On Saturday, August 19, the Clarets were scheduled to play their first away Premier League game against
the Hatters.
However, Luton requested that the game be postponed because they were unable to guarantee that
stadium renovations wouldn’t have an immediate negative impact on fans’ ability to attend the game.
The Premier League will “in due course” announce a new date for the game, according to Burnley.
Luton finished third in the Championship last season and won promotion after overcoming Coventry in
the play-off final at Wembley.
Last month, chief executive David Wilkinson revealed the club was looking at around £12 million worth
of investment to get the stadium ready to host top flight football.
Earlier this week, he told Talk TV: “The Premier League have been very helpful with the changes we are
making.
“They came in very early, they came in in January as any club who was in danger of being in the play-offs
was looked at.
“They come and say, ‘your floodlights aren’t strong enough and you need this, you need that.’
“There are all sorts of extra media requirements which we wouldn’t have had in the Championship and
of course – apart from the 50 cameras for the media – you’ve got VAR and all those things that need to be
done.
“They come in very early and tell you what you’ve got to do. We had it last year as we were in the play-
offs last year, so we had a clue as to what was going to be required this year.
“They have been helpful all the way through. They bring their various groups to the club and help you
organise yourself for the Premier League.”
READ MORE:
The Clarets will have a fortnight-long break after playing Manchester City in the Premier League opener
Burnley’s first away day of the new Premier League season against Luton Town has been postponed due
to Kenilworth Road not being guaranteed to be ready to host top-flight football by then.
The Clarets are back in the top flight after an absence of just one season. Vincent Kompany oversaw the
Turf Moor side’s turnaround and they won promotion back to the top flight with the Championship title.
Burnley begin the new season at Turf Moor for the Premier League curtain raiser against Kompany’s old
team, Manchester City. That will kick off at 8pm on Friday, August 11.
The Clarets had been due to visit Kenilworth Road to take on the Hatters on Saturday, August 19, in a
3pm kick-off. It was going to be the first away day of the season.
READ MORE: Weghorst sends Burnley message after returning from Man United loan
But that will not be the case now as the match has been postponed due to Kenilworth Road not being
ready by then to host Premier League football. Since the Hatters were promoted, work has been ongoing
to bring the ground up to minimum standards for the top flight.
Some £10m is being spent in order to do that. But the Hatters have lost the race against time to ensure
the stadium will be ready by then and a new date with be selected.
It means Burnley’s next game after taking on City will now be on Sunday, August 27 at Turf Moor when
they host Aston Villa. Their first away game of the Premier League season will now be after the first
international break of the campaign when they travel to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest
on the evening of Monday, September 18.
A Burnley statement read: “The Premier League match between Luton Town FC and Burnley FC,
scheduled to take place on Saturday 19 August, will now be postponed. Luton Town FC were unable to
offer the League and Burnley FC a guarantee that ongoing work to Kenilworth Road would not impact
the scheduling of this match at late notice for supporters.
“A new fixture dates for the match will be shared by the Premier League in due course.”
Luton chief executive Gary Sweet said: “The joint decision to delay this fixture is regrettable, especially
given the amazing progress that continues to be made on our construction works.
“Our current programme is indeed on time, but 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.
“Although this news will be a disappointment, this will make the matchday experience even greater for
fans when they do get to come back.
“We would like to thank the Premier League and Burnley for their help in arriving at this practical
decision.”
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