brentford from its opening season was later confirmed.[24][25]

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.[26]

Location

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The stadium is located on a 7.6 acres (31,000 m2) site off Lionel Road, adjacent to Kew Bridge railway station. It stands in the middle of a triangle of railway lines, predominantly used for freight. In 2016, Hounslow Council proposed an extension of Crossrail to Hounslow via Kew Bridge, using one of these freight lines. The outline document suggested a station could be built to serve the Lionel Road site.[27] The nearest station on the Transport for London network is Gunnersbury, served by the London Underground District line and the London Overground North London Line.

References

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  1. ^ "Regeneration Committee site visit to Brentford FC" (PDF). Greater London Authority. 15 July 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Brentford Community Stadium". AFL Architects. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  3. ^ Catherine Kennedy (19 September 2020). "Arup's role on Brentford Stadium draws to a close". New Civil Engineer.
  4. ^ "Brentford FC New Stadium |". newstadium.brentfordfc.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b "The Gtech Community Stadium". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Brentford given new stadium boost". BBC News. 7 December 2007.
  7. ^ "BRENTFORD FOOTBALL CLUB AND BARRATT HOMES TEAM UP TO ACQUIRE LAND FOR NEW COMMUNITY STADIUM – Brentford – News – Latest News – Latest News". Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Brentford Football Club given Lionel Road stadium go-ahead". BBC News. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  9. ^ "Compulsory purchase plans approved to secure Brentford stadium site". Get West London. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Public inquiry over Brentford FC stadium set for September". Get West London. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Brentford FC and Willmott Dixon sign Development Agreement for Brentford Community Stadium". Brentford FC. 23 December 2014. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  12. ^ "News | Brentford Community Stadium". Brentford Community Stadium. Brentford FC Ltd. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  13. ^ "Work Underway". Brentford Community Stadium. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  14. ^ "Brentford new groundbreaking stadium: one year on". Pitchcare. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Brentford FC move in to new home". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Safe standing at football stadiums to be rolled out next season". GOV.UK. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Oxford United the visitors tomorrow for first game at new stadium". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 31 August 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ "Opening competitive fixture at new stadium chosen for TV coverage". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Brentford FC 3–0 Huddersfield Town FC 19/09/2020". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  20. ^ UEFA.com (4 April 2022). "Event guide: London Brentford Community Stadium | UEFA Women's EURO 2022". UEFA.com. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  21. ^ "England 0-2 Australia". 11 April 2023.
  22. ^ Hyde, Nathan. "London Irish could soon leave Madejski Stadium". Get Reading. Trinity Mirror Southern. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  23. ^ "Approval for rugby". Brentford Community Stadium. Retrieved 10 February 2017..
  24. ^ "Back in Town — The Irish are Returning to London!". London Irish. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  25. ^ "London Irish to move to Brentford Community Stadium in 2020". BBC Sport. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  26. ^ "London Irish suspended from Gallagher Premiership and all leagues by RFU due to financial issues". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  27. ^ "CORRIDOR 7: CROSSRAIL TO HOUNSLOW – A Proposal by the London Borough of Hounslow in Response to Consultation by Cross London Rail Links Ltd" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
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