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64-670: UEFA [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Falmer Stadium , currently known as the American Express Stadium for sponsorship reasons and more commonly referred to as the Amex , is a football stadium in Falmer , Brighton and Hove , East Sussex , England. With a capacity of 31,876, it is the second largest stadium in South East England , after St. Mary's Stadium ( Southampton ), and

128-622: A friendly match against then-Brighton manager Gus Poyet 's old club Tottenham Hotspur , the home-side narrowly losing 3–2. The first competitive match had been held on 16 July 2011, when Brighton's development squad beat Eastbourne Borough 2–0 in the Sussex Senior Cup final, with Gary Hart scoring the first goal. The first competitive first team fixture was held on 6 August 2011, when Brighton beat Doncaster Rovers 2–1, after being 1–0 down. The stadium set its first record attendance with 21,897 against Liverpool . They were also

192-531: A shallow sea which extended across much of northwest Europe. The rock is composed of the microscopic skeletons of plankton which lived in the sea, hence its colour. The chalk has many fossils , and bands of flint occur throughout the formation. The Chalk is divided into the Lower, Middle and Upper Chalk, a thin band of cream-coloured nodular chalk known as the Melbourn Rock marking the boundary between

256-540: A 150-space car park for club officials, players and disabled drivers; 220 cycle spaces. In May 2012, the stadium won the New Venue Award at the Stadium Business Awards. 50°51′43″N 0°5′0″W  /  50.86194°N 0.08333°W  / 50.86194; -0.08333 UEFA stadium categories A stadium must be rated as category four in order to host games in the playoffs of

320-692: A lowland grassland on the west and south facing scarp slopes of the Meon valley; and Beacon Hill, a high quality chalk grassland 5 km west of Old Winchester Hill. In 1923 the Society of Sussex Downsmen (now the South Downs Society) was formed with the aim of protecting the area's unique landscape. The South Downs are a popular area for ramblers with a network of over 2,000 mi (3,200 km) of well-managed, well-signed and easily accessible trails. The principal bridleway, and longest of them,

384-405: A luxury suite. This was granted unanimously by Brighton & Hove City Council's planning committee on 25 April 2012. The stadium was expanded to 27,250 by the start of the 2012–13 season, 27,750 by December 2012 and stood at 30,750 by the end of the 2012–13 season. A new record attendance was set on 15 December 2012 when 26,684 saw Brighton draw 0–0 with Nottingham Forest . This record attendance

448-545: A new legal challenge to the stadium plan. In April 2006, Prescott admitted that he had given his approval based on the misconception that only a small part of the stadium site lay on the Lewes side, and withdrew it. Hazel Blears , the Secretary of State responsible for planning, re-affirmed the approval on 25 July 2007. Her decision went against the advice of planning inspectors. Lewes District Council, Falmer Parish Council and

512-567: A new link road from the A270 skirting the southern edge of Stanmer Park to the Sussex campus; a new high capacity footbridge over the railway at Falmer station; a transport interchange/coach park to the south of the stadium across Village Way; a 1,000-space car park at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy ; alterations to the A27/A270 road junction, including a new flyover; a combined footpath/cycleway;

576-736: A poem "On the South Downs". The South Downs have been home to several writers, including Jane Austen who lived at Chawton on the edge of the Downs in Hampshire. The Bloomsbury Group often visited Monk's House in Rodmell , the home of Virginia Woolf in the Ouse valley. Alfred, Lord Tennyson , had a second home at Aldworth, on Blackdown ; geologically part of the Weald , Blackdown lies north of

640-578: A range of chalk hills in the south-eastern coastal counties of England that extends for about 260 sq mi (670 km ) across the south-eastern coastal counties of England from the Itchen valley of Hampshire in the west to Beachy Head , in the Eastbourne Downland Estate , East Sussex, in the east. The Downs are bounded on the northern side by a steep escarpment , from whose crest there are extensive views northwards across

