After securing promotion to the Premier League, Luton Town will become the 51st team to play in the competition next season, and fans of the other 19 clubs will be looking forward to a unique trip to the Hatters' ground, Kenilworth Road.
Built in 1905, “the Kenny", as it is known to Luton fans, holds just over 10,000 supporters, which would make it the smallest ground ever in the Premier League, usurping AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium, which seats 11,307.
It is a ground like no other in the Premier League. While some stadiums such as Everton's Goodison Park and Crystal Palace are also situated among residential areas, none are as close to the surrounding houses as Kenilworth Road.
Indeed, the Oak Road stand is built around a block of houses, and its entrance takes fans through the back garden of one of the residents.
The team are hoping the unique nature of the ground can unsettle Premier League rivals.
“I don’t think anyone likes coming to the Kenny,” defender Amari’i Bell said. “When we played Chelsea [in the FA Cup last year], I don’t think they enjoyed it.
“It is a bit of a throwback, but it is home to us and we love it.
“If you come here and you’re not in the right frame of mind, you can’t wait to leave – that’s what other teams are like anyway.
“We’re going to make the best use of it. The fans are so close to you it feels like they are on top of you and it is a bit daunting. I feel like Sunderland felt that in the [Championship] playoff semis.”
Work will need to be done to the stadium ahead of the opening match there in the 2023/24 Premier League to allow for the greater demand from international broadcasters and media, and to make it compliant for VAR.
The Bobbers Stand, which houses executive boxes, is set to be rebuilt.
It is a big task with the new season just 50 days away, but Luton Town chief executive Gary Sweet is confident it can be done.
“If anyone can, we can,” Sweet said. “We’ve got to rebuild a stand but we’ve gone from non-League to the Premier League so we can manage that small matter.”
Meanwhile, the club’s ambitions to move to their new 26,000-seat Power Court Stadium are progressing, with a target for completion of 2026.
