Luton Town have postponed their opening home match against Burnley in 2023-24 Premier League season.
The clash between two of this season’s three promoted teams was set for Saturday 19 August at 3pm at Kenilworth Road, but has now been postponed upon request of Luton, which the Premier League duly accepted alongside Burnley following discussions.
This postponement is due to Luton’s ongoing renovations of Kenilworth Road to meet Premier League standards, including a new stand to meet broadcast and media requirements with the work ‘progressing extremely well and currently ahead of schedule,’ but top-flight fixtures require ‘sufficient time’ guaranteeing in schedules.
Luton’s Chief Executive, Gary Sweet described the postponement as “regrettable” but believes that the club couldn’t ‘absolutely guarantee supporters that any future unforeseen issues would not cause any delay potentially impacting upon the scheduled opening game at home.’
Luton consequently approached the Premier League and Burnley to discuss their options – which in previous seasons has seen teams reverse the fixture dates with the original team scheduled to be at home in first half of season instead playing away.
Both clubs and the Premier League however agreed that postponement would be the best option than a reversal of fixtures due to Blackburn playing at home on the same date, which made the prospect of Burnley playing at home that weekend difficult unless the fixture shifted to either Friday or Monday night or the Sunday that weekend.
Sweet also iterated that despite the works being on schedule, “there is no additional contingency and therefore can’t give a cast-iron guarantee at this stage that a problem outside of our control, however minor, wouldn’t force a postponement further down the line and inconveniencing supporters of both clubs.”
It is hoped that should there be no further delays then Luton will host their first home match of the season on Tuesday 29 August if drawn at home in the Second Round of Carabao Cup, otherwise their first home game will be against West Ham on Friday 1 September live on Sky Sports in a 8pm BST kick-off.
Sweet added that the renovations “have been carefully planned to minimise disruption for our neighbours during the construction period and minimise impact on match-days.”
Addressing Luton supporters plus fans of away teams planning to attend Kenilworth Road this season, Sweet added that there are improvements being made to both the home and away ends, with view of improving “the matchday experience for everyone, particularly for home and away disabled supporters, broadcasters, journalists and supporters in certain areas of the ground, and this does mean these works should also be complete in time for the new date.”
The Premier League will announce a new date for the fixture once agreed with Luton, Burnley and local authorities, and likewise with Brentford’s trip to Manchester City on 23 December which has been postponed due to Man City’s involvement at 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.