Aston Villa unveils stand-out plans for North Stand redevelopment

Aston Villa Football Club has unveiled plans to expand its iconic North Stand and increase Villa Park’s capacity to over 50,000 by 2027.

The expansion is part of ongoing efforts to modernise the stadium in preparation for hosting the UEFA Euro 2028 tournament, with the aim “to solidify its status as a world-class sports and entertainment venue.”

The North Stand will be upgraded to add more than 12,000 seats, while ensuring that matchday capacity remains unaffected throughout the construction process.

Aston Villa will reuse the existing North Stand structure, minimising disruption for fans during the development.

Nassef Sawiris, executive chairman of Aston Villa FC said: “We have shared a clear ambition: to restore Aston Villa to its rightful position competing at the highest levels of English and European football. Thanks to the Mayor’s commitment to develop Witton Station and to improve local transport links, this project will mark an important milestone in the Club’s journey to becoming a world-class sports and entertainment venue.”

With the planned redevelopment of the North Stand, the Club’s total annual contribution to the local economy is expected to rise to £120m, supporting over 1,700 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs and drawing more than 1.1m visitors to Villa Park each year.

Chris Heck, president of business operations at Aston Villa FC said: “We will now be able to offer this incredible experience to thousands more, all while meeting the key challenge of executing this project without compromising matchday capacity during the process.”

The expansion is also closely linked to improvements in the local transport network.

Mayor Richard Parker said: “We have been working closely with the club, Network Rail, and other partners to ensure necessary upgrades at Witton Station are made in time for the Euros in 2028. I am fully committed to securing upgrades, so we can double the station’s handling capacity and deliver a world-class experience for fans arriving at Villa Park.”