Plans for the stadium were exclusive revealed to the Daily Echo, with the club aiming to expand to 20,500 seats across two phases of development.
The first, and most significant, will see a new south stand built and the corners filled in, will add thousands of seats and will be completed for the start of the 26/27 season, if everything goes to plan.
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MP Hayes supports the club’s desire to extend the ground, and said: “Bournemouth is a footballing town and the Cherries are the heart of Bournemouth. Match days are special days and I’m looking forward to the new season kicking off.
“Anyone who’s tried to get a ticket for a match knows we need to expand the stadium’s capacity. These plans will make the stadium even better.
“I’ve been in conversations with the club about how the stadium plans will enhance the area for a while now.
Hayes attended the opening of the club's new performance centre (Image: Richard Crease) “We know the stadium’s size holds us back. We’ve got one of the smallest away ends in the league, which means we’re missing out on a lot of football tourism.
“A bigger stadium could bring more people to Bournemouth, more people staying the night, eating at local restaurants, more people spending money in our community.
“Being on the right side of town for the beach and having Pokesdown Station down the road are real pluses.”
The MP said the expansion is a crucial part of what is needed to boost the town’s economy.
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“Bournemouth is brilliant and, really, our potential is unlimited. We should be growing our economy through football tourism,” he said.
“Right now, we can’t make the most of matchdays because of our small capacity.
“Expanding the stadium would welcome more away fans and give more locals a chance to see Premier League football without paying over the odds or relying on points systems that feel out of reach for new fans.
“It’s also a sign of long-term investment and belief in Bournemouth. The owners trust and respect our town and the fans. We know, around the country, so many places don’t have that good fortune.”
Fundamentally, though, Hayes said the stadium expansion will be much needed to allow more fans to attend games week in, week out.
“Football is for the fans,” he said.
“The season ticket holders who’ve sat side-by-side for twenty years, or the six-year-old being taken to their first match. This expansion should mean more local people can watch their team play.
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“It would also tackle issues like people buying tickets they can’t use for points, and the seats then sitting empty. Or away fans buying tickets off people for seats in the home stands. And hopefully, the new ticketing system will also help with that 10am rush to buy tickets, which I know from experience can be stressful.
“All of these things help improve the atmosphere and fan experience, something I know the club has been focusing on.
“When more people can be part of that — shouting from the stands, being in the moment — you grow the fanbase and strengthen the club in the long run.”
While the plans have been well received, there are concerns from residents that have been passed on to the MP.
(Image: Richard Crease) “People have raised a few practical issues, and they’re totally valid,” Hayes said.
“Parking and congestion are a problem on match days, particularly around Kings Park and toward Queen’s Park.
“The stadium car park isn’t big enough, and it highlights how poor public transport options are for fans, especially coming in from other parts of town.
“Grassroots football clubs have also explained how vital Kings Park’s open space is for them. Any expansion has to protect those pitches — they’re vital for local kids, Sunday league sides, and community sport.
“I’ve met with these teams and they’re hugely proud of having a top flight team doing so well but also want to train up the players of the future.
“Overall, the mood has been positive. The club has come so far since 2008, and fans rightly want our growth reflected in the facilities.
“A bigger stadium is a let part of that. Football fans keep clubs alive — and it’s only right that more of them can be part of the journey on matchday.”
(Image: Richard Crease) BCP Council, too, are actively working with the football club on the expansion.
Cllr Rich Herrett, BCP Council cabinet member for destination, leisure and commercial operations, said: “The Council recognises how valuable AFC Bournemouth is to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, with its continued success on the pitch, and their support for our local communities.
“We have a positive relationship with the football club and have enjoyed like many, their recent successes on the pitch.
“We look forward to working with them on their plans to invest in the area and improve the matchday experience for fans at Vitality Stadium, via the appropriate planning and democratic processes.”