A few days ago, AFC Bournemouth announced that the club had reached an agreement to buy back Vitality Stadium, with plans to expand and modernize the facility.

The stadium returns to club ownership

The stadium was sold to Structadene in 2005, when Bournemouth were playing in League One, in an effort to pay off debts. Since then, the South Coast club has firmly established itself in the Premier League. The newly formed entity, Black Knight Stadium Limited, will now be the official owner of the stadium. AFC Bournemouth is fully owned by Black Knight Football Club UK Ltd, a company controlled by club owner Bill Foley.

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The stadium must match the club’s ambitions

Vitality Stadium currently has the smallest capacity in the Premier League, with just 11,286 seats. Previously known as Dean Court, it has been Bournemouth’s home since 1910.

We have acknowledged that accommodating more of our growing fanbase is integral to our goals for the club and this move will allow us to pursue all options moving forward, Foley said in a statement. We appreciate Structadene's stewardship of the stadium and for working with us to return it to its natural home with the club. The announcement also highlighted that owning the stadium will enable AFC Bournemouth to better plan for future upgrades and expansion projects. Having full ownership puts the club in the best position to preserve its history while shaping the path for future development and improvements.