704-459: A whole, although there has been large-scale urban encroachment onto the chalk downland by major seaside resorts, including most notably Brighton and Hove . The South Downs have been inhabited since ancient times and at periods the area has supported a large population, particularly during Romano-British times. There is a rich heritage of historical features and archaeological remains, including defensive sites, burial mounds and field boundaries. Within

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768-589: Is 271 m (889 ft) above sea level. The plateau-like top of this irregularly shaped hill, which lies just south of Petersfield, Hampshire , was in regular use through prehistory. It has been designated as a national nature reserve . Within the boundary of the South Downs National Park, which includes parts of the western Weald to the north of the South Downs, the highest point is Blackdown , West Sussex, which rises to 280 m (919 ft) above sea level. However, Blackdown geologically

832-466: Is about a case that Holmes solves whilst living there. The author Graham Greene 's first published novel, The Man Within (1929), is set largely on and around the South Downs. The book's principal character, Andrews, travels by foot across the Downs to reach Lewes and attend the Assizes. Greene provides a detailed description of both the landscape and its 'feel'. The author H. G. Wells published

896-664: Is also a war memorial , The Chattri , dedicated to Indian soldiers who died in the Brighton area, having been brought there for treatment after being injured fighting on the Western Front in the First World War . Rudyard Kipling who lived in Rottingdean described the South Downs as "Our blunt, bow-headed whale-backed Downs". Writing in 1920 in his poem The South Country , poet Hilaire Belloc describes

960-415: Is for visiting away supporters which contains 2,575 seats. As well as football matches, the stadium is also designed for other sports such as rugby and hockey, and music concerts, conferences and exhibitions. Jehovah's Witnesses hold their annual convention at the stadium in summer. The stadium's drinking outlets offer real ales from two local breweries, Harvey's and Dark Star , both of which supported

1024-472: Is not part of the South Downs but instead forms part of the Greensand Ridge on the Weald 's western margins. A list of those points on the South Downs above 700 ft (210 m), going from west to east, is given below. Archaeological evidence has revealed that the Downs have been inhabited and utilised for thousands of years. Neolithic flint mines such as Cissbury , burial mounds such as

1088-595: Is the South Downs Way . The Monarch's Way , having originated at Worcester , crosses the South Downs and ends at Shoreham-by-Sea . Sports undertaken on the Downs include paragliding , mountain-biking , horse riding and walking . The popular Beachy Head Marathon (formerly Seven Sisters Marathon ), a hilly cross-country marathon, takes place each autumn on the eastern Downs, starting and finishing in Eastbourne. The South Downs Trail Marathon starts in

1152-492: The 29th largest stadium in the United Kingdom . It serves as the home of Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion , and was handed over from the developers to the club on 31 May 2011. The first competitive game played at the stadium was the 2010–11 season final of the Sussex Senior Cup between Brighton and Eastbourne Borough on 16 July 2011. The first league game was against Doncaster Rovers , who were also

1216-464: The Devil's Jumps and Devil's Humps , and hill forts like Chanctonbury Ring are strong features in the landscape. It has been estimated that the tree cover of the Downs was cleared over 3000 years ago, and the present closely grazed turf is the result of continual grazing by sheep. Proposals to create a national park for the South Downs date back to the 1940s. However, it was not until 1999 that

1280-545: The North Downs as its counterpart on the northern side, as shown on the diagram. Between these two escarpments the anticline has been subject to differential erosion so that geologically distinct areas of hills and vales lie in roughly concentric circles towards the centre; these comprise the Greensand Ridge , most prominent on the north side of the Weald, where it includes Leith Hill , the highest hill in south-east England,

1344-504: The Second World War to increase domestic food production – which continued into the 1950s - much grassland was ploughed up for arable farming, fundamentally changing the landscape and ecology, with the loss of much biodiversity. As a result, while old chalk grassland accounted for 40-50% of the eastern Downs before the war, only 3-4% survives. This and development pressures from the surrounding population centres ultimately led to

