Keith Wyness reacts to £40m Brighton development ahead of key rule change
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed a £40million development at Brighton will have an instant impact on revenue at the club.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted the changes will also improve the atmopshere at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton have revealed they are set to embark on a £40million project which will build a new fan zone and relocate away fans at their stadium.
The development will also increase capacity by 800 to around 32,500.
Clubs across the Premier League are opening their own venues for fan entertainment in a bid to boost revenue ahead of new Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules coming into place.
Under proposed new rules currently being trialled, clubs will only be allowed to spend a set percentage of their turnover on transfer fees, wages and agent fees.
Brighton turned a profit of £122.8million in the 2022-23 campaign and recorded revenues of £204million.
Brighton hatch plan to spend more under new FFP rules
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I’ve looked into this closely.
“It’s a fan zone which will take 1,000 fans inside and 2,000 more outside.
“That’s all revenue. They’re also going to be moving the away fans from behind the goal.
“The players and the managers didn’t like taking penalties in front of that end in the past.
“They’re taking the capacity up to around 32,500 and that will generate revenue and improve the atmosphere.
“Paul Barber will have made sure there is a good payoff for the club. It’s a positive move and I don’t think it will take too long for it to start making money for them.”
In other news, Brighton preparing to terminate 23-year-old’s deal.
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