It’s taken a while, but Brighton & Hove Albion is now considered one of the most impressive examples of an English Premier League club. The Seagulls have been plying their trade in the top flight of English football since 2017 and, over that time, have steadily established themselves as one of the teams to beat.
Under Brighton’s savvy and ambitious owner Tony Bloom, Albion have punched well above their weight through the use of data analysis and a recruitment network that’s the envy of world football. It’s a mark of Brighton’s newfound Premier League status that the bookies now rate their chances of a top-six finish in 2024/25 quite highly. Just go to Oddschecker and you’ll find the Seagulls’ odds of finishing inside the top six are almost as short as Manchester United’s, at around the 2/1 mark.
Brighton are one of the most entertaining Premier League sides to watch. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a neutral or a local that’s just never had the inclination to head to an Albion game, there’s always a first time for everything. That’s why we’ve put together a newbie’s guide to visiting Sussex’s only Premier League club.
The Amex Stadium
Brighton & Hove Albion didn’t have a place to call home for many years. Albion left their Goldstone Ground stadium in the summer of 1997 after narrowly avoiding relegation out of the English Football League. They then shared a ground with Kent-based Gillingham for a couple of years, before returning to Brighton, albeit at an athletics arena – the Withdean Stadium – which was nowhere near fit for purpose.
Luckily for the Seagulls, a purpose-built stadium would eventually break ground in 2008. Falmer was the site of the stadium, which is now known as the American Express (Amex) Stadium. It opened its doors in 2011 and within six years it was hosting Premier League football. Today, it has a capacity of 31,876, making it the 31st largest sports stadium in the UK.
Match tickets
If you’re looking to buy tickets to one of the home sections as a first-time visitor, you’ll probably need to sign up for a membership first. As a member, you’ll move up the priority ladder for home tickets, above the general public. As with most Premier League clubs, Brighton operates a grading system for its home fixtures, ranging from A+ to C, A+ being the highest-profile games and C involving the fixtures with the league’s newly promoted clubs.
Ticket prices for adults range from £70 in A+ grade games to as low as £34 for some C-grade matches. Concessions are offered to those aged 21 and under or over 65. All tickets can be bought online, allowing you to pick a sectionwhich suits your preferences regarding your ticket cost and view.
How to get to the Amex Stadium
With a matchday ticket at Brighton & Hove Albion, you’ll be entitled to free railway or bus travel to and from the stadium. If you’re travelling in from the north of the city, you only need to buy a ticket as far as Haywards Heath, or Worthing to the west and Eastbourne to the east. Falmer station is just three stops north of Brighton’s mainline railway station. The trains are guaranteed to be packed, so arrive in plenty of time.
If crowds aren’t your thing, you can always drive and use one of the two park and ride schemes at Brighton Racecourse and Mill Road (BN1 8ZF).
The best watering holes and restaurants nearby
Unfortunately, there’s only one pub within walking distance of the Amex Stadium reserved for home fans – The Swan Inn. Make sure your match ticket is ready for inspection if you want to go into the pub. Obviously there are loads of pubs around Brighton station if you fancy a drink before heading into Falmer.
It’s a similar story in nearby Lewes, with plenty of pubs and restaurants accepting home and away fans alike. You can get a bus to the Amex Stadium directly from Lewes but, be warned, the buses close to kick off are exceptionally busy.
Overall, the Amex Stadium offers an excellent 21st century football viewing experience. Sight lines are impressive from all four sides of the ground and it’s a chance to catch some of the world’s best footballers in an attractive setting. If you can look past the limited transport and amenities around the ground, it’s a fun place to watch the beautiful game.