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1408-751: The Sussex Downs . The Western Downs, lying west of the River Arun , are much more wooded, particularly on the scarp face, than the Eastern Downs. The bare Eastern Downs – the only part of the chalk escarpment to which, until the late 19th century, the term "South Downs" was usually applied – have come to epitomise, in literature and art, the South Downs as a whole and which have been the subject matter of such celebrated writers and artists as Rudyard Kipling (the "blunt, bow-headed, whale-backed downs") and Eric Ravilious . Four river valleys cut through

1472-557: The Weald . The South Downs National Park forms a much larger area than the chalk range of the South Downs, and includes large parts of the Weald. The South Downs are characterised by rolling chalk downland with close-cropped turf and dry valleys , and are recognised as one of the most important chalk landscapes in England. The range is one of the four main areas of chalk downland in southern England . The South Downs are relatively less populated compared to South East England as

1536-600: The 200 capacity bar/lounge named Dick's Bar after the club's life president, Dick Knight. The stadium is close to the A27 Brighton by-pass, linking it northbound to the A23 and M23 motorway towards London and southbound to the A270 and the city centre. Falmer railway station is next to the stadium; it is a nine-minute journey from Brighton railway station and seven minutes from Lewes railway station , both of which are served by trains from London. The site also includes:

1600-596: The Lower and Middle units. The strata of southeast England, including the Chalk, were gently folded during a phase of the Alpine Orogeny to produce the Weald-Artois Anticline , a dome-like structure with a long east-west axis. Erosion has removed the central part of the dome, leaving the north-facing escarpment of the South Downs along its southern margin with the south-facing chalk escarpment of

1664-504: The South Downs Environmentally Sensitive Area there are thirty-seven Sites of Special Scientific Interest , including large areas of chalk grassland. The grazing of sheep on the thin, well-drained chalk soils of the Downs over many centuries, and browsing by rabbits, resulted in the fine, short, springy turf, known as old chalk grassland , that has come to epitomise the South Downs today. Until

1728-547: The South Downs Joint Committee (the three main opponents) announced shortly afterwards that they would not mount a High Court challenge. On 4 September 2007, the deadline for appealing the new grant of permission expired and the club received full permission to proceed. On 27 November 2008, the Buckingham Group signed the construction contract for the new stadium and began preparation work on

1792-516: The South Downs as "the great hills of the South Country". In On The South Coast , poet Algernon Charles Swinburne describes the South Downs as "the green smooth-swelling unending downs". The naturalist-writer William Henry Hudson wrote that "during the whole fifty-three mile length from Beachy Head to Harting the ground never rises above a height of 850 feet, but we feel on top of the world". Poet Francis William Bourdillon also wrote

1856-405: The South Downs but is included in the South Downs National Park. In the introduction to Arthur Conan Doyle 's short story collection His Last Bow , Dr. Watson states that Sherlock Holmes has retired to a small farm upon the Downs near Eastbourne. In the story "His Last Bow" itself, Holmes states that he "lives and keeps bees upon the South Downs". Furthermore, the short story " The Lion's Mane "

1920-573: The South Downs presents itself as a steep wall that bounds the horizon, with its grassland heights punctuated with clumps of trees (such as Chanctonbury Ring ). In the west, the chalk ridge of the South Downs merges with the North Downs to form the Hampshire Downs . In the east, the escarpment terminates at the English Channel coast between Seaford and Eastbourne , where it produces the spectacular white cliffs of Seaford Head ,

1984-414: The South Downs, namely those of the rivers Arun, Adur , Ouse and Cuckmere , providing a contrasting landscape. Chalk aquifers and to a lesser extent winterbourne streams supply much of the water required by the surrounding settlements. Dew ponds , artificial ponds for watering livestock, are a characteristic feature on the downland. The highest point on the South Downs is Butser Hill , whose summit

