Construction on Luton Town’s new stadium at Power Court remains on schedule and within its planned budget, but the Hatters are taking on “prudently planned” debt during the process, the club’s chief executive has told the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust.
The fan group has revealed in a letter to its members the details of discussions with CEO Gary Sweet and senior club officials – both face-to-face and by email – after supporters submitted a series of questions about the stadium development, the club’s long-term strategy and issues on and off the pitch.
Supporters have voiced concern in about finance and whether the Power Court project is progressing as planned, particularly with the new 25,000-seater stadium expected to host its first matches in the 2028/29 season.
According to the Trust’s summary of discussions with the club, executives insisted the project is moving forward as expected.
“Construction is underway and progressing well, with piling work ahead of schedule and the construction programme is sound – we’re seeing it happening right now,” the Trust wrote.
Sweet also addressed questions about the cost of the development and how it will be funded.
“It’s not unusual for cost plans to move but currently the cost plan is on target and deliverable with a fair proportion of the cost already procured,” he said.
“Like most major stadium developments, it requires the club to take on debt during the process – we want to be open about that – but that debt has been prudently planned, servicing it will be affordable and is budgeted, and its balance will be eroded as contributions from further phases of development are realised over time.”
The club explained that revenue from wider regeneration around the stadium site, including residential flats, will help reduce that borrowing over time.
Sweet added that the financial model behind the project has already been independently scrutinised, saying: “The financial model has been stress-tested and independently reviewed, and we and they are confident in its robustness. Matchday and non-matchday revenues will place the club in a far stronger position than it is today or ever could be at Kenilworth Road.”
Hatters executives also reiterated the long-term ambition for the club to eventually own the stadium outright, saying: “The aim has always been clear: for Luton Town to own Power Court outright in the long-term, unencumbered. Every major decision has been taken with that goal in mind.
“This stadium is being built for the club and for the town. For supporters past, present, and future. It is the foundation upon which the club will build for generations – the platform that will allow Luton Town to compete sustainably, grow its revenues and invest properly in its team, its academy and its community.”
The Trust said the club emphasised that the stadium project is about securing the club’s long-term future rather than simply building a new ground.
Sweet and the executive team described the development as “the biggest opportunity in generations to secure the long-term future of the club after years of tireless and meticulous planning”.
Questions were also raised about the role of the chief executive in overseeing both football operations and the stadium project, with some supporters suggesting the scale of the development may place too much responsibility on one person.
According to the Trust, club officials rejected that suggestion and stressed the project is managed collectively across several specialist teams.
“The CEO provides overall leadership and is supported by an executive team who are responsible for running club operations – and there are also highly experienced specialists at the development company overseeing Power Court construction, with their own leadership team,” they said.
The club also pointed to examples of other clubs that have overseen major stadium projects while continuing to run football operations, including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Brentford and AFC Wimbledon.
The Trust said it welcomed the openness of the discussions and hopes they will lead to better communication between supporters and the club.
Trust Chair, Paul Stephens said to members and supporters: “I was pleased to get some of those key questions answered, but please keep them coming. We’re looking forward to improved communications so we can bring you more information and more answers – more often.”
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