Fratton Park £1.5m project kicks off as Portsmouth summer improvements begin
Work began on Tuesday morning on the new £1.5m Fratton Park pitch project
A £1.5m Fratton Park project is underway as Pompey overhaul their playing surface.
Work began on Tuesday morning to rip up the Blues’ existing soil-based pitch and replace it with a hybrid version, while also improving drainage.
The more rigorous surface will allow Pompey Women to leave Westleigh Park and permanently relocate to Fratton Park, having fulfilled their last two home fixtures there this season.
However, owners Tornante have decided against installing undersoil heating at the same time, which, according to chief executive Andy Cullen, would have driven costs beyond £2m.
Cullen had previously spoken about state-of-the-art pitch plans in October 2024 - and that has now come to fruition, with the previous playing surface regarded as being beyond its shelf life, showing noticeable signs of wear on occasions this season.
‘The work is in excess of £1m’
Cullen told The News: ‘The work is in excess of £1m and that also includes drainage works, while the pitch surround will be improved as well. So it’s an all-in project to get those things going.
‘Normally a pitch renovation takes place over 2-3 weeks, involving digging down and sowing the seeds.
‘Obviously this is a bigger project. You are starting off by removing and then taking away a considerable amount of soil, then you’re addressing drainage works under the pitch, which takes time.
‘You are talking about a process which will probably take through the whole of May and into June - then a new carpet and a new pitch is being laid.
‘There will also be alterations to the level of the pitch, it goes a little further down, which will result in some improved sightlines for some supporters.
‘The contractors started work yesterday, so there are currently quite a few restrictions around the stadium considering we have a number of lorries going backwards and forwards, taking away soil and bringing in soil and the sand.
‘It won’t disrupt any visitors coming to the club shop or ticket office. Anyone using the Victory Suite for conferences over the next few weeks also won’t be impacted.’
Two Fratton Park matches postponed in 2026
Fratton Park has lost two matches to the weather since Christmas - and both against Ipswich.
January’s postponement was the first Pompey home match to suffer from a frozen pitch cancellation since the scheduled visit of Hull in February 2012.
Subsequently, February’s rearranged match against the Tractor Boys was also postponed, on that occasion for a waterlogged pitch. The sides eventually met last month, with the Blues running out 2-0 winners.
With it not being compulsory to have undersoil heating in the Championship, its installation is presently not on the agenda as Pompey focus on the overall playing surface.
Cullen added: ‘Undersoil heating would take the project north of £2m at this stage, so this pitch will go down without it.’