Ranking every new stadium in PL history

Moving stadiums can give a football team a fresh lease of life.

Whether it means allowing thousands more fans to watch games each week, reimagining the design so seats feel closer to the pitch, or providing state-of-the-art facilities for players, a new stadium can also transform a club’s fortunes.

It can enhance the matchday atmosphere, boost revenue and attract top talent, all while giving supporters a modern and exciting place to cheer on their team.

Since the Premier League began in 1992, 19 teams have played football at a new home stadium. Some have left behind historic venues, while others have embraced modern masterpieces, but not every move has been a success.

Here, we have ranked all 19 of these new stadiums based on their design, atmosphere and the memorable moments they’ve seen since the move.

Opened: 1999

Wigan Athletic

moved to the Brick Community Stadium in 1999, leaving Springfield Park. Formerly known as the JJB Stadium and then the DW Stadium, the ground has a capacity of 25,138 and features modern amenities, catering to football and rugby league events.

Wigan spent eight seasons playing Premier League football at the stadium, lifting the FA Cup in 2013.

18

MKM Stadium (Hull City)

Opened: 2002

A bit like the Brick Community Stadium, Hull City’s MKM Stadium caters for football and rugby league, serving as the home of the Tigers and Hull F.C. of the Super League.

Previously known as the KCOM Stadium, Hull City moved there in 2002 from Boothferry Park. Six years later, they achieved a historic milestone, earning promotion to the Premier League for the first time while playing at their new home.

17

Swansea.com Stadium (Swansea City)

Opened: 2005

Another club whose ground hosts football and rugby – this time with rugby union side Ospreys – Swansea City moved to the then-named Liberty Stadium in 2005, leaving behind Vetch Field.

Now known as the Swansea.com Stadium, it has a capacity of 21,088. While undeniably a step up from their former home in terms of facilities, it’s a little bland.

16

Cardiff City Stadium (Cardiff City)

Opened: 2009

The Cardiff City Stadium opened in 2009, replacing Ninian Park as the Welsh club’s home. Cardiff City secured promotion to the Premier League in 2013, with the stadium witnessing the celebratory 0-0 draw against Charlton Athletic that secured top-flight status.

It’s not a bad stadium, but is somewhat overshadowed by the much more impressive Millennium Stadium just down the road.

Opened: 2020

Built with their Premier League ambitions in mind, Brentford moved to the Gtech Community Stadium in 2020, departing from their long-term home at Griffin Park.

Though the Bees have enjoyed remarkable success at the ground, it simply doesn’t rank highly here because of its tiny capacity of just 17,250 – which is far too small for the Premier League and a club of its stature.

14

Madejski Stadium (Reading)

Opened: 1998

Reading transitioned to the Madejski Stadium in 1998, leaving Elm Park behind. The Royals soon went on to enjoy two of the most successful seasons in their history at the ground – winning the Championship in 2005/06 before finishing eighth in the Premier League in their first top-flight season.

The stadium itself is decent, but it doesn’t particularly stand out from the crowd.

13

St Mary’s Stadium (Southampton)

Opened: 2001

Southampton moved to St Mary’s Stadium in 2001 from their historic home at The Dell.

Although much larger, with a capacity of 32,384, St Mary’s lacks the unique atmosphere that made The Dell so special. Additionally, its location on the outskirts of Southampton can make it feel somewhat detached from the heart of the city, affecting the matchday experience.

12

Pride Park (Derby County)

Opened: 1997

Derby County moved to Pride Park in 1997 from the Baseball Ground.

Strangely enough, it was actually designed to resemble the Riverside Stadium, which opened a couple of years prior – and it has turned out to be quite similar: a large, modern and tidy-looking stadium that often lacks a strong atmosphere, and aesthetically speaking, doesn’t leave a particularly lasting impression.

11

Riverside Stadium (Middlesbrough)

Opened: 1995

With a capacity of 34,742, Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium, which the club moved to in 1995 from Ayresome Park, is currently one of the biggest in the United Kingdom outside the Premier League.

However, big isn’t always better, as the stadium can sometimes feel a bit too vast, especially when not full. Still, it looks quite nice and was home to Boro’s historic run to the UEFA Cup final in 2006.

10

Toughsheet Community Stadium (Bolton Wanderers)

Opened: 1997

Once home to legendary players like Jay-Jay Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff and Ivan Campo, the Toughsheet Community Stadium, formerly the Reebok Stadium, became Bolton Wanderers’ home in 1997 after their move from Burnden Park.