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2048-848: The UEFA Euro finals and 30,000 for the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Nations League finals, since these regulations were introduced in 2006. After the 2007 Champions League final , UEFA President Michel Platini stated that he wanted European Cup finals to be held at stadiums with an average capacity of 70,000 to solve security issues. The hosts for the finals between 2008 and 2023 ( Luzhniki Stadium , Stadio Olimpico , Santiago Bernabéu , Wembley Stadium , Allianz Arena , Olympiastadion , San Siro , Millennium Stadium , Olimpiyskiy Stadium , Stade de France , Atatürk Stadium ) all had capacities of at least 70,000 seats—with

2112-651: The UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations. If a retractable roof is present, its use will be directed by consultation between the UEFA delegate and the main assigned referee. Although the minimum stadium capacity for category four is 8,000, it is required to host the UEFA Europa Conference League final, and only one stadium with a capacity less than 60,000 has been selected to host a UEFA Champions League and

2176-699: The campus of the adjacent University of Sussex , being included in the South Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , although outside the National Park . This led to the designation of the stadium plans being the subject of a separate planning inquiry by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister . John Prescott , then Deputy Prime Minister , approved the plans on 28 October 2005. However, Lewes District Council immediately mounted

2240-524: The capacity. The stadium was designed by London-based architects, KSS. The stadium capacity has been expanded, with an extra seating tier being installed above the East Stand (Family stand), which increases the capacity to over 30,000 seats. The deal with American Express Europe, Brighton and Hove's biggest private-sector employer, confirming the stadium's naming rights was announced on 22 June 2010. The stadium officially opened on 30 July 2011, hosting

2304-582: The club was evicted at the end of the 1996–1997 season , it groundshared for two seasons at Gillingham 's Priestfield Stadium , 74 miles away by road, in Kent . Two years later, the club returned to Brighton as tenants of Withdean Stadium , which was upgraded to Football League capacity requirements and later expanded when Brighton reached Division One (now the EFL Championship ) in 2002 following two successive promotions . The site at Falmer

2368-460: The club's appeal for a new stadium at Falmer, along with special guest beers from breweries local to the away teams. The stadium also incorporates a banqueting and conference facility, a nursery school/crèche, 720 square metres of teaching space for the University of Brighton, 1,200 square metres of office space for the University of Sussex, the club shop for tickets and merchandise and above it

2432-725: The cross-section of dry valleys known as the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head , the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain at 162 m (531 ft) above sea level. The South Downs may be said to have three main component parts: the East Hampshire Downs, the Western Downs and the Eastern Downs, together with the river valleys that cut across them and the land immediately below them, the scarpfoot . The Western and Eastern Downs are often collectively referred to as

2496-768: The decision to create the South Downs National Park , which came into full operation on 1 April 2011, to protect and restore the Downs. The South Downs have also been designated as a National Character Area (NCA 125) by Natural England . It is bordered by the Hampshire Downs , the Wealden Greensand , the Low Weald and the Pevensey Levels to the north and the South Hampshire Lowlands and South Coast Plain to

2560-604: The enquiry process a number of boundary questions were considered, so that the National Park contains areas not in the former AONBs, and vice versa. The South Downs contain a number of national nature reserves (NNRs). The NNRs on the Sussex Downs comprise Kingley Vale , near Chichester , said by Natural England to contain one of the finest yew forests in Europe, including a grove of ancient trees which are among

2624-621: The exceptions of 2014 and 2019 finals ( Estádio da Luz and Metropolitano Stadium ) held with capacities of 65,000 seats. Two finals were played during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021 in stadiums reaching 50,000 seats ( Estádio da Luz and Estádio do Dragão ) with none or reduced attendances. 350 E v (lux) vertical illuminance uniformity ratios U1h >0.35 and U2h >0.45 750 E v (lux) vertical illuminance uniformity ratios U1h >0.4 and U2h >0.45 1000 E v (lux) vertical illuminance uniformity ratios U1h >0.4 and U2h >0.5 South Downs The South Downs are

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2688-547: The first away team to win a competitive match at the stadium, beating Brighton 2–1 in a League Cup tie in September 2011. The stadium witnessed its first league defeat in its history when rival side Crystal Palace came from behind to win 3–1. On 2 January 2012, Brighton & Hove Albion submitted an application to Brighton and Hove City council to increase the stadium capacity by a further 8,000 seats as well as to add additional corporate boxes, new television facilities and

