10 Smallest Stadiums in Premier League History (Ranked)

Many Premier League stadiums have undergone major renovations in recent years, as clubs look to capitalise on increased revenue potential from larger, more modern facilities.

But while top-tier sides have the financial muscle to build state-of-the-art grounds and still remain competitive on the pitch, smaller clubs—especially those newly promoted from the Championship—often can't justify the multi-million-pound investment needed to relocate or expand.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the 10 smallest stadiums to have ever hosted a Premier League match.

10. The Swansea.com Stadium

21,088

Swansea City spent seven seasons in the Premier League following their promotion in 2011, earning widespread praise for their attractive, possession-based style of football. They secured impressive ninth and eighth-place finishes within their first four campaigns in the top flight.

Their home ground, the Swansea.com Stadium—formerly known as the Liberty Stadium—has a capacity of just over 21,000. It also serves as the home of the Ospreys, a Welsh Rugby Union side competing in the United Rugby Championship since their formation in 2003.

When Swansea reached the Premier League, the stadium became the first in Wales to host top-flight English football. It remains the third-largest stadium in Wales, behind Cardiff City Stadium and the iconic Millennium Stadium.

9. MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium

18,439

The MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium, more commonly referred to as Loftus Road, has been the home of Queens Park Rangers since 1917. QPR were part of the Premier League's early years, spending the first four seasons at Loftus Road and achieving a fifth-place finish in the league's inaugural 1992/93 campaign.

Relegation followed in 1996, and the club didn’t return to the top flight until 2011. However, Premier League football continued at Loftus Road during QPR’s absence, as Fulham temporarily played their home matches there for two seasons while Craven Cottage underwent redevelopment.

QPR’s return to the Premier League in 2011 saw them spend two seasons among England’s elite before another relegation. Their most recent Premier League stint came in 2014/15, but they finished bottom of the table and have remained in the Championship ever since.

8. Baseball Ground

18,300

As the name suggests, this stadium was originally built for a different sport. From 1890 to 1898, it served as the home of Derby Baseball Club, but Derby County Football Club became its main tenants in 1895. The Rams earned promotion to the Premier League in 1996 and marked their return to the top flight with a respectable 12th-place finish in their debut season.

The 1996/97 campaign was Derby's final year at the Baseball Ground, with the club set to move into the newly built Pride Park Stadium in the summer of 1997. Arsenal were the visitors on the final day, as fans bid farewell to the historic 18,300-capacity ground. Although Derby's reserve team continued to use the Baseball Ground for several more years, the stadium was ultimately demolished in 2003.

7. Gtech Community Stadium

17,250

Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium opened its doors in 2020, and just a year later, the Bees celebrated their historic promotion to the Premier League for the first time. With a capacity of 17,250, it ranks as the second-smallest stadium currently in the English top flight. Nevertheless, Thomas Frank’s side continue to punch above their weight and sat 11th at the halfway mark of the 2024/25 campaign.

In their first three seasons in the Premier League, Brentford secured finishes of 13th, 9th, and 16th — impressive for a club of their size. While the stadium may be modest in comparison to others in the league, it has still played host to major events. Notably, it staged four matches during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, including a high-profile quarter-final clash between Germany and Austria, which drew over 16,000 fans.

6. Bloomfield Road

16,220

Blackpool enjoyed just a single season in the Premier League under Ian Holloway, earning promotion via the play-offs in 2010. Despite a spirited campaign filled with memorable moments, the Tangerines were relegated back to the Championship on the final day of the 2010/11 season.

Ahead of their top-flight adventure, a temporary stand was constructed on the east side of Bloomfield Road, adding space for just over 5,000 fans. That stand remains in place to this day, with hopes that it will finally be completed and made permanent by 2026.

Since their brief spell among the elite, Blackpool have endured a rollercoaster ride through the leagues. In 2016, they were relegated to League Two during the turbulent tenure of the Oyston family, whose controversial ownership finally ended in 2019. The club earned promotion back to the Championship in 2021 but have since dropped back into League One.

5. County Ground

15,728

Swindon Town’s County Ground has maintained a capacity of 15,728 since the mid-1990s, with plans for redevelopment repeatedly stalled due to the club’s struggles on the pitch. Since being relegated from the Premier League in 1994, Swindon have slipped down the football pyramid and now find themselves battling relegation in League Two.

Historically, the County Ground was owned by Swindon Borough Council, but that changed in March 2023 when the club purchased the stadium for £2.3 million. In a landmark move, supporters secured a 50% stake in the ground, fuelling optimism that long-awaited improvements and redevelopment could finally go ahead now that the club is no longer burdened by rental payments to the council.

4. The Dell

15,200

The Dell served as Southampton’s home ground from 1898 until 2001. By the mid-1990s, the club’s board had begun exploring options for a new stadium, with The Dell struggling to meet the demands of a modern Premier League venue. Although the decision to relocate was announced at the end of the 1998/99 season, it wasn’t until 2001 that the move was completed.

During that era, Southampton often flirted with relegation, finishing 18th once and 17th twice in the Premier League. However, they ended their final season at The Dell on a high, securing a 10th-place finish in 2000/01. The ground’s farewell fixture came in the form of a friendly against Brighton & Hove Albion on 26 May 2001, marking the end of an iconic chapter in the club’s history.

3. Boundary Park

13,513

Oldham Athletic enjoyed a brief spell in the Premier League during the early 1990s, spending two seasons in the top flight. At the time, Boundary Park held the distinction of being the smallest stadium in the division during the 1992/93 campaign—a record that stood until AFC Bournemouth’s promotion in 2015.

Prior to their top-flight promotion in 1992, Boundary Park featured an artificial pitch. However, Premier League regulations required natural grass, prompting the club to remove the synthetic surface ahead of the season. Since their relegation from the Premier League, Oldham have experienced a steady decline, suffering multiple demotions and now competing in the National League—the fifth tier of English football.

2. Kenilworth Road

12,056

Luton Town's rise from non-league to the Premier League in just 10 years is nothing short of extraordinary. The Hatters secured their top-flight promotion with a penalty shootout win over Coventry City at Wembley in 2023. To accommodate the necessary ground improvements at Kenilworth Road, Luton played their first two league matches away from home.

The club invested £10 million into upgrading the stadium, including the rebuilding of the Bobbers Stand, which increased the capacity from 10,356 to just over 12,000. Without this expansion, Kenilworth Road would have been the smallest stadium in Premier League history.

Against all odds, Luton fought hard to survive in the Premier League but were ultimately undone by injuries. They finished 18th, six points behind Nottingham Forest, and were relegated back to the Championship.

1. Vitality Stadium

11,307

AFC Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium holds the distinction of being the smallest stadium in Premier League history. After being promoted from the Championship in 2015, the Cherries enjoyed five successful seasons in the top-flight before relegation in 2020. They made their return to the Premier League in 2022 and have since become one of the most well-managed clubs in the division. Under manager Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth finished 12th last season and are currently in the top half, aiming to secure a European spot.

As a result of the club's impressive progress on the pitch, Bournemouth has been exploring the possibility of building a new stadium since 2017. In January 2024, owner Bill Foley revealed plans to construct a new ground "directly behind" the current facility, with an increased capacity of 18,500. The new stadium would feature additional hospitality spaces and more seating on the south side. The club hopes to push forward with these plans in the coming years.