Photo by Wikimedia Commons, CC by 2.0
What are the smallest stadiums in the Premier League? Arsenal and Manchester United can fit more than 60,000 and 74,000 fans into their respective stadiums. Remarkably, neither club thinks that’s enough – both are actively exploring ways to expand their grounds to fit even more supporters.
The Premier League sits at the top of the football world in terms of popularity. With that status, you’d expect every stadium to be absolutely enormous.
But over the years, many small capacity grounds have featured in the league. Here are the smallest stadium capacities in the EPL.
6. Bloomfield Road, Blackpool – 16,220
Blackpool’s Premier League stay lasted just a single season, but their fearless approach under Ian Holloway made them impossible to forget.
After a shock promotion in 2010, which secured top flight football for the first time since 1971, the Tangerines came within whiskers of survival. But ultimately, their inability to defend cost them dearly.
However, Bloomfield Road – first opened in 1899 – always had a carnival atmosphere, with Liverpool and Tottenham both going down in defeats at the 16,220-capacity ground.
There was even a 4-3 triumph against Bolton – a repeat score line of the famous Stanley Matthews FA Cup final in 1953.
5. The Dell, Southampton – 15,200
The Dell was a classic, charming old football ground where the fans were virtually on top of the players and every word on the field could be heard.
Opened in 1898, the ground made history in 1950 by becoming the first to have permanent floodlighting installed.
However, as the years wore on and ground standards increased, The Dell was looking more and more dilapidated and plans were launched in the 1990s to move into a new venue.
The curtain was closed in 2001. In one of those fairytale moments, it was club legend Matt Le Tissier who scored a left-foot stunner to end 103 years of football, with five apartment blocks replacing the stadium.
4. County Ground, Swindon – 14,700
Like Blackpool, Swindon Town’s Premier League adventure lasted just a single season at the County Ground. And just like the Seasiders, they won admirers for their attacking football — even if their leaky defence, which shipped 100 goals, ultimately sent them straight back down.
Swindon have never come close to the Premier League since with a 17th place finish in the Championship (then Division One) in 1999 their nearest miss.
Plans to expand the ground have been floated in the last 20 years but a lack of progress on field has shelved them for now.
3. Boundary Park, Oldham – 13,559
Notorious for being one of the coldest grounds in England, Boundary Park is also the second smallest to ever host Premier League football.
The Latics were there in the inaugural season of 1992-93, and were relegated a year after finishing second from bottom.
Prior to their promotion to the top flight in 1991, Boundary Park – certainly ahead of its time – had a plastic pitch but they were forced to go back to grass by the authorities.
Nowadays, the ground hosts League Two football, with the club seemingly in freefall and fans voicing their discontent.
2. Kenilworth Road, Luton Town – 11,850
When the Hatters booked their place in the Premier League for 2023–24, they were also set to make history with the smallest ground in the competition’s history.
The Hatters weren’t too thrilled about holding that record, so they poured around £10 million into rebuilding the Bobbers Stand. The upgrade took Kenilworth Road’s capacity from 10,356 to 11,850 — giving more fans the chance to witness Premier League football up close.
Unfortunately, they finished 18th and failed to avoid the drop.
1. Dean Court, Bournemouth – 11,307
It can be overlooked sometimes just how brilliant a job Eddie Howe did at Bournemouth, considering the lack of attainable matchday revenue.
Just over 11,000 fans could get into Dean Court (or as it’s known currently The Vitality Stadium), yet the Cherries held onto their Premier League status for five years.
Pluckiness has been a theme of this list and Bournemouth were another small club that showed big heart in their Premier League stint, with Howe’s reputation swelling throughout.
With the club gaining so much exposure from their years in the PL, changes were always planned and the club confirmed in 2017 they were hoping to move to a new ground at the nearby Kings Park site.
Current smallest – The Brentford Community Stadium – 17,250
Only opened in 2020, Brentford fans had to wait a long time before they could visit their new ground due to the Covid pandemic.
Replacing their old home of Griffin Park, the new ground is a much more modern upgrade as Brentford – an ambitious club on the up – look to defy the odds and extend their Premier League stay.
Sadly, this one doesn’t have a pub on each corner.