2752-457: The game. This figure was beaten on 25 January 2015, when Arsenal visited in the FA Cup fourth round to once again win 3–2, in front of an attendance of 30,278. Another new attendance record of 30,292 came on 2 May 2016, when Derby County visited in the last home game of the 2015–16 season . A few weeks later this record was broken again when Brighton and Hove Albion played Sheffield Wednesday in

2816-568: The hosts England , and a quarter-final, which also involved England. The stadium hosted two Pool B matches in the 2015 Rugby World Cup , labelled as the Brighton Community Stadium. The first match was between South Africa and Japan on 19 September 2015 where with 29,290 in attendance, Japan caused one of the biggest upsets in Rugby World Cup history by beating twice winners South Africa 34–32. The other match

2880-588: The idea received firm government support. After a public enquiry that took place between 2003 and 2009, the government announced its decision to make the South Downs a national park on 31 March 2009. The South Downs National Park finally came into operation on 1 April 2011. Within its boundary are included not only the South Downs proper but also part of the western Weald , a geologically and ecologically quite different district. The South Downs National Park has replaced two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)s : East Hampshire AONB and Sussex Downs AONB . During

2944-437: The intention of the stadium being ready for the 2005–06 season . The plans for the stadium were opposed by neighbouring Lewes District Council and local residents. While the stadium lies completely within Brighton and Hove , part of the north-east of the site is in Lewes. Bennett's Field, as it is known, was initially used for parking, but has been abandoned since 2021. Further complications were due to both vacant fields, and

3008-599: The low-lying clay vales of the Low Weald, formed of less resistant Weald Clay , and finally the more highly resistant sandstones of the High Weald at the centre of the anticline, whose elevated forest ridge includes most notably Ashdown Forest . The chalk, being porous, allows water to soak through; as a result there are many winterbournes along the northern edge. The South Downs are a long chalk escarpment that stretches for over 110 km (68 mi), rising from

3072-473: The middle of the 20th century, an agricultural system operated by downland farmers known as 'sheep-and-corn farming' underpinned this: the sheep (most famously the Southdown breed) of villagers would be systematically confined to certain corn fields to improve their fertility with their droppings and then they would be let out onto the downland to graze. However, starting in 1940 with government measures during

3136-484: The northern fringe of Friston Forest north-west of Eastbourne, one of the largest areas of chalk heath in Britain. The NNRs on the East Hampshire Downs comprise Butser Hill , near Petersfield, a large area of chalk grassland on the highest point in the South Downs (a large area is also designated as a scheduled monument reflecting its historical significance, particularly in the Bronze and Iron Ages); Old Winchester Hill ,

3200-406: The oldest living things in Britain (the reserve is also one of the most important archaeological sites in southern England, with 14 scheduled monuments ); Castle Hill , between Brighton and Lewes, an important example of ancient, traditionally managed grassland; Lewes Downs ( Mount Caburn ), a traditionally managed chalk downland (and also an important archaeological site); and Lullington Heath , on

3264-604: The opponents in the last game played at Brighton's former stadium, the Goldstone Ground , 14 years earlier. Falmer Stadium hosted Premier League football for the first time in August 2017, following Albion's promotion at the end of the 2016–17 season . Falmer Stadium hosted European football for the first time on 21 September 2023 when Brighton played against AEK in the UEFA Europa League . The stadium

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3328-555: The qualifying stage for the UEFA Champions League , or any game in the main competition. Category four is also required to host any game in the main competition of the UEFA Europa League , UEFA Europa Conference League , UEFA Nations League or the UEFA European Championship final tournament. UEFA does not publish lists of stadiums fulfilling the criteria for any of the categories defined in

