Brentford to seek permission for six concerts at stadium
Premier League side Brentford wants to stage “up to six” concerts each year as clubs look to diversify their revenue streams.
The 17,250-capacity G-Tech Community Stadium has been home to the Bees since a move from west London’s iconic Griffin Park in 2020.
Now Brentford, who finished ninth in the Premier League this season, are looking to make the most of the arena, notifying local residents of plans to host six gigs during June and July next year.
Sally Stephens, the club’s fan and community relations director, has contacted residents local to the arena, according to The Chiswick Calendar newsletter, stating that they “recognise that hosting concerts at the stadium needs to be carefully planned and managed”.
She added that: “We are therefore undertaking a full range of technical and operational assessments, which will be submitted to the London Borough of Hounslow (LBH) as part of a planning application.”
Brentford cashing in?
It comes as local festival host site, Gunnersbury Park, will see a slimmed down roster of talent this summer after a number of commercial and planning issues halted appearances from the likes of Lenny Kravitz and Annie Mac.
Elsewhere England Rugby’s 82,000-capacity Allianz Stadium is pushing ahead with plans to stage up to 15 non-sporting related events in Twickenham.
The Rugby Football Union plans to submit proposals to Richmond Council this year with the home of rugby losing out to the likes of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, West Ham United’s London Stadium and Wembley Stadium for major gig hosting rights due to its inability to stage a larger number of concerts on consecutive evenings.
Fellow Premier League club Arsenal are also hosting more gigs as non-matchday revenue becomes more important to teams battling losses despite healthy income streams.
Added Stephens: “We have a strong track record of managing attendees safely at the Gtech, and we would apply that same experience, expertise, and operational planning to a small number of concerts each year.”