The Hawthorns is the home stadium of West Bromwich Albion, standing in the town of West Bromwich in the Sandwell borough of the West Midlands, England. Built in just four months and opened on September 3, 1900, it was the first Football League ground constructed in the 20th century, and the club has played there for more than 125 years without interruption.
What sets The Hawthorns apart from every other ground in English professional football is its elevation: at roughly 551 feet (168 meters) above sea level, it sits higher than any Premier League or Football League stadium in the country. That quirk, combined with the club’s long tenure at the site, has made the ground a distinctive fixture of English football tradition.
Stats at a Glance
- Team: West Bromwich Albion F.C.
- Location: West Bromwich, Sandwell, West Midlands, England
- Opened: September 3, 1900
- Capacity: about 27,000
- Notable fact: Highest elevation of any English Premier League or Football League ground, at about 551 ft (168 m)
A Ground Built to Last
The Hawthorns took its name from the hawthorn shrubs that once covered the site before construction began in 1900. Despite being built in only about four months, the stadium has endured as West Bromwich Albion’s permanent home ever since, surviving two World Wars, numerous promotions and relegations between England’s top divisions, and multiple rounds of modernization to its stands.
The ground’s record attendance came on March 6, 1937, when 64,815 fans packed in for an FA Cup tie against Arsenal, a number that reflects how much larger capacities once were before all-seater regulations reshaped English stadiums in the 1990s.
Matchday Today
Now an all-seater venue with a capacity of about 27,000, The Hawthorns has been updated over the years while retaining its traditional four-stand layout close to the pitch. Ahead of the 2025-26 season, the club introduced safe standing areas, part of a broader trend among English clubs balancing atmosphere with modern safety standards.
The stadium has also earned recognition beyond raw statistics; FourFourTwo magazine ranked it among the best grounds in English football in a 2017 survey of all 92 league stadiums, citing its steep stands and close-to-the-action feel as reasons fans and journalists rate the atmosphere highly on matchdays.
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The Hawthorns FAQs
Who plays at The Hawthorns?
The Hawthorns is the home ground of West Bromwich Albion F.C., who have played there since the stadium opened in 1900.
Why is The Hawthorns considered unique among English football grounds?
It sits at roughly 551 feet (168 meters) above sea level, making it the highest-elevation ground of any Premier League or Football League club in England.
What is the capacity of The Hawthorns?
The stadium holds approximately 27,000 spectators as an all-seater venue, with safe standing areas added ahead of the 2025-26 season.
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Photo: dom fellowes from UK / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.