3392-419: The second leg of the play-offs . The record was broken once again on 24 September 2017 when 30,468 attended Brighton's 1–0 win over Newcastle United . The current record of 31,746 was set at a Premier League match against Chelsea on 29 October 2022. Falmer Stadium hosted European football for the first time on 21 September 2023 when Brighton played against AEK in the UEFA Europa League . On 25 March 2013,

3456-496: The sense of 'elevated rolling grassland' around the 14th century. These hills are prefixed 'south' to distinguish them from another chalk escarpment , the North Downs , which runs roughly parallel to them about 30 mi (48 km) away on the northern edge of the Weald. The South Downs are formed from a thick band of chalk which was deposited during the Cretaceous Period between 100 and 66 million years ago within

3520-523: The site on 17 December. The stadium is set three storeys down into the ground. 138,000 cubic metres of chalk was excavated during its construction, which was put on the field on the south side of Village Way. This has been estimated to prevent 22,000 lorry trips taking the chalk to off-site landfill. Construction at the site started on 17 December 2008 and finished in May 2011. The stadium was designed with scope for expansion, and plans were put in place to increase

3584-426: The south. The downland is a highly popular recreational destination, particularly for walkers, horseriders and mountain bikers. A long distance footpath and bridleway , the South Downs Way , follows the entire length of the chalk ridge from Winchester to Eastbourne, complemented by many interconnecting public footpaths and bridleways. The term 'downs' is from Old English dūn , meaning 'hill'. The word acquired

3648-481: The stadium hosted England's under-21s international friendly against Austria's under-21s . In December 2018, it was announced that the stadium would be one of the venues for the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 tournament. The stadium uses hawks to scare away seagulls and pigeons. The stadium was one of the 10 venues used to host matches at the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 . It was used to host Group A matches, which had

3712-593: The stadium was confirmed as one of eight host venues for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup . During the tournament, it will be known as the Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium. The West Stand is a three-tiered stand, which holds 11,833 fans, including 14 luxury boxes and the premium 1901 Club and Tunnel Club). The East Stand (including the Family Stand) holds 13,654 fans, with 10% reserved for away fans during cup games. The North Stand has 2,688 seats. The South Stand,

3776-525: The valley of the River Itchen near Winchester, Hampshire , in the west to Beachy Head near Eastbourne , East Sussex , in the east. Behind the steep north-facing scarp slope, the gently inclined dip slope of undulating chalk downland extends for a distance of up to 7 mi (11 km) southwards. Viewed from high points further north in the High Weald and on the North Downs, the scarp of

3840-469: The village of Slindon (near Arundel) and ends at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park (to the south of Petersfield.) Longer events that take in the South Downs Way include a 100-mile running 'ultramarathon' and mountain biking 75 mile night time race from Beachy Head to Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Three of the landmarks on the Downs are the Long Man of Wilmington and the Litlington White Horse being chalk carved hill figures , and Clayton Windmills . There

3904-411: Was between Samoa and United States with Samoa winning 25–16 with 29,178 in attendance. Before them, as a trial run pre-World Cup, the stadium hosted the England U20s vs France U20s match in the final round of the 2015 Six Nations Under 20s Championship . In 2019, a film was produced telling the story of the match between Japan and South Africa , called The Brighton Miracle . In August 2023,

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3968-399: Was broken on 26 January 2013, when 27,113 attended a 3–2 defeat against Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup Less than two months later and the record was broken again; this time 28,499 people watched Brighton beat Crystal Palace 3–0 on 17 March 2013. This record was broken once again on 4 May 2013, on the last league game of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers , 30,003 attended

4032-483: Was designed to allow hosting for other sports and events. It hosted some matches from the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 . It will also host some 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup fixtures. 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 (consisting of Greg Stanley, Bill Archer and David Bellotti ) to developers in 1995 with no new home arranged. When

4096-446: Was identified during the 1998–99 season and it was hoped that the stadium would be ready in the early to mid-2000s. However, subsequent delays in gaining planning permission meant that the club had to wait until August 2011 before being able to play their home games there – more than a decade after the stadium was first proposed. Planning permission was given by the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove City Council in June 2002, with

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