During the club’s peak years in the Premier League, the ground was often regarded as a fortress, with Bolton regularly finishing in mid-table and competing in European competitions.

9

Bet365 Stadium (Stoke City)

Opened: 1997

Formerly the Britannia Stadium, Stoke City moved to the bet365 Stadium in 1997 from the Victoria Ground. During their time in the Premier League, Stoke made the stadium a proverbial ‘tough place to go’, with teams fearing the notorious ‘cold, rainy night in Stoke’ – facing tough-tackling defenders and the legendary long throws of Rory Delap, making it a daunting place to visit.

However, despite its reputation, the stadium still feels a bit functional compared to other top grounds.

8

Etihad Stadium (Manchester City)

Opened: 2002

Manchester City moved to the Etihad Stadium in 2003 from Maine Road. The City of Manchester Stadium was originally built as part of the city’s hosting of the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Since then, the stadium has been home to arguably the best football team in the world, witnessing some of the sport’s most remarkable achievements, none more so than the historic European treble earned under Pep Guardiola in the 2022/23 season.

The problem, however, is that the “Emptyhad”, as the nickname suggests, is rarely full, with empty seats sometimes detracting from the otherwise impressive atmosphere.

7

King Power Stadium (Leicester City)

Opened: 2002

Leicester City moved to the King Power Stadium in 2002 from Filbert Street, and it’s where the club achieved the unthinkable by winning the Premier League title in 2015/16 – cementing its place in the club’s history as the venue for one of football’s greatest underdog stories.

With a capacity of 32,312 and a minimal gap between the pitch and the stands, the King Power Stadium is capable of producing a fantastic atmosphere.

6

Stadium of Light (Sunderland)

Opened: 1997

Sunderland moved to the Stadium of Light in 1997 from Roker Park. With a capacity of 49,000, it eclipses most Premier League stadiums by some margin.

When full, it’s a sight to behold, but attendances have taken a hit in recent years, with the club experiencing a decline, spending four years in League One and now competing in the Championship.

5

John Smith’s Stadium (Huddersfield Town)

Opened: 1994

Huddersfield Town moved to the John Smith’s Stadium in 1994 from Leeds Road.

Designed by Populous – the same company behind Tottenham Hotspur’s state-of-the-art stadium – the ground features striking and unique architecture, most notably the metal arches which sit atop the stands and add a distinctive touch to the design, even 30 years on.

Minus points for being named after a terrible, terrible drink, though.

4

London Stadium (West Ham United)

Opened: 2012

Originally built for the 2012 Olympic Games, West Ham United moved to the London Stadium in 2016, leaving the iconic Boleyn Ground.

While the ground is certainly big (it has a capacity of 60,000) and offers all the modern amenities you’d expect, the running track surrounding the pitch can make the action feel distant from the stands, often leading to a flat atmosphere, especially when compared to the intense, intimate vibe of the club’s former home.

3

Amex Stadium (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Opened: 2011

Brighton & Hove Albion moved to the 30,750-seater Amex Stadium in 2011, bidding farewell to their former home, the Withdean Stadium.

The move has been an upgrade in every sense: plenty more seats, a better location on the Sussex Downs, and a stylish, bowl-shaped design with eye-catching colored lighting, putting it right up there with some of the best stadiums in Europe in terms of looks.

2

Emirates Stadium (Arsenal)

Opened: 2006

Arsenal left Highbury behind in 2006 to move to the Emirates Stadium – one of the most impressive and aesthetically pleasing stadiums in world football today.

With a capacity of 60,704, it offers world-class facilities, including state-of-the-art hospitality suites and top-tier player amenities. Initially, the Emirates lacked the intimate atmosphere of Highbury, but in recent years, as the club has rediscovered its form under Mikel Arteta, the atmosphere has grown to one of the best in the league.

1

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Tottenham Hotspur)

Opened: 2019

Simply the best stadium in English, if not European, football right now, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a work of art.

There’s not a bad seat in the house; the facilities, including spacious concourses, plentiful bars and varied food suppliers, are second to none; and the ground looks gorgeous, inside and out.

Plus, it even has its own brewery inside. If that’s not enough to convince you that it’s the best stadium going right now, then we’re not sure what will.