Bees’ new stadium is ready for action

GAMES SET TO BE HOSTED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AT NEW GROUND

BRENTFORD have announced their new stadium is complete and has already received a safety certificate.

The Bees will be able to host games this week behind closed doors at the Brentford Community Stadium, with an amendment needed before they can host games with fans.

This is standard procedure and all venues will need added safety certificates to host matches under Covid19 protocols, but the club are keen to be transparent with supporters.

Work on the 17,250-seat stadium began in early 2018 and was almost complete at the start of this year, when restrictions on movement were put in place due to the Covid19 outbreak. Brentford’s development partner, EcoWorld London, and their stadium principal contractor, Buckingham Construction Group Limited, have been working safely to get the stadium ready over the past five months.

The stadium was completed earlier this month and the first match will be played on the pitch in the coming days.

Brentford chairman Cliff Crown said: “This is a momentous announcement and a great day for everyone involved with the club.

“This is a project that was first conceived nearly two decades ago and that the club has been actively pursuing for the last 15 years. It is the culmination of a lot of hard work.

“I would like to congratulate Conor Hayes, chairman of Lionel Road Developments, who has worked tirelessly for the last five years. He had a great team working with him including our operations director Alan Walsh, Will Whitby, Barry Winterton, Richard Arnold and Adam Marks.

“We have relied on our advisors to help us achieve the completion of the stadium and I also want to thank EcoWorld and Buckingham, plus those working with them, for delivering the stadium.

“This has not been an easy project, given the tight space to build in, and the recent Covid-19 outbreak was an extra challenge to overcome. To get the stadium completed in those circumstances is a great achievement. We should also praise the club’s operations, safety and security staff – Dave Gregg and Barney McGhee, alongside Alan – for securing a safety certificate with that backdrop.

“I was delighted to be able to host the August board meeting inside the stadium last week.

“It is a stadium of the highest standard and a fitting home for a Brentford FC that is preparing for a bright future. It is a real shame that our fans cannot get inside yet, but that day is coming soon and we are all looking forward to it.”